From: sah Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: List rules Date: 01 Sep 1998 11:29:59 -0400 Welcome! This list is for fiction related to "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," both the TV series and the movie. To ensure that we all get to enjoy as much fiction as possible, please adhere to the following guidelines, and please save them for future reference. 1. Fiction should have Buffy characters in it and clearly be related to Buffy. Crossovers are great, and expected, but general vampire/monster stories that aren't in the Buffy universe and don't use Buffy characters belong somewhere else. 2. Discussion of posted fiction is permitted onlist. Please put "DISCUSS" in your subject line. Requests for missing story parts should go directly to the author, and not be posted to the list. Discussion that is not related directly to the fiction should go over to the general Buffy list. Discussion of fiction is expected to follow common netiquette guidelines and use PG-13 language. 3. 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Jill Kirby (jtkirby@mcs.com) & Sharon Himmanen (romana@mindspring.com) Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List buffyfic@xmission.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sah Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: Free email policy Date: 01 Sep 1998 11:29:58 -0400 Please read this. It's very important. Effective immediately, anyone who wishes to s*bscribe to any Buffy list on a "freemail" account (Geocities, Hotmail, etc.) will be required to provide us with a "permanent" e-mail address as a backup. We will under any circumstances reveal this permanent e-mail address to anyone. This is for our reference This new policy has become necessary because of the problems we've experienced with freemail accounts. They're too easy to set up and cancel, and there is so little recourse if the individual with the freemail account causes problems, that we have no choice but to enact this policy. The s*bscription information pages will be changed to reflect this policy. IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY S*BSCRIBED UNDER A FREEMAIL ADDRESS: as long as you stay s*bscribed, you do not need to provide us with this information. However, if you uns*b and want to res*b at some point, you will have to give us this information even if you were previously a s*bscriber through a freemail account. If we have to uns*b you for bouncing mail, again, you'll have to provide the information to res*b. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us offlist. Thanks. sah and Jill romana@mindspring.com and jtkirby@mcs.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Black Fire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (9/?) Date: 01 Sep 1998 16:34:38 PDT Title: Kender Chaos Author: Black Fire Email:Blackfire42@hotmail.com Feedback: Yes, please. Rating: PG Spoilers: Buffy: Anything before WML1 Dragonlance: Chronicles and Legends Trilogies. Disclaimers: I own neither sets of characters and I can't afford to either. Summary: Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Fizban the Fabulous have found their way to Sunnydale. Yes, I'm finally getting around to finishing this. Anyway, when we last left, Spike had just narrowly escaped a stray fireball and Buffy and Co. were worrying about what my happen if Spike and Drusilla found out who Fizban really was. Kender Chaos Chapter 9 Across town, Fizban was slumped in a chair, snoring quietly. Spike had been trying for hours to get some useful information out of him, but the old wizard was no help. Sometimes he couldn't even remember his own name, and others, he mumbled incoherently about things which made no sense. Spike finally gave up and left the old man alone. Fizban had, then, promptly fallen asleep in Spike's chair. Drusilla was supervising the placement of the brand new table that two vampires had found to replace the last one they had replaced. Spike watched this, absently wondering how long *this* one would last. Having found the perfect spot for the table, Dru went to sit at Fizban's feet. This finally caused him to stir from his nap and look down at her. Rather than confused, as usual, his face was one of concern for the girl leaning against him. Gently, he reached down and put a comforting hand on her head. "And what's wrong with you, my girl?" he asked. "Princess is sick," Dru whispered, looking off into space. "Hmmm..." Fizban mumbled. "Not that it's any of *your* business," Spike jumped in, "but she's very weak and getting worse." "I'll decide what is and is not my business, Sonny," Fizban snapped, glaring at Spike. "Will you help?" Dru asked, looking up at the old man. "Help Princess? Make her feel better?" "There may just be something I can do," Fizban said, smiling down at her. "What could *you* do?" Spike snapped. "Well, I could... uh...," the seriousness was gone from Fizban in an instant. "What was the question again?" "Oh bloody hell!" Spike growled. "I was right. He's of no use to us, what so ever!" Ignoring a whimper from Drusilla, Spike continued on his tirade, while Fizban just sat there trying to remember what they were talking about. "Where is that blasted Kender?" Fizban muttered. "He'd know what I was supposed to do. Say have you found him yet?" Spike walked around behind Fizban and leaned over him, "I could kill you so easily, old man," he whispered into the wizard's ear. "Well, that's not very nice," Fizban grumbled. "Here I've offered to help you, but you don't tell me what you want help with. But I give you my word that I will help you with whatever it is you need help with, if you help me. But do you live up to your end? No, so why should I? I'd use that wonderful fire ball spell on you... if I could remember what it was..." "It just so happens that I sent people out looking just after sunset," came Spike's retort. "Well, that's different then," the old man exclaimed, lowering his hands. "Now what was it you wanted me to help you with?" With a muffled cry of frustration, Spike finally gave up and stormed out of the factory, deciding that looking for dinner would be far less frustrating than dealing with Drusilla's new pet. The Black Fire | "Don't worry, I'm not here to eat." Blackfire42@hotmail.com | -Angel (IG) http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4203 "But if they all forget me I will be here anyway, like an artifact of some lost civilization" -Vlad Dracula _The Dracula Tape_ "I'll see you there, Jekyll." -Edward Hyde "Jekyll & Hyde" ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: taygeta@juno.com (Charity C. T.) Subject: BUFFYFIC: Chronicles (26/?) Date: 03 Sep 1998 12:06:48 -0700 TITLE: Chronicles of the White Knight #26 A Hand to Hold AUTHOR: Taygeta E-MAIL: taygeta@juno.com FEEDBACK: Yes...whatever the complaint! DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me first. RATING: PG KEYWORDS: Buffy/Xander fanfic DISCLAIMER: The characters any such reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series belong to their creator, Joss Whedon, and their owners, Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions, Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. In other words, they do not belong to me. Copyright infringement not intended. ***************************** Chronicles of the White Knight #26 A Hand to Hold By: Taygeta As much as he wanted to never let her out of his arms, he pulled himself away, and Buffy, surprised at the sudden, cold-reacting move, was reassured of his ongoing presence by the comforting touch of her hand in his. She looked up to meet his eyes and felt his other hand against the hollow of her cheek, quick to wipe tears that had shed. There they stood, eyes fixed to the other, not wanting to move, not even wanting to breath for fear of ending the moment, but soon enough, Xander tore his eyes away from hers and mustered something of a smile, "Come on…I think we should go to Giles." As they walked towards the school quickly, Buffy's mind began to take in the flood of memories that was contained in those lost weeks, and with it came the pain of loss, the anger of suffering, and the emptiness of uncontrollability. She remembered everything with bitter vividness, being controlled like a puppet the moment her eyes fell on Angel, almost like that past Halloween, but so much more different because this time her awareness was non-existent, her avoidance of her friends, their avoidance of her, etc. Yet, out of the memories held in her mind of those days, the ones that held the most ground, that burned into the deepest crevices of her mind and of her heart, were the afflictions she had set on Xander and the realization of the love he had given her in return. She was thoroughly aware that he hadn't a clue to the type of spell she had been under, it was obvious in his manner, voice, and form. Half-glad she was about his not knowing, but the other half of her wondered what if he did know…how would he react and as she glanced quickly at him during their gait, she didn't think she wanted to know, or rather, she feared the answer. "Are you ready?" he asked in a voice filled with concern as they reached the doors to the library. After how badly she had treated them, she wondered if her readiness really mattered in the overall whole, it was really a matter, if they were ready to excuse her for what she had done. Nodding, she swallowed a gulp of air into her dry throat and whispered, "Yeah, I think so." "Good," he said softly as he looked into her eyes that once again locked in the matter that they had before. She saw in his eyes so much pain and her heart ached to think that she had caused that pain to be there, but in the sorrow of his eyes, was the love she had always known, but had been too blind and ignorant to see. Her hand hesitantly reached to touch his face, she felt the stubble of his chin beneath her palm, and her fingers moved to touch his lips…those she was fighting the urge to kiss. His free hand took hold of her wrist and he kissed her fingers softly before he said, "You have to do this on your own, you know that don't you?" She nodded slowly, "Yeah, I know, but can't you stay with me…just for a little while?" He shook his head, "I'm sorry, Buffy, but I can't…I've stayed a lot longer than I should've and I have to go." "I understand," she said as her eyes fell to the floor when his hands relinquished hers and he began to walk away. Looking up, she called out to him, "Xander!" He turned and looked at her, "Yes, Buffy?" Shaking her head in the frustration of memories and words she said, "I wanted you to know that I'm the one that should be sorry…for what happened…for everything." "But how could you be responsible? You love Angel and - " "But that's it! I don't love him," she said as she approached him and looked carefully into his eyes, "I love you…Xander, and it's that stupid spell that made me lose you…I don't want to lose you." "What are you - " he asked in a confused tone, "Buffy…what - what was the spell that was cast?" Taking a deep breath she replied, "That spell was a love spell. To make me fall in love with Angel, to make me break up with you, to make me do all the stupid things that I've done these past weeks." "She's telling the truth, Xander," Willow said as the Scooby gang filtered out of the library when they heard the loud voices in the hallway. "Why didn't you guys tell me that it was a love spell?" he demanded at them. "Because we didn't want this kind of reaction from you. We weren't sure you would be willing to help if you knew the kind of spell she was under. We weren't sure we had the responsibility to tell you what kind of spell she was under," Giles explained. "What reaction? I haven't even had time for a reaction," Xander said with blazing eyes, "I don't even know how to react! Lose the love of your life due to the magic of an all-powerful vampirical magician and his buddy, his sidekick, the formerly soul-bound Angel. Anybody care to give me reacting tips?" "Xander, don't be like - " "Y'know the last time I heard you say that I didn't fair well, so I think I'm going to get gone," he replied as he gave her one last longing look before he turned and walked away. Buffy felt a hand squeeze her shoulder comfortingly and she looked to find Willow with her optimistic smile, "He'll be okay, Buffy…you just have to give him time." They turned to walk to the library and she wondered how much time he was going to need to deal. No matter how long it was going to take…no matter what happened, she was comforted by the knowledge that Xander would always be her friend, he was as loyal as they come…after all, he had come to help her despite what had occurred that night, weeks prior. And she could deal with him being just her friend, as long as Buffy knew there was hand out there that was willing to take hold of hers and never let her fall…she was fine with his being *just* her friend. At least, that's what she told herself over and over again in the midst of the Scooby gang's tried comforting, all the while feeling her hand lost without the warmth of his gentle hold and feeling her heart empty and broken and lost without the presence of his. *****End of 26...Feedback???? :)****** _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: taygeta@juno.com (Charity C. T.) Subject: BUFFYFIC: Capeside: the Hellmouth #14 Date: 03 Sep 1998 17:16:32 -0700 TITLE: Capeside: the Hellmouth #10 Almost Full Moon AUTHOR: Taygeta E-MAIL: taygeta@juno.com FEEDBACK: Yes...whatever the complaint DISTRIBUTION: Sure...just tell me where it's gonna go. RATING: PG SERIES: A Dawson's Creek/Buffy Crossover DISCLAIMER: The characters and any other reference to Dawson's Creek are the property of, creator, Kevin Williamson. The characters portrayed and in reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to its creator Joss Whedon, and it's owners Mutant Enemy Productions, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. In other words, they do not belong to me and I am just borrowing them. No copyright infringement is intended. ************************** Capeside: the Hellmouth #14 Evil Unfolding By: Taygeta Cordelia peered into the water filled cauldron in front of her and screeched, "Ooh…that slayer makes me so mad." "Oh, relax, darling," Pacey said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek, "This is going to work…we've got it all planned perfectly. Their forces are down…that Jen girl is near death with that demon we loaned the car too, killing the Master Magician got their magic brats out of the way, and I brought you a present." She peered up at him and smiled, "Is a it a new dress?" "Even better," he said. "What can be better than a new dress?" she pouted and crossed her arms as she pulled away from his hold. Pacey smiled, "Oh…so many things…I'm sure you'll love your present, Cordelia. Grant…Larry…bring them in." Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened as her tongue scraped against her sharp incisors, "May I have them?" "No, darling, they're not to eat…at least not yet, anyway," he said as he walked towards their prisoners with a smile, "First, we have to get through a little game of Interrogation…I'm sure there are a lot of things they can tell us, isn't that right, Watchers?" *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Visiting hours are over, sir," one of the nurses said to Angel as he sat in the uncomfortable waiting room chairs. He looked up at her and mustered a smile, "Um…I know…I'd - I'd just like to sit here for awhile, if that's okay?" "Sure, go right ahead. No harm in doing that," she replied before she walked away. A few moments later he a different voice say to him, "Visiting hours are over." "I know, I - " he began as he looked up and then paused, "Hello, Mrs. Lindley…how's Jen?" The older woman smiled softly as she sat beside him, "She's in critical, but stable condition still. The doctors are prospecting for the best, as they always are, and I'm merely praying that God doesn't take her too." "But what if God wills it?" he asked as he glanced at her. "Then He wills it," she said with a sigh, "but he hasn't yet, and I am holding on to the fact that he hasn't." "As am I," he said and for a moment, there was a peace in the room, as silently old scores and scorns between the two settled almost instantaneously. All of which was due to a shared faith in a higher being and a young woman hanging on to dear life in a room in the hustle and bustle of a hospital…a young woman, well loved. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "The sun's going to come up in a few hours…we, you, especially, better head home," Buffy warned, "I think the vamp threats are over. At least for now." "Yeah, I better go," he said, "If there's any change with Jen, make sure and call me…I'd like to know." She smiled and nodded, "Sure, of course…what is it with you and Jen, anyway?" "What do you mean?" "You two, you guys were always…kinda close…kinda really good friends…" Dawson shrugged, "I suppose it's because we are…I mean before, we used to go out, but that fell into shambles when she fell for Angel. Then we didn't talk to each other for awhile, but when we did…it was like before we had dated, but minus the physical attraction and raging teenage hormones." They continued to the Leery house laughingly beneath the night's sheath, and Buffy turned to him before she left and grinned, "Same bat time, same bat channel?" Frowning he asked, "What?" "Never mind," she said shaking her head as she thought that Capeside sourly lacked in the area of pop culture…at least Sunnydale's version of. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Xander rubbed his eyes sleepily and yawned as he trudged tiredly into the kitchen. He hadn't slept a wink the entire night. Had he really changed among the months that had passed in his stay in Capeside, and if he had, was it so significant that he was no longer who he had been? Then again, how much did Buffy really know about him? When he had told her about digressing and contemplating over who his mother was now, she couldn't have possibly known that he had spent his whole life doing that because he hadn't a clue who his mother was. How was she was suppose to know that the person who he called, Mom, who he knew and loved as, Mom, wasn't even his to call his own. Surely, he cared for her like a son would, but it was because of his lost lineage that they were never close to begin with. The same was said for the father that was never home to begin with. The once-in-awhile father that found himself to Sunnydale every Christmas and some birthdays and bought him something new and extravagant each time. "Quite the home life," he muttered to himself as he shut the refrigerator door, grabbed his backpack, and headed out the door. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Giles, have you - " Buffy stopped mid-sentence to find the room occupied with only Xander standing with a confused expression in what was formerly a neat library, "What happened?" "I came in here a few minutes ago and everything was a mess," he answered as he glanced at her, "D-do you suppose it's…" "Vampires?" she finished as she stood beside him and surveyed the room before meeting his glance, "Definitely." "The minions of Cordelia and Pacey, I presume," Joey said closing the library door behind her as she walked in, "I take it that Ms. Calendar and Giles didn't get out of here." "Most likely? No," the slayer replied as she walked around the room, continuing to eye the job the Undead Americans had left of their library and she passed by Ms. Calendar's laptop, "Hey, this thing's on." Joey and Xander walked towards the computer as Buffy opened it to reveal that it was still on, apparently running on very low batteries. "One of the vampires, probably pulled the plug," Xander said as he found the adapter on the floor and hooked it to the PowerBook. "Apparently not fast enough," Joey said with a smile a she clicked on a file on the desktop, "Um…it says:" "Library taken over by vampires. Informed Willow's Society to take you in so that a plan may be devised. Cordelia and Pacey are initiating their plan to kill you…reasons for all the vampires. Good luck, we are sure you'll survive. Don't worry about us, we can-" "That's it…that's all that was written." "They're going to try and kill you," Xander said looking at Buffy with unmasked concern. "Try's the keyword, Xand, because I'm still alive and kicking, and I intend to stay that way." _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: taygeta@juno.com (Charity C. T.) Subject: BUFFYFIC: My Moira (10/?) Date: 04 Sep 1998 00:00:17 -0700 TITLE: My Moira #10 AUTHOR: Taygeta E-MAIL: taygeta@juno.com FEEDBACK: Very muchly wanted (bad or good...whatever the complaint) DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me first. RATING: PG DESCRIPTION: Buffy's daugher is a slayer. It's about 20 some-odd years after. Buffy's married to Xander. Cordelia's a Watcher. Buffy and Giles retired from the slayer-biz. DISCLAIMER: The characters portrayed in this fanfic and any such reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series belong to their creator, Joss Whedon, and their owners, Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions, Sanddollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. In other words, they do not belong to me. Copyright infringement not intended. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* My Moira #10 By: Taygeta Wham! Whack! Crack…crash! Moira winced as the wooden structure broke on her last kick, "Sorry…looked kinda on the side of ancient though, so I suppose damage can be forgiven?" "Why didn't you guys tell me she was a natural?" Cordelia said in amazement at she looked at the broken apparatus. Xander smiled and chuckled, "Depends on what you consider as natural? 10 years of karate, 3 years of gymnastics, 8 years spent studying ballet, tap, modern dance, and soft-shoe…" "Oh and don't forget the year spent figure skating," continued Buffy with a smile. "But how is that possible?" the Watcher asked carefully, "That's a lot of activities for a 15-year-old girl, even if she's a slayer." Buffy explained, "Moira's been taking karate since she was five and that and ballet are the only two she's kept from all of that. She started gymnastics at three when she saw the Olympics for the first time, but I had her quit because she broke her wrist and ankle when she jumped on the balance beam when she wasn't suppose to and fell. Then we get into the dance phase years and she's still doing that with her ballet." "What about figure skating?" she asked. "That went out the window when she found out the coach was getting married," Xander said with a laugh. "Dad…that *so* wasn't like that!" insisted Moira with such an admonished expression that it was obvious that it was "so" like that and she turned to Cordelia, "Is it necessary to have the PU's here?" She wrinkled her forehead, "PU's? What are you - " "Parental Units," the teenager explained exasperatingly. "You heard the slayer…out," Cordelia said as she opened the door, the "PU's" reluctantly exited, and she closed the door behind them. "So, Moira, why don't we get into - " "Hey…now I remember you…" the fifteen-year-old said with a grin, "You used to date Dad!" Cordelia crimsoned under her pupil's grin, but held her composure, "How did you -" "Prom pics," she replied simply and then donned a devious expression, "So, were you and dad serious?" She hesitated and replied, "Um…sort of, but getting back to - " "How did you guys end up in the non-relationship factor?" Moira continued to probe. "It just didn't work out," she said, "Now can we get - " "How so?" the slayer said in a tone imitating innocence, but was obviously far from it's exterior. "If I tell you, do you promise no more questions and you get back to training?" asked Cordelia in a vexatious tone. "Slayer's honor," she said with crossed fingers behind her back. "Hands," she said as she looked at her critically. "Slayer's honor," she repeated with both hands showing, "Now spill." Shrugging Cordelia replied, "There's nothing really to spill. The night those pictures were taken was the night we broke up - " "He broke up with you at the prom?" Moira said with wide-eyes, "That's beyond scale harsh." Smiling, she shook her head, "N-no Moira, you don't understand. *We* broke up…meaning, mutual. It was a long time coming too, I guess both us just didn't want to admit it. See, for the most longest time, your father was in love with your mother." "But Mom was dating someone else, right?" she said, "Some guy…that was a major baddy in the eventual I hear." Realizing that her student hadn't a clue who Angel was, let alone, the identity of Angelus, Cordelia carefully said, "Uh…yeah, ended up being totally not himself. Anyway, despite that she was pretty upset at what he turned out to be that kind of threw your father and your mother together, friendship, wise. I was still his girlfriend, but even before that, I subconsciously knew he had this concept with her. Admittedly, and never tell him this, I was jealous, but I never really let him see that." "Wait a minute, does that mean Mom was the reason you two became non-existent?" she said speculated. "She was one of the reasons, but we wouldn't have worked out in the end, I don't think," Cordelia said, "And now, I think I've said just a little too much about the years of yesterday. So, why don't we get to crossbow training and leave your probing manners to the vamps in case interrogation takes place. Let's just hope you won't use those 'special skills' to interrogate their former 100+ years love lives." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Giles watched his breath swirl in the coldness of the California fall night as he eyed the twilight visible above. Turning around he saw Cordelia walk out of the house to join him, holding too hot mugs of coffee. "Thought you might need this," she said handing him a large green mug, "Don't worry, it's decaff." "Not that it matters…truthfully, sleep has been rather, as Xander used to put it, gone, lately," he replied as he took a sip of the warm liquid, "How goes training?" "Physically, the girl is like two Buffies," smiled Cordelia, "Dance and karate training…it's as if Xander and Buffy subconsciously knew their daughter was the next slayer. "Emotionally?" he questioned. "Not too well off," she admitted, "She's not taking any of this very seriously…and I think Buffy's right. She's going to have to patrol and a kill a vampire…fight a vampire, really, if she's gonna survive this. I pray to God, that I'm going to be as lucky as you were Giles…I think that all Watchers do. You're the first to have a retired slayer…and all of us want that." "Sadly, enough, not everyone reaches that," he said, "But I wouldn't say that I was entirely lucky to have been the Watcher of Buffy…not that I wasn't lucky. Headstrong, that girl was…still is to this day, but I think that that's what made her survive. Her adversary ways, her stubborn demeanor, and her want to be normal and knowing that she couldn't be so…perhaps never be so." "Thanks for the complimentary, Giles," Buffy said as she walked out of the kitchen and closed the screen door behind her, "But do you know what really kept me going?" "What?" "I didn't want anyone else to die, knowing that I had the best chance of preventing it," she said, "When Ms. Calendar died…I had a harder time adjusting than you would have thought. To know that in that moment, in the mall, I could of - I could of killed him, but I didn't…I blamed myself for that." "But it wasn't your fault, Buffy…you weren't ready…you can't tell the future," Cordelia replied, "Prophecy and all, it's only a portion of what may be, in reality, all those prophecies we've tried to divert, happened, we've just prevented them from being worse. Is that what I need to teach Moira? She's got stubborn and headstrong stamped over her forehead…I wonder where she gets that from." "Surely not from the guy that ran like a woman," joked Xander as he joined them on the back porch. "At least you came out, non-amphibious," quipped Cordelia with a smile. "Wait a minute, Cordy, I thought you took care of Annie the slayer…how is it that you were able to take charge of Moira?" Giles asked with a frown. "I was actually Annie's replacement Watcher…the one that trained her since birth died at the hands of a vampire and the Watcher's Society gave her to me," she said, "Apparently, I didn't do such a good job." "You mean, I didn't do such a good job," Buffy said softly. "He's not your destiny," Giles said with a comforting glance. Cordelia looked at them and said, "No, he's Moira's." _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: taygeta@juno.com (Charity C. T.) Subject: BUFFYFIC: IOHM (8/?) Date: 05 Sep 1998 00:01:27 -0700 TITLE: In Opacitatem Habitant Modo #8 Angelus AUTHOR: Taygeta E-MAIL: taygeta@juno.com FEEDBACK: Yes...please...whatever the complaint DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me first. RATING: PG SERIES DESCRIPTION: Buffy is blind, various POVs INSTALLMENT DESCRIPTION: A peek into the mind of Angelus DISCLAIMER: The characters any such reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series belong to their creator, Joss Whedon, and their owners, Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. In other words, they do not belong to me. Copyright infringement not intended. AUTHOR'S NOTE: I think this is not my best work...at all. I find it a little bit better than my Willow, but not too much better. Feedback would definitely be appreciated because I really need to know opinions due to the fact that this is a very hesitant installment. So, if you will...? *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* In Opacitatem Habitant Modo #8 Angelus By: Taygeta The dark, where the forbidden that harbors in the shadows of the day come to play. A place cloaked by the black, by the evil, and lighted only by the moonlight that casts the spells of madness at the fall of the light of day. Where vampires, witches, demons, and wolves seep in through moonlight's rays, and where the slayer will live her last weeks, days, hours, and minutes, before she is mine again. My love. My obsession. My kill. She is all. The chosen one among the rest, the chosen one that I choose to destroy. After all, she is the slayer. She is wanted by the vampires, the undead creatures of the night, by demons, by witches, and even by the hell-lord himself. All want her dead, quick and easy, but not me. Not I. I want her alive to drain her first of those sickly human feelings she gave to me and my counterpart gave to her. I want her first to feel pain and suffering, and then, *then* the very blood that runs its course through her veins will fill my own and take from her that precious elan vital, or at least what is left of it in blood. But as strong as my want to destroy her inside and out, the want…the wrath…of Druscilla, may indeed be the stronger. Spike's ashes litter the floor still where he died, where she sits at shrine through day and through night. Madness has encumbered her again, bound itself to her soul, but insanity is no longer a barrier to her demon's passions, for intent has paved its absurdly sane way. The Creatures of the Dark scoff at our idleness, at our sitting in wait for her to come to us. Ignorant, those undead fools are. She may be without eyes, without sight, but she is strong, stronger than any of those I had faced before, and although he never admitted it, not that he can now, anyway, stronger than Spike had ever killed. Lack of sight will not stop her…I know her too well. And admittedly so, I know the sickness of human love all too well. The bonds that she has with those friends of hers are powerful. So powerful that they will do anything to keep her alive, even if their life must end in the process. From the shadows, I know how guilt ridden they all are over her loss of eyes, but no matter the guilt, it seems that the nauseating feelings of love overwhelm the vice. They think we are only dealing with her, and that is where they are truly the imbeciles because it is far from being that, has never been that, and could never be that. Fighting her means to fight them, and although they are but mere mortals in the game of Good vs. Evil and are treading very slowly on the thin line of life and death, they, with her, are making us walk their very path in this everlasting game. ******End of #8 and my last plea for feedback!!!******* _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uzenet@videotron.ca Subject: BUFFYFIC: Reunions and Other Troubles Date: 07 Sep 1998 12:50:39 -0500 Title: Reunions and Other Troubles Author: Northlight email: uzenet@videotron.ca Summary: A continuation to =91Love and Pain=92 . =20 Note: I messed with both of their characters. But it=92s my (dement= ed) story, so... Note #2: Lise, my message to you bounced but I did say that you can archive Love and Pain. Disclaimer: Angel is Joss Whedon=92s. Remy is Marvel=92s. =09The two men sat in companionable silence, both puffing on cigarett= es and wearing identical looks of sorrowful regret and loss. A thin haz= e of smoke, the result of months of nothing to do but talk and smoke, h= ung over the non descript room. =09Finally, Remy flicked his cigarette away. =93So anyway, I think t= hat she saved me, right?=94 he said suddenly, as if continuing a long standin= g conversation. =20 =09Angel nodded, slinking deeper into his chair. =93Yeah. The citad= el was falling, you head was in a guillotine...=94 =09=93But Rogue gets me out. So I think she=92s going to forgive me.= But then she dumps me into the snow and leaves me there to freeze.=94 Re= my narrowed his red on black eyes triumphantly. This time, he=92d be su= re to win their angst bout. Angel may have been roasting in Hell, but he s= pun a much better tale. Hell, anything sounded better if it were spoken with an accent. =09=93I got sent to Hell by my girlfriend after she told me to close = my eyes and kissed me,=94 Angel responded. He slunk further down, and Remy h= ad to wonder if a vampiric trait was a spine made of jello. =09Remy=92s lips parted to deliver the next line in their well worn d= ialogue when he was interrupted by the sudden and rather shocking appearance = of a door popping into the middle of the waiting room. =09Angel blinked in confusion, while Remy=92s eyes widened eagerly. = This was their chance to escape! They=92d get out eventually if they left= it to their respective creative teams, but why wait if this door could s= ave them now? Besides, after the treatment he=92d received, Remy wasn= =92t about to let his fate sit in the hands of _any_ writer. =09A blue and gold bundle tumbled through the door, landing on the fl= oor with a startled oath. A silver head shook uncertainly. =93What=92s = going on here? What happened to Sabra?=94 a familiar and all too unwelcome= d voice mumbled. =09=93Sorry Joe, but we=92ve gotta run,=94 Remy said, grinning happil= y as he leapt to his feet. He wobbled slightly, his legs having become accustomed an easy life in a waiting room chair. But the chance of freedom, and the fear of being stuck in the same room as amnesia boy sent him scurrying forward. =09Angel, being no dummy, followed Remy=92s example. Moments later, = the two angsty men were barreling toward the wavering door.=20 =09 =09When the disorienting blur before their eyes faded, Remy and Angel found themselves standing in a cemetery of all places. Remy scowled, but Angel=92s eyes lightened up. =20 =09=93Don=92t see what=92s so happy =91bout a cemetery=94 Remy grumbl= ed. He=92d half expected to step through the door and land in Rogue=92s waiting arms.= =20 After that hopeful image, this was just a bit of a let down. =09But Angel=92s mind was filled with the memories of the nights he a= nd Buffy had spent lip locked in just such a place. In fact, Angel look= ed around his surroundings more critically, this _was_ their cemetery! = And right over their was their favorite make out headstone... =09=93I=92m home!=94 Angel exclaimed giddily. =09Remy glanced at him. So that=92s what a non-angsting vampire soun= ds like, he thought. =93So you going to go see your girl?=94 =09Angel paused in his happy, giggly, in no way mysterious and broody dance. =93Um... Do think she=92d want to see me again? I know that = she loves me and all that, but you know, people are going to want us to w= ork through our issues.=94 =09=93This ain=92t your show, Angel! Nobody here cares about your is= sues, they just want you and Buffy to fly into each others arms.=94 Remy s= tared into space dreamily as his words continued, in more detail in his own mind. =91... and find that she=92s learned to control her powers, an= d that she=92s totally confident in herself and in our relationship, and tha= t years of not being able to touch anyone has made her _real_ eager for= --=94 =09=93--her!=94 Angel=92s excited cry burst through Remy=92s fantasy = before it could violate the comics code. =09=93Huh?=94 Remy replied, shooing his fantasy into the back of his = mind where he could pursue it later privately, and in much closer detail. =09=93That=92s her. Buffy=92s here!=94 Angel composed himself, turn= ing for Giggly Vampire Guy into Broody, Mysterious, Tortured, Vampire Hunk wi= th a Soul. =93She must be out patrolling...=94 =09Buffy, hearing her toasted love=92s words, looked up, surprise app= arent in her eyes. =93Angel!=94 she cried out, shock warring with deliriou= s joy. =09=93Buffy!=94 =09=93Angel=94 =20 =09 =09=93Buffy!=94=20 =09 =09=93Angel!=94 =09=93Buffy!=94 =09*SMOOCH* =09=93Oooohhh... Angeeeeellll!=94 =09=93Oooohhh yeah Buffy!=94 =09=93Ahem.=94 =09=93Uh? Oh... Buffy? Ooooh, honey? I... ahhhh.... this is... oh!= =94 =09=93Remy. My name is Remy.=94 =09Buffy seemed much more interested in a thorough inspection of Ange= l=92s mouth than in the stranger accompanying him. But she drew up enough willpower to pull herself away from him. =93Pleased to... *gasp*... = meet you.=94 =09The small group fell into an uncomfortable silence for a moment.= =20 Buffy=92s hand inched towards Angel=92s, and seeing the glazed look i= n the Slayer=92s eyes, Remy decided that it might be best to try to find Ro= gue before he got treated to another view of Buffy=92s pleasure to have A= ngel back.=20 =09=93Well, I=92m going to go find Rogue now=94 Remy stated. =91I ju= st hope I get as warm a welcome as Angel did=92. His fantasy prodded at his awaren= ess, begging to be let out in all it=92s delightful glory. Remy reluctant= ly leashed it back, promising to let if free reign in just a bit. =09=93I=92ll come with you. After hearing so much about her, I want = to meet this woman,=94 Angel said. =20 =09Remy had a sneaking suspicion that Angel=92s eagerness to accompan= y him had more to do with a certain librarian, hacker and annoying boy than genuine interest in Rogue. =93Sure.=94 =09=93I=92m coming with you,=94 Buffy said firmly, her hand squeezing= Angel=92s as if she=92d never let go. =09=93Why not?=94 Remy shrugged. =09Several minutes later (after discovering that Rogue was vacationin= g in Sunnydale and had rented a room in a nearby motel. A lucky break for all involved. Ain=92t coincidences great?). =09=93Remy?=94 =09=93Rogue.=94 =09=93Remy.=94 =09=93Rouge.=94 =09=93Remy!=94 =09=93Rogue!=94 =09*SMOOCH!* =09=93Remy, Ah learned to control my powers, I=92m totally confident = in myself and our relationship, and years without touching has made me incredib= ly eager for smoochies!=94 =09=93Oh, Rogue!=94 =09=93Oh, Remy!=94 =09=93Oh, Angel!=94 =09=93Excuse me, miss. But this is _my_ kissy time!=94 =09=93Oh. Sorry about that.=94 =09And thus, the two angsty couples were reunited, and there was smoo= chies for all. ~The End~ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Black Fire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (10/?) Date: 08 Sep 1998 16:27:03 PDT Title: Kender Chaos Author: Black Fire Email:Blackfire42@hotmail.com Feedback: Yes, please. Rating: PG Spoilers: Buffy: Anything before WML1 Dragonlance: Chronicles and Legends Trilogies. Disclaimers: I own neither sets of characters and I can't afford to either. Summary: Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Fizban the Fabulous have found their way to Sunnydale. Kender Chaos Chapter 10 Within an hour, an all out search was underway. They had set out from Buffy's house in groups of two or three. The biggest problem was which group would have the double task of looking for Spike's hideout while making sure that Tas stayed out of trouble. Through some sick twist of fate, this task fell to Angel, who also had the bad luck of getting paired with Xander. The gypsies had wanted him to suffer, yes, but this was pure torture! Dividing his attention between searching, keeping a wary eye on his "partner" and making sure the Kender stayed within arms' reach, he lead his party off towards the industrial area of Sunnydale. Giles and Willow had taken the main business area and Buffy was searching the residential area. The only thing that made Angel's situation semi-tolerable, was that Buffy had gotten stuck with Cordelia. Again, as usual, Tasslehof immediately became fascinated with all the wondrous things he was seeing in the strange world he had landed in. So much so, that Angel was, once again, forced to pick him up by the waist after the fifth or sixth time he had tried to wander off. To make matters worse, by the time they got to the warehouses near The Bronze, Xander was quietly arguing with him about something or other. Angel wasn't really paying attention, except to the search time he was loosing, being stuck with these two. That was when his heightened vampire senses heard a muffled cry coming from behind a dumpster. "Shut up," he quietly hissed at Xander. "Hey..." Xander started to say, but stopped after one look at Angel. Angel listened a moment longer then shoved Tas into Xander's arms with a quick, "Here, take him," and silently made his way towards the sound he had heard. Tas, who was currently occupying him self with the silly way things looked while hanging upside-down, became rather disappointed with the world righted itself. "Hey, what happened?" he asked, looking up at Xander. He then noticed Angel sneaking off towards a big, metal bin of some sort. "Where's he going?" Xander absently put a hand over the Kender's mouth as he waited for whatever might happen next. Sure enough, within a few minutes, a girl came running out of the shadows with a hand clasped to her throat and a look of terror on her face. A split second later, a vampire went flying over the dumpster and landed in a heap at Xander's feet. Wasting no time, Xander dropped the Kender, pulled a stake out of his jacket and finished the vamp off. Tas's eyes widened as the dead vampire turned to dust and disintegrated. "Wow!! Can you do that again?" "I'd like to," Xander said, watching Angel walk out from behind the dumpster, "but Buffy would kill me." "That was so neat," Tas exclaimed to Angel. "I've never seen anyone turn to dust before." "Stay with us much longer, and you'll see a whole lot more," Angel said, ignoring the glare he was getting from Xander. "Really?" the Kender gasped. "That would be so much fun! Maybe I could stay here a little longer. I'm sure Caramon and Tanis won't be needing me for a while." Tas's statement sparked a rare moment of agreement between his two companions and the two quickly grabbed Tasslehof and resumed their search pattern. * * * * * Spike swore quietly as he watched the proceedings below from the rooftops. Just his luck that that creature he was looking for had fallen joined up with the slayer and her gang. It just made getting the old bungler sleeping at his place that much harder to get rid of. But, at least he knew where that Tas person was now. That might come in real handy in trying to get Fizban to actually do something. Then again, the old geezer could have forgotten all about it by now. * * * * * The Black Fire | Vote for me in the Site Fights!! Blackfire42@hotmail.com | http://www.thesitefights.com/sarina/nest2.htm http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4203 "But if they all forget me I will be here anyway, like an artifact of some lost civilization" -Vlad Dracula _The Dracula Tape_ "Don't worry. I'm not here to eat." -- Angel (IG) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (1/10) Date: 09 Sep 1998 20:32:19 -0400 Title: King of the World (1/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. The man walked down the sidewalk with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He had come to Sunnydale trying to escape his fate. It seemed like everyone in the world wanted a piece of him. He kicked a stone and watched it dance across the street. He didn't see the figure lurking behind him. The figure stayed in the shadows. Watching every move the man made, following him with a lyncean gaze. He struck a match on the side of a building and brought it to the cigarette dangling from his mouth. The warm glow of the flame bottom lit his features, casting wicked shadows onto his face. With white-blonde hair and nice cheekbones, he could have been strikingly handsome, but in this light he looked like a creature of evil. Angular features and a cold glare coming from almost reptilian eyes. Lusus naturae. Freak of nature. Demon. Nosferatu. Vampire. He had many names, including the moniker that he chose to go by, Spike. Spike exhaled the smoke and tossed the smoldering match into a nearby dumpster, igniting its contents. The unmistakable smell of burning flesh and gasoline filled his nostrils and he stepped into the street. Still sizing up the man ahead of him, Spike decided he would be easy pickings. He was so wrapped up in his mortal concerns he didn't even sense his presence. He sped up a bit, his leather trenchcoat swirling around him as he walked. Nearing the man, Spike morphed into human form and spoke, "Wait up, Mate. I want to talk to you." "Leave me alone," came the man's response. "Hey, play nice. That's no way to treat your savior, now, is it?" Spike said, his British voice clipped in annoyance. Who did this bastard think he was anyway? The man stopped in his tracks, "What do you mean? 'My savior'? How are you going to save me?" "Well," Spike began, starting to think this twerp wasn't worth the effort, "I noticed you seem to be 'avin' a rough spot of it. I thought I could help. Be a soundin' board, of sorts. Someone to get blotto with, per'aps?" "Look, 'Mate'," the man said, turning around, revealing an almost cherubic face, that of a boy, not a man at all, "I doubt you could be of any help to me." "You," Spike breathed, recognizing the man. "Oh, God, no. Just leave me alone." "The name's Spike and I'll 'ave none of that 'God' crap," he said, flicking the cigarette to the pavement. "You're that Michaelangelo fellow or whatever, aren't you?" Spike asked, bemused by the change in circumstance. "Leonardo." "Oh, well, whatever. I knew it was one of the Ninja Turtle names," Spike said, chuckling to himself. "OK. OK. What do you want?" Leo asked, expecting a request for an autograph for every member of this guy's family. "I told you," Spike said, putting on his game face. "I want something to drink." ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ <--wondering if she should send the next part -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (2/10) Date: 09 Sep 1998 21:41:18 -0400 Here is part 2 by popular demand! Thanks for all the great feedback! Title: King of the World (2/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. He tried to scream, but the sound never escaped his throat. Spike shoved a fist in the boy's mouth and dragged him to a black car a few yards away. Throwing him into the back seat, he shut the door, narrowly missing the Leo's hand as he tried to escape. He laughed to himself as he walked around the car. Stepping into the car, he spoke, "I wouldn't try anything like that again, if I were you. Then again, if I were you, I would've 'ad sense enough to not find myself in this situation, so I forbear. It won't do you any good to pull at those, Mate," he said, watching Leo in the rearview, eyeballing the door handles. "I've disconnected them. You can yank on 'em to your mortal heart's content, or rather, in this context, discontent. They won't budge." Leo tried them anyway, panicking. This earned him a hearty laugh from the driver. Enraged, Leo lunged toward the front seat. Spike back-fisted him without so much as a glance, pulling away from the curb. "Y-you, you," the youth sputtered, "you broke my nose!" "Yes, well, that's unfortunate. I was rather hopin' to enjoy that a lot more than I did. You mortals are always in such a rush! No sense of foreplay whatsoever," Spike said, throwing him a handkerchief. "Try to keep the blood off the seat, Mate. I just had the interior cleaned." "'Foreplay'?" Leo asked, his voice cracking with fear. "Oh, for evil's sake, Lad. Relax. I 'ave no desire to stick my knob up your bum. It was just an expression meanin' that you want to rush through the good part and get down to the nasty. I don't work that way. You might as well just sit back and enjoy the trip. It will be your last." He heard a whimper from the backseat and felt a twinge of anticipation. He told himself to calm down and savor the delights to come. He pulled out another cigarette and lit it. Taking a drag off of it, he looked up at Leo in the rearview. "Here, Boy. You need this more than I do," he said, passing it over the seat. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ <--waiting to hear about whethe you want part 3 or not! -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (3/10) Date: 10 Sep 1998 03:14:18 -0400 OK...I will no longer wait to hear the feedback on the fic. It seems most people are enjoying it, so I'll just post it until enough people yell at me to stop posting it!!!! Glad you guys are liking it! ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Title: King of the World (3/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. They rode in silence, Spike smiling to himself all the while. He could taste the fear in the air. Far sweeter than the bugger's blood would be, he wagered. He looked up at the sky. It was a gorgeous night. It seemed a shame to waste it on this wretch. "Are you a fast runner, Lad?" He nodded. "Good. We're goin' t' play a little game. One of my favourites." He continued driving, heading for the cemetery. He spotted a tiny blonde sitting by a grave. He cursed himself silently for not expecting her to be there and let his demonic features soften to human form. He parked the car and turned off the ignition. Casting a glance at the blonde, he stepped onto the grass. He snuck up behind her and kissed her neck. Her hand shot up and over her shoulder, grabbing him and sending him flying forward as she bent over. Landing on the ground in a heap, Spike spoke, "I could've killed you, Slayer." "Maybe, but you didn't. So what's with the kiss?" "Well, Slayer--" he began. "I have a name," she interrupted. "Well, Buffy," he continued, "I just wanted to let you know that, had I wanted to, you would've been a midnight snack." "So why didn't you?" "Well, I have bigger things in store for this evening. I was thinkin' of takin' in a movie. Any suggestions?" She contemplated his tone. It was too calm. She didn't like it. She wondered what he was up to. "Well, Titanic just came out on video. Though, I'm guessing that wouldn't be your thing, right?" she said, giggling silently at the thought of Spike getting all weepy in front of the television. "That sounds like a good one. I always love a good comedy. Disaster films are loads of laughs, y'know? Any other ideas?" "You could make it a Leo night and rent Romeo and Juliet. Though I suppose that would probably remind you too much of your youth." "Ha ha, Slayer. Actually it would remind me too much of you and that nancy-boy Angelus. Star crossed lovers and all that rubbish," he watched her stiffen at the mention of his sire. "Too bad he's in Hell now, isn't it?" "Too bad for you. How is Drusilla getting along these days anyhow? She still angry at you for helping to kill him?" she asked, knowing full well that Dru had left him and headed for Prague. "Touch=E9, Slayer. I'll see you again soon. I think I'll take your advic= e on the Leo thing. Try to see if I can find out what all you schoolgirls see in the lout. Goodnight, then." "I'm sticking around here. I have a newborn vamp to stake. You guys really should learn to just keep them near you. Burying them here is just begging me to dust 'em." "I 'aven't made one recently. Don't look at me. It was probably one of the dim-witted lot Angelus made. They make a lot of mistakes. Their brains are always on feedin' and reproducin'. Much like teenagers. Oh, here's your boy now," he said, as a hand emerged from the soil at Buffy's feet. He grabbed it and yanked the fledgling vamp from the ground. Dusting him off a bit. "Master Spike," he said, recognizing him from the description his sire had given him. "I am honored to have you welcome me to the night." "This one's been readin' too much Anne Rice," Spike said, snapping the vampire's neck. Buffy staked him for good measure and then turned to Spike, "I thought our truce was over? You go back to being a bad guy, I go back to staking you, remember? I can't stake you when you are helping me." "My sentiments exactly. I think you're done here, Slayer. Good guys win, bad guys foiled again," snapping his fingers. "Curses." He looked up at the moon, then back to Buffy, "Time for little girls to be in their little beds before the Bogeyman comes out." Buffy sighed, resigned to kill him another night. She turned and walked from the gravesite back to the car. When he could no longer see her, he opened the door and let Leo out. The boy saw his opportunity and took off running. -- = ICQ UIN=3D2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Aglx@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: Can I love again? (1/1) Date: 10 Sep 1998 15:20:11 EDT Title: Can I love again? (1/1) Author: Aglx@aol.com Distrbution: Please ask. Spoilers: Takes place after Becoming...way after. Rating: G/PG No violence, language or anything. Description: Just a bit on what Buffy writes in her journal. Insomnia. It's dangerous and leads to strange fics. I suffer from it, let's just move on. Disclaimer: Own nothing, but the plot of this story. Don't sue! Feedback: Please? If you do or don't like, please tell me. Tell me if I should stop. This is my first one part fic, so be kind! This is Buffy's POV. Everything is part of a journal entry she writes. September 19, 1999 He sits there in the corner. His face partially darkened by the shadows. He doesn't move, doesn't breath. He watches me attentively and I question what he's thinking. What does he see in me? What is so special about me that would make him defy his entire meaning as a demon to love me? Would the demon inside him ever be able to take control from that tiny bit of humanity that remains within? Would that humanity be strong enough to win control back before it's too late? Would I be forced to kill the one I love? Again? Who would have thought that a Slayer would fall in love with a vampire? Her one chosen enemy whom she is destined to kill. The demon that walks at night and sucks the lives out of the innocent. But then again, I've never followed orders very well. Should I know better? One would think I would have learned my lesson by now. After my first love killed my family and friends, why am I so trusting to one who doesn't have a soul to guide him? I'm questioning my abilities as the Slayer and my judgement as a human being. When Angel returned from Hell, he was...different. Whistler warned me he'd be, disturbed. Well, disturbed was hardly the word. Soul or no soul, he was insane and I made him that way. Before I could even react to the feelings that were ripping apart my heart, he'd taken them all from me. Killed them brutally and put them on display for me to see once I came to my senses. I killed him and left nothing more than a numb feeling in my heart. I had nothing left but my destiny to slay. No watcher, no slayerettes, no mother, no lover. I was alone. I probably made the biggest mistake of my short-termed life, falling in love with a vampire for the second time. But what was I going to do otherwise? Get married, have lots of children and grow old? Never. I'm the Slayer. Trapped in a secret world of demon destruction, that has no way out. I die, someone brings me back. I fall in love, I'm forced to kill him. But every time I look into his icy blue eyes, all my doubts are erased. All I have left is the writing on this paper. I know I don't have a lot of time left. I was born into a life that death surrounds wherever I go. Slayers aren't even supposed to live into their twenties. Shouldn't I enjoy what time I have left? I've saved the world a few times, don't I at least have that privelege? Although I doubt true love is every possible for me again, especially with one who is no longer living, I'm not going to give up on the rest of my life. I've tried that before and it just isn't worth the hassle. I'm the Slayer and no matter what devastating pain it brings me and what it takes away from me, there's no changing that fact. Maybe Spike is right for me. Besides, if it doesn't work out, I can always kill him. Unless, he kills me first. It's not like I have anything to loose. ~End~ I know, I think too much, right? -Michelle ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: NightHunter Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Invasion (2/?) Date: 10 Sep 1998 21:32:56 -0700 Sorry It took so long but here's part 2 Hope to get part 3 up a lot quicker Feedback Please Good or bad The Invasion (2/?) Giles enters the library to find Buffy, Xander & Willow sitting at one end of the table they were waiting for him thought Giles as he moved toward the table. "Hey G-man, what's the evil creature of the week?" Asked Xander turning toward Giles his gaze lingering a few seconds on Buffy. "Well, it looks like it maybe a quite week. No vampire activate for a couple of days, so, why don't you three go have some fun," Said Giles At that Buffy's face hit the floor "WOO HOO!" Yelled Xander jumping up from the table and grabbing the two girls he pulled them toward the door and out of the library. "Xander, slow down" Said Willow "What's the rush?" "Will, G-man just let us have the night off. I'm afraid that if we don't run now he may change his mind." Said Xander "Oh! running is good in fact running fast is better." Replied Willow as the group ran across the school parking lot. Xander arrived at Buffy's house. He started to knock on the door but before he could knock. The door was opened, Xander's mouth hit the ground as Buffy invited him in. She was wearing a low cut strapless, tight fitting black dress. It really made you look. Not that he needed a reason. Because he loved her. "Down boy!" Said Buffy as she reached over to pull Xander in an embrace. Xander reached up to slowly rub his hand over her cheek. For the last few weeks after the battle at the warehouse he and Buffy had been spending more of their free time with each other. "Sorry Buff, but you look great!" Replied Xander "Yah! lets go or we'll be late to meet Willow." Said Buffy slipping her arm through Xander's as they walked to his car. As the car pulled out they felled to notice that a strange vortex was starting to form. As the vortex became stable the first of the vampire soldiers came out, singling the begin of the invasion of our reality. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (4/10) Date: 10 Sep 1998 22:41:52 -0400 Title: King of the World (4/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. Spike stepped up to an imaginary mark in the grass and spoke, "Ready. Steady. Go," he said, taking off into the night, "and they're off. It's Prettyboy in the lead with Fangs bringin' up the rear. What's this? Could it be? Yes, folks, it looks like Spike is gettin' a second wind. He's comin' up hard and fast on the young upstart." Spike tackled Leo, finishing his commentary, "Proving, yet again, that old age and experience beats youth and exuberance. When will they learn?" Leo grunted underneath him, trying to throw him off. "What's that, Mate? You want me to get off of you? That wouldn't be much fun, now, would it?" he asked. "You're fucking insane." "No, not anymore. We broke up. Thank you so much for bringin' it up. What is it with everyone and Dru tonight?" "Dru?" Leo asked, confused. "My ex. A real loony, that one. Mad as a hatter. Bloody hell, I miss 'er." "She probably left because she found out you were a monster." "Actually, she left because I helped to kill a guy she was cheatin' on me with," he paused, jerking Leo off the ground, "and kept 'em from destroyin' the world. If you think I'm a monster, you should've seen the other guy." "He had to be better than you. I mean, he was more important than you to her." "You're really startin' t' believe what they write about you in the papers, aren't you? 'Hero', 'heartthrob', all that jazz? Let me tell you somethin' right now, you bloody twerp. You 'aven't a ghost of a clue what real heroes are all about. You don't know the first thing about what makes women tick either. Dru was one of those crazies who like to be treated like an inferior. She wanted someone who would use 'er and abuse 'er. That was Angelus. Me, on the other hand, I couldn't toss 'er aside to chase after someone who hated me. I put Dru up on a bloody pedestal, treated 'er like a goddess. She was my princess." Leo just looked at him. Staring, dumbly, at the beast that held his future in gloved hands. "What the fuck do you care about where I'm wettin' my wick, anyhow?" Spike asked, genuinely curious. "I was just making conversation," Leo said, hoping he hadn't angered him too much. "You were just hopin' I would get so wrapped up in my own concerns that I'd let you go. Not bloody likely, Mate. I'd start prayin' to that god of yours. It's gonna be a long night," Spike said, dragging him back to the car. -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (5/10) Date: 12 Sep 1998 02:22:39 -0400 Title: King of the World (5/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. "Home rancid home," Spike said, opening the door to an abandoned church and throwing Leo to the floor. "I'll give you whatever you want. Money, women, fame, anything you--" "'Look, Mate,'" Spike said, recalling Leo's words when they first met, "'I doubt you could be of any help to me.' As for money, I could buy and sell you three times over. As far as women are concerned, the kind of women I like would tear your heart out and shove it down your throat. Fame? Doesn't interest me. Infamy, now THAT is somethin' t' shoot for." "What do you want then?" Leo asked, hoping for a good answer. "We've already covered this, Boy. You. Dead. Are you gettin' a word picture, 'ere?" He looked up through the window and saw the sky growing lighter. It was almost sunrise. Spike grabbed some rope from the altar. Holding it up he motioned for Leo to join him. The boy hesitated and Spike wasted no time in convincing him. "Come on now. We wouldn't want to make the big, mean man angry, would we? Come and take it like a man. The longer you keep me waitin', the longer I keep you screamin'." "What are you going to do to me?" Leo asked, slowly walking in Spike's direction. Spike groaned in exasperation, "I hate it when my meals try to get all chatty with me. Makes me want to rip their throats out," he paused, glaring at Leo, "twice." Dragging Leo with him, he headed to a door across the room. Spike opened it and pushed the boy down the stairs. Leo landed on the concrete floor of the basement with a thud. This stunned him momentarily and Spike took the opportunity to move him over to the wall. Running the rope through a couple of light fixtures, he tied each end to one of Leo's wrists. Slapping the boy to bring him back to reality, Spike crossed the room. Another vampire appeared from the shadows. Spike whispered orders to him and then turned to face Leo. "This here's Stephen. He'll be takin' care of you while I sleep. Give him problems and I'll hear about it," he said, turning to Stephen. "Kill 'im and I'll 'ave your blood for breakfast." "Yes, milord. I'll do as you've instructed. Nothing more, nothing less." Spike touched the vamp's face, tracing the contour of his jaw. He looked into his eyes and slapped him hard. "Thank you, Sir," Stephen said, his undead skin on fire from the blow. Spike looked at Leo, "Good help is so 'ard to find these days. If you need anything, just scream. He won't come runnin'. Night-night, Lad," Spike said, chuckling as he walked from the room. "What are you going to do to me?" Leo asked, trying to see Stephen's face in the half-light of the room. Stephen stepped into the light, his true nature revealed. He licked the side of the boy's face. "Just watch you. He gets to have all the fun. I have to make sure that you're ready for it." "Ready? Ready how?" "You'll see," he answered, turning on a television directly across from where Leo was tied. He put a tape in the VCR and pushed play. The first few strains of "The March for the Funeral of Queen Mary" could be heard as Spike settled in for a day of sleep. -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (6/10) Date: 12 Sep 1998 18:16:16 -0400 Title: King of the World (6/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. Spike woke up and slid off of his bed, a stack of flattened boxes. He picked his clothes off the floor and dressed slowly. After a hundred years of waking up next to Dru, it didn't feel right to wake up alone. He always expected to see her lying next to him, her hair fanned out on her pillow. He wanted to smell her again. To hear her frail voice call his name. He heard a scream from the other room and it snapped him out of his reverie. He had a little punk to torture. The thought brought a smile to his face. He would kill the bugger for Dru. She would be pleased. He pulled his coat on and stepped into the adjoining room. Leo stood, still tied to the wall, and turned as he heard Spike enter the room. "'Welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, well,'" Spike quoted, looking at the boy. "Aren't you a pitiful sight? How is my little ravin? I bet you're 'alf-starved. Stephen, go find the lad somethin' to eat. There's got to be somethin' 'round 'ere." The vampire left the room and Spike looked at the television. There was an autopsy video playing. He stopped the tape, muttering something about it making him hungry. "Why all the videos?" Leo asked. "Well, it's a good way to get your mind churnin' 'bout all the things I could do to you," Spike said, watching the boy swallow hard. "I see it worked. A Clockwork Orange was for fun," he said, motioning to the first video that Leo had been forced to watch. "The Faces of Death vids were for shock value." Stephen returned with an apple from a tree outside, a cup of water, and a container of communion wafers. He walked over to Spike who pushed him in Leo's direction. "Not me, you fool, Little Lord Fauntleroy over there. Untie 'im and leave us. Go get somethin' to eat or find somethin' useful to do." Stephen did as ordered then left his master and his captive. Leo rubbed his wrists. The rope had rubbed him raw in a few places. It stung, but he wouldn't give Spike the satisfaction of seeing that. He looked at the food in front of him, hungrily. "Go ahead and eat, Lad," Spike paused, "before I change my mind." Leo picked up the food and ate ravenously. Spike sat back and watched him, amused, until a hunger pang hit him. He waited until the boy was finished before tying him back up and pushing play on the VCR. The autopsy footage started again and Leo looked ill. "Be back in a few, Mate. Got to get somethin' of my own to eat," he said, walking up the stairs. -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (7/10) Date: 12 Sep 1998 21:40:53 -0400 Title: King of the World (7/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. He dropped the still warm corpse at his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth. He got a rush of a fuzzy feeling and blinked, trying to clear his head. "Sod it all," he cursed, "I didn't even notice she was high. That's what I get for feeding off of a bloody hooker." He staggered a bit and leaned up against a building for support. He heard footsteps and a voice. "Val? Val? Is that you? What's wrong with--" the woman's question cut short by Spike. He sank his fangs in deep and let her blood come into him. Waves of good, strong, sober blood. Dropping her body on her friend's, he walked away in a much clearer state. There was a rumble of thunder over the sounds of the night. He looked to the sky and saw lightning streaking in and among the clouds. It was to be a stormy night. He was happy he had entertainment waiting for him. He picked up his pace a bit as excitement hit him. With his eyes closed to avoid looking at the television, Leo could hear Spike before he could see him. He was whistling a happy tune and walking with his typical cocky gait. Leo forced himself to open his eyes. Spike was just reaching the foot of the stairs. He tossed a bag to the floor by the television and went back to his bedroom. Returning with a sack full of clanking metal, he spoke. "'Ave you ever watched your own movies, Mate?" "Yeah. Premiers and stuff." "Never just for the hell of it? To impress a piece of ass?" "No." "Pity. I rented a couple of your movies tonight. I forgot the popcorn, you'll 'ave to forgive me." Spike ejected the Faces of Death tape and replaced it with Titanic. He walked over to Leo, trying to contain his excitement. Leo cringed as much as his bonds would let him. Spike touched his face with mock tenderness before slamming his fist in the boy's stomach. "Time for things to get interesting, Baby." -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (8/10) Date: 13 Sep 1998 19:54:43 -0400 Title: King of the World (8/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. Leo tried to double over, but the ropes held him. He stood open to any possible attack. He started to realize the magnitude of the situation he was in. He saw the sheer joy on Spike's face and it almost made him sick. The creep was enjoying this. If he weren't so scared, he would have been infuriated. Spike loved the look of pain he saw on the boy's face. He wished Dru could be there to see it. Thinking about her made him angry. How dare Angelus try to take her away? He punched Leo again, picturing his sire's face. He slapped Leo and poked him here and there. The next time he looked up at the television, Leo's character was dressed in a tuxedo. "Look at you. All tarted up," he said, gesturing to the screen. "That's a far cry from the way you look now. I'd like to see what all those teeny-boppers would think of the new and improved Leo." Spike picked up the sack he had brought into the room. Leo looked on, his head drooping in pain. He saw his captor pull a metal spike out of the bag. "Did I ever tell you how I got my nickname?" Spike asked. Leo shook his head. "Boy, as long as you still 'ave a tongue you might as well use it." "No, you didn't." "Good. You're smarter than you look," Spike said, holding up a railroad spike. "This," he said, crossing over to Leo, "is how I got my name." Almost as the period at the end of the sentence, Spike stabbed through Leo's left hand, pinning it to the wall. Leo shrieked in pain. "Oh, good," Spike said, a wicked grin spreading across his face, "a screamer. I like that." "You asshole!" Leo screamed through clenched teeth. "What did you call me?" "You heard me." "No, I don't think I did. I heard someone call me an asshole. I know that wasn't you. Your wrinkleys aren't that big." "Asshole!" "You insolent bastard," Spike said, kicking him in the skin. "You bloody whelp," he said, stabbing through his other hand. Leo did his best to breathe through the pain, but it was too much. He blacked out. Spike slapped him hard across the face, bringing him to. "Who the bloody hell is 'king of the world' now?" he yelled in the boy's face. Will send the last two parts when I finish moving!!! ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Black Fire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (11/?) Date: 14 Sep 1998 12:04:17 PDT Title: Kender Chaos Author: Black Fire Email:Blackfire42@hotmail.com Feedback: Yes, please. Rating: PG Spoilers: Buffy: Anything before WML1 Dragonlance: Chronicles and Legends Trilogies. Disclaimers: I own neither sets of characters and I can't afford to either. Summary: Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Fizban the Fabulous have found their way to Sunnydale. Kender Chaos Chapter 11 The search parties met up behind The Bronze three hours later. No one had found anything of interest... well, except for Cordelia, who found a dress she wanted and Tasslehof, who never failed to find anything of interest. As soon as Tas saw Buffy, he wriggled out of Angel's grasp and ran up to her, wide-eyed as a little kid. "Hi, Buffy," he said in his squeaky, little voice. "Say, did you know that there are these creatures here that turn to dust when you stab them?" "Buffy quickly looked around to make sure no one else was around. "Yeah, there's lots of those around here." She then looked up at Angel, "Anything major?" "Just someone out for a quick snack a few blocks from here," he shrugged. "Xander and I took care of him." "That's so wonderful," Tas exclaimed. "I've never seen anyone turn to dust before. Well, except for those draconians who turn to stone and then fall apart. But that's about it. And then, there are the draconians who explode! Those are great fun... well, except for the person who kills them." Tas prattled on, unheeded while the others tried to figure out what their next course of action was. With the night already half over, there wasn't much else they could try. Unable to come up with any ideas, the group started on the return journey to Buffy's house. About half way home, Willow turned to ask the Kender about something, only to find that he wasn't following them. "Uh guys..." Willow said, nervously, "where's Tas?" The rest turned and did a quick scan of the area. He was no where to be seen. "Oh no..." Buffy groaned, rubbing a hand over her face. * * * * * Tasslehof had every intention of going home with Buffy and the rest of the group. He really did, honest! But as he turned to follow the others, one of those wonderful self-moving vehicles caught his eye. Promising himself that he'd only be gone for a moment, just long enough to get a better look at the contraption, he walked over to the car. He tried the door... locked! How rude of them! And the lock was of a kind he had never seen before. Taking this as a new challenge, Tas reached into the pocket of his vest and pulled out the lock picks that were the birthright of every Kender. Selecting a pick, he set to work. This lock was harder to pick than most others, but after a few minutes, the lock turned and the door opened. Climbing into the vehicle, Tas marveled at all the wondrous buttons and knobs. He pushed and turned each one, but nothing made the car go. Growing bored, Tas leapt out of the car and set off in the direction the others had taken. That's when another idea took hold of him. In his fascination with this new world he was in, he had neglected to map it! Quickly, he sat down under a street lamp, pulled a blank parchment out of his scroll case and set to work mapping what he had seen so far. He was totally engrossed in his artwork, when a shadow moved in front of his light. "That's odd," he mumbled, staring at the shadow of a head. That covered his new map. Tas looked up and into the face of a man with light hair, dressed in black leather standing over him. "Oh, hello!" "Well, hello yourself," the man said in an accented voice, smiling slightly. "Now what have we here?" "Oh!!" Tas gasped, quickly putting away his map and standing up. "I didn't introduce myself. Tasslehoff Burrfoot!" Tas extended his hand to the man in greeting. The man took the had slowly, smiling to himself. "I had a feeling that was who you were," he said. "Really?" Tas asked, his eyes widening. "Yes, A friend of yours has been looking for you," the man said. "Then Fizban really is here!!" the Kender beamed. "Wonderful! I'll be able to go home now. Where is he?" "I can take you to him," the man said. "Why how nice of you!" Tas said. "Let's go then." He started off and then stopped. "Oh! I should probably tell my friend Buffy where I'm going." "Oh, don't worry about it, it's been taken care of." "Okay then," Tas said after a moment's thought, "Let's go then... what was your name?" "Spike," the man said. "What an unusual name," Tas frowned. "It sounds familiar... oh well, let's go." Thinking that this was easier than he had thought it would be, Spike lead the Kender back to the warehouse. * * * * * The Black Fire | Vote for me in the Site Fights!! Blackfire42@hotmail.com | http://www.thesitefights.com/sarina/nest2.htm http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4203 "But if they all forget me I will be here anyway, like an artifact of some lost civilization" -Vlad Dracula _The Dracula Tape_ "Don't worry. I'm not here to eat." -- Angel (IG) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sah Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: List rules Date: 15 Sep 1998 17:21:38 -0400 (EDT) Welcome! This list is for fiction related to "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," both the TV series and the movie. To ensure that we all get to enjoy as much fiction as possible, please adhere to the following guidelines, and please save them for future reference. 1. Fiction should have Buffy characters in it and clearly be related to Buffy. Crossovers are great, and expected, but general vampire/monster stories that aren't in the Buffy universe and don't use Buffy characters belong somewhere else. 2. Discussion of posted fiction is permitted onlist. Please put "DISCUSS" in your subject line. Requests for missing story parts should go directly to the author, and not be posted to the list. Discussion that is not related directly to the fiction should go over to the general Buffy list. Discussion of fiction is expected to follow common netiquette guidelines and use PG-13 language. 3. No advertising of items or services, Buffy related or not, and no posting of non-story items such as .gifs, sound files, etc.. 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Jill Kirby (jtkirby@mcs.com) & Sharon Himmanen (romana@mindspring.com) Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List buffyfic@xmission.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sah Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: Free email policy Date: 15 Sep 1998 17:21:36 -0400 (EDT) Please read this. It's very important. Effective immediately, anyone who wishes to s*bscribe to any Buffy list on a "freemail" account (Geocities, Hotmail, etc.) will be required to provide us with a "permanent" e-mail address as a backup. We will under any circumstances reveal this permanent e-mail address to anyone. This is for our reference This new policy has become necessary because of the problems we've experienced with freemail accounts. They're too easy to set up and cancel, and there is so little recourse if the individual with the freemail account causes problems, that we have no choice but to enact this policy. The s*bscription information pages will be changed to reflect this policy. IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY S*BSCRIBED UNDER A FREEMAIL ADDRESS: as long as you stay s*bscribed, you do not need to provide us with this information. However, if you uns*b and want to res*b at some point, you will have to give us this information even if you were previously a s*bscriber through a freemail account. If we have to uns*b you for bouncing mail, again, you'll have to provide the information to res*b. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us offlist. Thanks. sah and Jill romana@mindspring.com and jtkirby@mcs.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Cutter Kinseeker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Xander's Incredible Journey (5d/?) Date: 17 Sep 1998 12:56:42 PDT TITLE: "Xander's Incredible Journey" AUTHOR: Cutter Kinseeker E-MAIL: ckinseeker@hotmail.com FEEDBACK: Yes! Yes! Yes! Tell me what you think, but constructive criticism only please. No "it sucks" type messages. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: Mostly PG-13 for language and adult themes. A couple of parts will be R. DESCRIPTION: In the aftermath of "Becoming," Xander sets out after Buffy and winds up "becoming" in his own right. This part describes Oz's personal problems, and how he deals with them. DISCLAIMER: I don't own jack. Correction--jack's probably the only thing I do own. The rest belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the Frog Network. SPOILERS: Everything up to "Becoming". S S P P O A I C L E E R Chapter Five First Interlude *...In which Giles is rebuked by his Superior, Willow faces her Fears, Buffy runs from hers, Oz overcomes his Weakness, and two mysterious Strangers appear...* Part Four: Oz *...In which Oz overcomes his Weakness...* Long before Oz became a werewolf, he had been a lead guitarist, and in his mind, whenever he thought about himself, he was still a lead guitarist. The werewolf thing was always secondary; it was something that was a part of him, not who he was--a piece, not the whole. The biggest piece of Oz's life, however, was his rig--rig*s*, technically, since he owned three guitars, two electric and one acoustic. Oz had loved music as long as he could remember, and that love had been transmuted into a physical thing when he learned to play the guitar at age eight. To this day, when he picked up a guitar and began to play, he still got that little shiver of excitement he had felt when he first realized that the guitar wasn't making the music--he was. His parents (to whom he was, and probably always would be, "Osgood") seemed much younger than they were, but in truth they were a good deal older than most of his (few) friends' parents. He had never heard an exact figure quoted, but they claimed to have met at Woodstock and gotten married on the day Nixon was impeached. Former "flower children" and current "new agers," his parents had been extremely liberal for as long as he could remember. When he acted up as a child, rather than punish him, they would explain the consequences of his actions and compliment him on his individuality. After his sister was born, they got slightly stricter, but only slightly and only to protect them both from his sister's fiery temper. Contrasted with Oz's mellow, easygoing nature, she was a devil-child, but their parents never once lost their cool with her or him. Growing up in such a supportive and broad-minded environment, Oz came to accept and tolerate a vast spectrum of beliefs. His mellow seeming was actually a result of this open-mindedness; being open to just about anything made you hard to surprise or upset. His father's light interest in the guitar--which probably started because everyone could play the guitar in the Sixties--had gotten him started at a young age, and nobody was happier than Oz that he turned out to have some amount of talent. A series of lucky (and not-so-lucky) breaks had led Oz to hooking up with a little band called The Dingoes Ate My Baby and becoming best friends with its lead singer, Devon (which is a complete story in and of itself, and not to be discussed herein). As it would turn out, the easy discipline he had lived his life by--first as a new age child, then as the lead guitarist of an actual band--would come in extremely handy later in life. Apparently, the gene for the disease of lycanthropy ran strong in his family, and his cousin Jordy was one of them. When the cute little tyke chomped Oz's finger, he passed the disease on, and the rest was history. Oz's considerable mental endurance was a blessing with a disease such as lycanthropy which usually altered its victims' mental state, giving them a false sense of power and the delusion that their condition was a blessing. His calmness had also helped him in another way; werewolves don't just change at the full moon, as Giles and the gang had surmised, but also shifted whenever they lost control of their darker emotions. He hadn't had the heart to tell them; besides which, it was a moot point--Oz didn't get angry. As far as Oz was concerned, he was still just a normal human being with a serious disability--but a disability that he could live with. His strength of will and inability to be surprised had even given him some slight control over the beast in recent transformations, though he was still unwilling to go unchained during the three nights of the full moon. And he did have to admit, being a werewolf was handy in certain instances: he didn't have to carry out the trash one week a month, he had privacy when he needed it, and he had gotten a bigger room in the last six months--okay, it was the basement of his house, but a bigger room is a bigger room. By that same token, however, he had developed a whole new slew of problems: he had to make excuses for showing up all over Sunnydale naked, he couldn't practice *or* play gigs three nights of the month, and his kid sister kept bugging him to bite her; he figured it was only a matter of time before there were two werewolves chained up in their house during the full moon. At least his parents had been okay with it; it seemed they had known something about this whole "Mouth of Hell"/"mystical convergence" business all along and just never thought to tell him; rather, they had considered telling him, but didn't think he would believe them. And then there was his biggest problem of all: Willow. He loved her dearly, and he thought she felt the same about him (though who can tell with women), but she was the only thing that could frustrate or surprise him; that made him nervous. Also, there was that "werewolves and sexual heat" thing. Recently, he had felt their relationship heading in a new and unprecedented direction, and the last several times they had been alone together it was all they could do to keep from tearing each others' clothes off. Less than a week before Willow's injury, they had been making out leisurely in Oz's van when he had felt the change begin, his teeth sharpen, his mind start to falter. He had only just managed to retain control, and missed biting Willow by the slimmest of margins. He had explained his reaction as "moving too fast" and Willow seemed to accept that, but he knew that they couldn't keep this sort of thing up much longer. To burn off his frustration and some of his pent-up sexual energy, he had turned to his first passion: the guitar. His practice sessions had become more frequent and more intense, not to mention longer and longer; earlier this week, he had somehow managed to waste an entire night trying to perfect the new song he had written--a song about Willow, no less--but found that part of the song was completely beyond even his not-inconsiderable talents. Since that night, his passion, his driving force, had taken on a new form: the quest for an E-Flat Diminished Ninth. He would spend hours on end looking for the elusive chord, trying new positions for his fingers, building flexibility, doing all he could to prove that he was worthy of the song. In his mind, the quest for the chord had become synonymous with his quest for control over his transformations, over himself. Then, two nights ago, a setback had occurred. While he was struggling for the proper grip, he had for the first time in a long time become angry. His level of fury surprised and terrified him; though it was directed more at himself than at his guitar, by the time he regained control, he had already partially wolfed-out and shredded the poor, helpless rig. It had so disturbed him that he confined himself to bed for the entire following day and refused to even touch a guitar the following night. The compulsion he had built into himself, however, had proven far too strong for even his willpower to bear. The siren song of his guitar called out to him, daring him to try again, to fling himself at the rocky atoll that was the E-Flat Diminished Ninth--and to make it ashore or be destroyed on the rocks. In the end, his first passion had become his ruling one--a pale substitute for Willow, he realized, but a slightly safer one for the both of them. As he began to play, he enforced the Zen-like calm he had become so adept at over the years and simply refused to think about what he was doing. At first, he fumbled over the first few bars of one of the mellower songs from The Cure, but in no time flat he was randomly zig-zagging from the blues-style rock of John Fogerty all the way to the other end of the spectrum with power chords in the manner of "Helter Skelter" and "Back In Black." His fingers blurred up and down the strings with an endurance and agility he had never known before. He almost started to analyze it, but he tripped over a note, making a terrible cacophony, and forced himself back into the "do or do not, there is no try" mindset he had been in for--he glanced at the clock, subconsciously registering the time--almost the entire day. While he played, thoughts gradually came back; they were disconnected and floating, almost like the one time he had tried marijuana, but without the messy aftermath. His thoughts flowed, merged, crossed, and headed apart on eternal tangents. For the first time ever, Oz and the music were truly one. In his lack of concern, he had found a greater peace and wholeness than he had ever known. Nothing, he thought, could possibly compare to this freedom. Then Willow entered his mind again, and he knew he had been mistaken: one thing could compare. Shifting from the loud, brassy arrogance of AC/DC to the milder, but more sorrowful and bittersweet tune he had written in honor of the love of his life, Oz changed chords so fast that he nearly took off the tip of his left index finger. There was pain now, and a little blood on the strings; that was okay, it just made them slicker and easier to play. The scent of blood--coppery and strong--was almost overpowering, but he blanked it out of his mind. The pain was strong, too; checking quickly, he found that he had mild friction burns over most of the skin on his hands and forearms and that even the calluses he had built up in a decade of playing hadn't prevented him from various cuts and scrapes. But none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered now was the song; he smiled vaguely for a moment as the slightly ludicrous thought that he had never titled it occurred to him. He continued to play, clearing his mind of all concerns. Oz didn't even realize it, but he was mumbling the lyrics as he played; he had never been very confident of his skills as a vocalist and avoided singing with the Dingoes whenever he could. Had Willow been there, she might have marveled at how much better his singing voice was than how he had described it to her; but she wasn't, so she didn't see what happened next. None saw that--not even Oz himself, really. As Oz played, his mind a clean slate, the change began. His muscles bulked, barely noticeable at first, only to become thick and bunched; his teeth elongated, cutting his lips as he unknowingly mumbled song lyrics; fur began to sprout on his body; his ears pointed and lengthened; his hands started to twist into claws. And then an amazing--almost impossible--thing happened: the transformation stopped halfway, and reversed itself, healing many of Oz's wounds as it receded. Oz finally became conscious of what was transpiring, but in his mentally dulled state it registered as something far away, as though it were occurring to a total stranger. His fingers, caught somewhere between human and animal digits, never ceased their relentless working of the strings and frets; indeed, they moved faster and slower, speeding and delaying in time with Oz's internal beat. Then, as he neared the end of the song, it became time for his crowning achievement... if he could do it. Oz's half-human hands crept toward the chord, almost leisurely, and twisted the strings into the shape of the do-able E-Flat. His other hand, as near-monstrous as the first, plucked the proper notes that would end the song. With a flourish that was completely unnecessary, Oz's left hand pulled the E-Flat out of place, sliding to the ninth fret and reforming. In a move that was so smooth it astounded even him, it happened. E-Flat Diminished Ninth. As the final notes faded into silence, Oz collapsed to the basement floor, his aching hands clutching the guitar like it was his last anchor to reality. Gradually, the partial transformation faded and his hands returned to normal--hurting, but human. When Oz's senses returned, he found that he was weeping. Searching his heart, he realized that he was not weeping for the chord or the song--they were good, but any musician could have accomplished them eventually. He was weeping for himself, for his happiness. After all, the chord he had been so passionate about was really just a symbol to him, a symbol of his own level of control and restraint. The E-Flat Diminished Ninth had been a test--a test he had no choice but to pass if he and Willow could ever truly mean anything to one another. Oz stood slowly, the pain from his frantic playing dull and throbbing now. But despite the pain, he was glad, for now he knew that he was truly capable of mastering himself and his emotions, that he had a discipline that no passion--save only one--could ever break. And when his last passion broke his control, he knew, even then he would not release that final mental floodgate that could harm someone he loved more than life itself. And now, when Willow decided that they were ready, they would take that final step into the realm of relationships, taking the step that both had dreamed of for what seemed like forever. He had beaten passion at its own game, overcome his weakness, even conquered his terrible disability. And he had done it with a song in his heart. END CHAPTER FIVE, PART FOUR ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Cutter Kinseeker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Xander's Incredible Journey (5e/?) Date: 17 Sep 1998 12:58:00 PDT TITLE: "Xander's Incredible Journey" AUTHOR: Cutter Kinseeker E-MAIL: ckinseeker@hotmail.com FEEDBACK: Yes! Yes! Yes! Tell me what you think, but constructive criticism only please. No "it sucks" type messages. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: Mostly PG-13 for language and adult themes. A couple of parts will be R. DESCRIPTION: In the aftermath of "Becoming," Xander sets out after Buffy and winds up "becoming" in his own right. This part deals with a pair of strangers who show up in Hell to offer an exiled demon lord a deal he can't refuse. DISCLAIMER: I don't own jack. Correction--jack's probably the only thing I do own. The rest belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the Frog Network. SPOILERS: Everything up to "Becoming". S S P P O A I C L E E R Part Five: Ennumu *...In which two mysterious Strangers appear...* Hell was an unpleasant place to be at any time of the year, but summer was especially bad. Time in Hell flowed at a congruous pace with that of Earth, so for three "months" of the "year," Hell was even hotter than usual--and if the heat didn't get to you, the humidity would. Of course, the passing of seasons, even that of years, was all an illusion created by the demon lords for their own sick amusement; thus, while it might get hotter in summer in the parts of Hell that were already hot, the only places that got any colder in winter were those that were already cold. Spring and autumn brought their own terrors as well, as did any other particular day that caught the demon lords' attention for whatever reason. As has been said, Hell is never a pleasant place to visit--and no one in their right mind would ever want to live there. Fortunately (for the sake of the realtors, so they would have something to do in the afterlife), there were all sorts of not-right types that wanted their own plot right on the shores of the Lake of Fire, or in Abbathor's icy ambiance (great ice-fishing, but the climate sucks), or right in the limits of the Infernal City so as better to treat with their inhuman masters. Unfortunately (for the sake of the realtors, so they would have *plenty* to do in the afterlife), the inhabitants of Hell were mostly transient; while a few (a very few) got out from time to time, either on assignment or because of good behavior (brr!), most moved constantly within Hell's boundaries, looking for a better deal or an easier job. Occasionally, someone would just disappear, consumed by the dark plane's energies or one of its bigger inhabitants, but no one really noticed--after all, what's one less damned soul? This summer had been worse than usual; of course, since the demon lords spent most of their time thinking up new and better ways to torment their charges, that can be expected. Adding to the stink and wretchedness of the place were the enormous number of major and minor demons who kept coming back to Hell with some sob story or another about a human girl with ash-blond hair and a cheerleader accent. The accounts had finally grown into something of an urban legend among Hell's elite--not really believed, but something that gave most of them a slight start anyway. The fact that most of the demons that had been "returned to their natural habitat," so to speak, were relatively minor ones was a comforting fact for Hell's rulers. There was a major rumor going around that Moloch the Corrupter--a greater demon, first cousin of the Lightbringer, and all-around bad-ass--had fallen prey to this same demon-slaying cheerleader, resulting in a large number of dirty jokes and limericks. While Moloch enjoyed a good laugh as much as the next demon, he also preferred that laugh in much the same way as the next demon--that is, at someone else's expense. Sullen and silent, Moloch had holed up in his palace in the Infernal City and only been seen a couple of times since he had plummeted in from Earth. The one time he spoke to one of his tormentors was to deny that he had been defeated--he had simply decided that he didn't like California's weather, so he said. A few in the upper hierarchy--not including those demons that had witnessed the girl in action personally--knew the rumors to be true. There was one being in the World Above who knew how to defeat them, how to battle them on their own terms. That blasted treaty that had trapped them all down here had made sure of that. Of course, most demons didn't get told that sort of thing if they were going out on assignment; it would be bad for their already shaky morale. As for the few demons who could confirm the legends... well, safe to say that most of them wouldn't be confirming anything for a millennium or three. It was the oldest and most heavily enforced law of Hell: the strong dominate the less strong, and there is no place for the weak at all. If you had been beaten by a *human*, then you were obviously weak; the only reason Moloch was still in power was his relationship with the Lightbringer. So it came to pass on a hot summer day in Hell that two strangers came to visit the palace of Moloch, Lord of Corruption and Viceroy of the Provinces of Hell. The two--one exceedingly tall, with burnt-black skin and horns, quite obviously a demon; the other small, almost as short as a human, with a playful look and a burning gaze--walked through the gates of Moloch's palace, right past the guards as if they weren't even there. Something in their steady walk, their unfaltering gaze, convinced the squad of demons that the pair were guests of their dark lord, despite the fact that Moloch had specifically ordered them to keep out all visitors. Demons are pretty easy to bluff, if you know how to act. Somehow keeping abreast of one another in spite of their disparate heights, this unlikely pair made their way through the twisting corridors and winding passages of the Palace of Temptation, pausing only once when the smaller of the two gasped at something he had seen in a mirror--not his own reflection, but a vision of the thing he wanted most. This was the power of Moloch's palace, to tempt and corrupt those that walked its halls until they could resist none of his orders. As the larger being watched in amusement and mild annoyance, the image in the mirror kept shifting, flickering between two opposing desires--which was sound enough, considering his small companion's dual nature. Finally, with a grimace and a quiet roar of indignation, the smaller one pulled away from the mirror and continued on; his companion said nothing but nodded slightly, as though congratulating his ally. After a time that could have been an hour or a century, they came into Moloch's master chamber. The demon himself--once a proud and horrid figure, full of power and wrath--was seated on his obsidian throne, idly flipping channels on the Lightbringer's greatest invention. They watched him for a moment, malicious amusement quite plain on the small one's face now, before announcing their presence. As expected, Moloch's reaction was less than positive. "How dare you enter this unholy place without my permission!" thundered the demon lord angrily. "And how dare two such outcasts as yourselves come here--of all places, here!" The smaller being giggled, breaking Moloch's rant but darkening his mood; it was a dangerous path the visitors walked, and failure could mean the Final Death for both of them. "Ease up, Molly," said the small one in a smoothly placating voice that held just a tinge of ridicule as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "We come in peace... and we also come to offer a solution to your problem." "My problem? I don't know what you-" began Moloch in a haughty tone. This time it was the big demon who cut him off. "Your problem is that you were beaten. By a human." The big demon's slow, measured tones were calculated to have the maximum insulting impact to them. They did, and Moloch's face began to darken from its usual sickly green to a baleful yellow-green. His hands clenched involuntarily as he stood, his talons shredding the remote control like a ginsu knife through wet paper. "Calm down, your scaliness," said the small being, this time with a tremor in his voice. He hoped that he hadn't pushed the old bastard too far. "We don't mean anything by it. After all, it seems like more and more of our kind are getting the shaft all the time. It's nothing to be ashamed of," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise, "and we genuinely want to help you get revenge." Intrigued in spite of his anger, Moloch sat back down, draping his black robes about himself ostentatiously. He now looked and sounded every inch the demon monarch he was, except that his tone was strained and tight. He commanded them to continue. "Well, your evilness," said the small one, apparently the spokesman of the two, "my buddy here wants to get back to the Upper World. So do I, for that matter, but right now he's the important one." He smiled a false smile at his compatriot, a gesture that was not returned. "He's got a plan to make the winning move in this little game of ours and kick Good's ass up between its shoulder blades. If you give us what we need from you, we can guarantee you that, before the summer is out, Earth and Hell will be as one." "Interesting boast," Moloch said in a bored voice, hiding his true curiosity behind a veil of disdain, "but how do you intend to carry it out?" "That's the cool part. Watch this." With that, the small one nodded to his demonic companion, who closed his eyes, raised his arms high above his head, and began to concentrate. In mere moments, the chamber had gone from cool (every demon lord gets air conditioning) to warm to hot. After a few minutes had passed, the demon's body was standing out in sweat, his small companion had gone to his knees on the marble floor, and even Moloch was starting to look uncomfortable. "Enough!" yelled the Lord of Corruption. "End the demonstration!" The big demon dropped his arms to his sides, and immediately the room began to cool down. In less than half a minute, the throne room was as cool as ever. The small one stood, mopping his prominent brow with a dark-colored sleeve, and smiled a broad and genuine smile. "You see, by concentration, my friend here can channel the flames of Hell in any way he pleases. A few millennia ago on Earth, he even had his own cult." He paused a moment, then cocked his head with a cryptic grin. "Well, it wasn't so much a cult as it was a mystic protection racket. What he would do is, he would send visions to villages near Hellmouths and threaten to make all their water dry up if they didn't worship him and sacrifice to him. Neat, huh? He kept this up for a good five or six centuries--but who's counting?--until some bastards in boats and pointy metal hats showed up and killed off all his potential sacrifices. "That sucked pretty badly, especially considering how as he had most of his power tied up in controlling the territory's weather at the time. When the sacrifices stopped coming, he had to give it up and come back here. He went through the exact same thing you're going through now--snubbed by 'polite' society, laughed at behind his back, had dirty limericks made up about him... well, you know the rest," he finished, seeing Moloch's anger returning. "Anyway, he sulked for awhile, basking in his own crapulence, before he decided to get up off his scaly ass and do something about it." "And what, pray tell," said Moloch, barely suppressing his fury, "can he do? Or you for that matter? Both of you were killed on Earth. That means you can't ever go back; you're stuck here for all eternity--just like me! You are powerless!" Moloch stood suddenly and moved forward faster than either of them could follow. By the time they realized what had happened, the small one was dangling three feet off the ground, his throat tightly gripped in Moloch's claws. "Give me one good reason I should not destroy you right now--I still might anyway, but I want a reason I shouldn't!" Gasping and strangling, the small one managed to choke out four simple words that made Moloch drop him in surprise: "We found a loophole." After he could speak again, the small one continued. "My big, bad friend here," again, he indicated the large black demon, "is actually the one who figured it out, but it wasn't of much use to him until recently. I popped in down here, and almost right away he came to meet me. I was kinda doubtful, too, but the way I see it is this: better a slim chance than none at all. As it turns out, I'm pretty vital to the loophole he found in the Treaty of Midpoint." "What loophole, already," shrieked Moloch, losing any semblance of cool he might have once had. "Tell me, or I shall tear you eyes out of your head and devour them! I shall have you thrust bodily into the Lake of Fire! I-" "Easy there, big fella, I was just getting to it." The small demon cleared his throat, not so much because he needed to as he wanted to annoy Moloch. "The loophole in the treaty is this: Section CLVI, Article 9, Paragraph 4, first line." Moloch's brow scrunched in concentration. "In case you've forgotten, that's the 'Righteous Man' clause: If a righteous soul should somehow wind up down here, we can't keep him. Evil's our job, and we're good at being bad; the other side gets all the goody-two-shoes in the universe. So, if a good and kind soul should get stuck down here, we have to return him to Earth within one week of his confinement, or else Good's goons get to storm the place and pull him out." The small one smiled and winked. "Well, actually, the wording's kind of vague right there. It could be interpreted to mean we have to return him to Earth, or we have to guide him back to Earth; I chose the latter meaning. And the really good news is that we get to pick our representative to guide this poor, misplaced fellow back home--anyone we see fit to give the responsibility to, and there doesn't seem to be any time constraint on the chaperone for when he has to come back!" Moloch's evil smile continued to grow, until it threatened to burst his reptilian lips open at the corners. He started to stand, then changed his mind and sat again, fidgeting in his seat with excitement unbecoming a demon lord. "Well, then," declared Moloch, "just take me to this poor, misguided soul, and I'll make personally sure-" "Sorry, Molly," chuckled the small one, "it doesn't work that way. I should have said, 'almost anyone.' While we can choose to take the righteous soul back or wait until the saints come marching in, demon lords can't shirk their Hellacious responsibilities just for such a small task. Same section and article, next paragraph, third line. According to the treaty, you and your fellow bigwigs have way too much to do besides gallivanting across the Earth plane... How did you wind up there in the first place?" "Long story," muttered Moloch, slightly disappointed now. "Don't ask." "Okay... Anyway, here's what we figure: You send us back, the righteous guy gets stomped, we barbecue the planet, the Boss is so happy with you that he makes you his second-in-command--and we all live unhappily ever after!" Moloch's expression had become one of confusion and distrust. "Didn't you say that only one 'chaperone' could go back?" "Yup, and my bald friend is that chaperone." "Where do you fit in, then?" "Me?" he asked innocently. "I'm the righteous soul, trapped in an underworld too hot and smelly, a place where my halo needs constant buffing and waxing." He smiled and shrugged. "Just trust me on this one, Molly. It'll work." "How do you intend the ascent?" asked Moloch, apparently having accepted the plan at face value. After all, he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. "I'm sure you have some people on the outside. Not necessarily devil worshipers, mind you--those guys are funny as all get out, but not too bright--but somebody who still passes you information, sacrifices, that sort of stuff." At Moloch's reluctant nod, the small one continued. "Then just get them to kill somebody and cast one of the rites of renunciation; at the same time, we'll put a whammy on one of the Hellmouths and it'll pop right open--at least, long enough for us to get through. And if I'm lying, and I'm not a righteous man, then my buddy and me both get fried. Happy now?" "One last thing," said Moloch, eager now but unwilling to proceed before he clarified something. "There's a saying here in Hell: 'Anything free is seldom cheap.' What are the two of you getting out of this?" "We get out of this shithole, for one thing," said the small one bitterly. "I haven't been here a week, and already I don't like it. Maybe after Hell and Earth get back together, you can make it a little livelier, huh?" He looked over at his ally, who was standing impassive as a stone. "He just wants to toe the party line and live it up a little." "I assume you want something else," said the demon lord resignedly. "Yup, but nothing from you. I want to help you send the world to Hell, but before we do, I want to take care of a little unfinished business--for you and for me... "I want the Slayer." END CHAPTER FIVE ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Slayer01" Subject: BUFFYFIC: My first ever fanfic -An Act of Love Date: 18 Sep 1998 08:38:28 -0700 Title: An Act of Love Prologue (part 1 of who knows how many) Author: Misery4 Disclaimer: Don't own anything, I'm scum Rating: Pg 13 (don't really know, this parts PG) Summary: Buffy's reflecting on leaving Sunnydale, while in the bus. Will = be a Spike/Buffy fic eventually but not right now Note to reader: This is my first fanfic ever so please be kind!! This par= t is just to get thoughts on what Buffy is feeling at the moment so I can d= o the next part, so it ain't that great Buffy stared out the window. The momentum of the bus was making her drow= sy but she could not sleep. Inside she was crying, wishing she was with Gil= es and the others. She knew she had made the right decision about killing Angel. There was nothing else she could have done, she had to save the world=85=85=85again.=20 She thought of her Mom back in Sunnydale, all alone. She thought of the good times they had had and the bad times they had struggled through together. Then she remembered her Mom's last words, "If you leave now, don't ever think of coming back." Those words hurt her more than she cou= ld admit, even now five days later she couldn't accept them. She wished she could have explained about being a Slayer, or at least been given a chanc= e to. Earlier she had thought of different ways she could have broke the ne= ws to her Mom and none of them she liked. Only one could her Mom possibly would have accepted and that was if Giles had told her. Giles had a way = of phasing things and he made things sound so light and fun. Plus he enjoyed saying "In every generation there is a chosen one=85=85". She could imagi= ne him smiling at the thought of the end of the world and laughing at the though= t of nuclear warfare. Without realizing it Buffy laughed out loud but she was saddened when she thought of Jenny. Giles had loved her a lot and th= e way Angel had arranged the murder made Buffy scream with pain inside.=20 Buffy wished she was with Giles as he always helped her and advised her b= ut now she was alone. She tried to take her mind of Sunnydale by looking ou= t the window. Cars whizzed past, each going their separate ways with their separate liv= es and their separate dreams. Buffy envied everyone of them, as they didn't have to save the world, they got to enjoy it. She hated being a Slayer.=20 She had felt this way when she had first moved to Sunnydale. She had los= t all her friends, her family was split up and she knew nothing would ever = be the same. Giles and the Slayerettes made her happy with her destiny, the= y helped her face it and accept it. She remembered when Willow had said th= ey were the Slayerettes. The Slayer, the Watcher and the Slayerettes; a full team. Oh don't forget a vampire with a soul, a perfect addition to the group, ready to fight evil then to fight good; a perfect team mate don't you think? She hated Willow for being successful in restoring Angel's sou= l. It had been so hard killing the one she loved and it would have been so much easier to kill the one she hated. She knew it wasn't Willow's fault but she didn't know who to blame for all her pain. She laughed at hersel= f when she realized she had begun thinking about Sunnydale again even thoug= h it brought her so much sadness. =20 Xander's face came to her mind and she saw the love he had for Cordelia, the friendly love he had for Willow and the love he had for her. He had helped her in a lot of battles and was always there when she needed him.=20 His constant stubborn persistence and annoyance at Angel had made Buffy m= ad before but now she accepted and was glad of it. She wondered what he was doing? Buffy leaned back in her chair and wriggled around until she was comfy.=20 She closed her eyes but all she could see was Angel's haunting face. She heard someone shout so she looked around, a familiar face caught her eye.= =20 It looked like Spike but it wasn't, it was just someone like him. He mus= t be half way around the world by now. She shouldn't have let him go, she was a Vampire Slayer not a car sales person. It wasn't her place to make deals. She realized she had something in common with Spike and the thoug= ht made her shiver with fright. They both loved someone with all their hear= ts and souls (if they had one). Instantly Buffy thought of Angel. She thought of his secretive smile, his tortured eyes, his lonesome past, his voice, his hair, his lips and then she thought of the look he had given h= er when he was being sucked into hell. Without realizing it she had started to cry and now she was sobbing uncontrollably. =20 "Hey young one don't cry, want a hanky?" The soft voice brought her out of her memories and she looked around to s= ee from whom it was coming. It was an old man, with a worn out but pleasant face. He was holding out a tissue and Buffy took it, thanking him. "Run away from home did you? I did that once, you should go back, your friends and family miss you, they need you." The old man coughed lightly and turned away to talk to someone else. Buf= fy dwelt on his words. Maybe he was right, maybe she should go back. The momentum of the bus was making her drowsy but she still could not sleep. So do you like it??? PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO!!! More to come only if people tell me they like it A very nervous Misery4 misery4@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Slayer01" Subject: BUFFYFIC: My first ever fanfic -An Act of Love (pt 2) Date: 18 Sep 1998 08:39:02 -0700 Title: An Act of Love (part 2 of who knows how many) Author: Misery4 Disclaimer: Don't own anything, I'm scum Rating: Pg 13 (don't really know, this parts PG) Summary: Buffy arrives somewhere and gets disturbing news from someone, this part is sad, really sad, there are a lot of emotions that I don't think Buffy will be having a great time coping with if this stuff ever happened to her. *Death of a character (not Buffy, Giles, Willow, Giles, Xander or Spike), not graphic though. Will be a Spike/Buffy fic eventuall= y but not right now Note to reader: This is turning out sadder than I thought but the next pa= rt should make so much more sense to everyone (I hope!) Spike will be in the next part I promise!!!!!! Death and hope ~~~~~~~~~ Back in Sunnydale ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Joyce was cleaning up Buffy's room. Tears were flowing freely and her knees were shaking. The room was a mess and she had not dared to go in since Buffy had left. The memories were too painful. The door bell rang= .=20 Joyce ran down to see who was there hoping it was Buffy but it wasn't, it was a man. She opened the door and asked who was there. =20 "You can call me a friend..=85=85..a friend of Buffy's." The voice was mysteriously familiar, but was wrapped in evil. "Do you know where Buffy is?", the man continued. Joyce shook her head and was about to close the door when she said, "Do I know you, you seem awfully familiar?" "Yes, I'm Angel, the guy Buffy slept with." =20 ~~~~~~~~~ It was Angel but not the Angel Buffy loved, it was not even the Angel Buf= fy had killed. This Angel was more evil, more possessed. Joyce tried to sh= ut the door but Angel dived inside. He grabbed her and pushed her against t= he wall. "Now tell me where she is." "I don't know." "Are you sure you don't know because Buffy and I have a lot to catch up on." "She ran away from home, I haven't seen her since." "It has been a pleasure talking to you but it will be a greater pleasure killing you." With that he killed her not even pausing to enjoy the moment like he used to do. When Angel had finished he let her go and her body slumped to the floor. His face was vamped out. He looked worse than before when he was= a vampire, this time even his vamped out face looked vamped out. With that he walked up to Buffy's room and acted out his plan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy got off the bus near where Kendra had lived. She couldn't believe she had come so far. Half of her was telling her to go back and the othe= r half to carry on. She went for a walk to think it over. The moon was throwing shadows everywhere and Buffy was glad she was not out slaying.=20 Suddenly from behind two vampires attacked her. She reached into her bag and pulled out Mr. Pointy. She struggled to fight the vampires as she wa= s tired and hungry but in the end she staked them and they exploded into dust. Buffy sat down exhausted from the fight but she jumped up when she heard her name. "Buffy Summers, come with me your destiny awaits" This sounded too familiar to her and she wasn't in any mood for jokes. S= he swung round and grabbed the person who spoke, by the arm and threw them onto the ground. =20 "Stop, I am a Watcher, Kendra's Watcher." "Oh, I'm sorry about Kendra, but anyway I'm retired now=85.officially." "I know you don't want to hear about this but you have to go home, your destiny lies in Sunnydale." Buffy let go of her captive and started to walk away. "Angel is alive." Buffy stopped and spun around shocked and disbelieving. "He killed=85=85." Buffy urged the Watcher to go on but she knew that the news could not be good. "He killed your mother." Buffy went up to him and slapped him with a force that knocked him to the ground. "This is no time for jokes," she screamed. "I have had one lousy day after another since Angel died," she continued. Only then did Buffy realize that the Watcher was telling the truth. Watchers as a rule did not lie and Buffy just knew he was telling the truth. Buffy continued walking but as she did she began to stumble and trip and eventually she fell over in the middle of the street. Instead of picking herself up she just sat there, crying wishing she was dead. The Watcher got up and helped her into his car. He did not speak but just drove her to his house. When he was there he helped her out and sat her down in th= e living room. Buffy could not believe it, her own Mom was dead, her Mom, her Mom. After a while Buffy spoke and asked about Angel. "He is even worse than before, your Watcher, Mr. Giles contacted me and asked me to keep a look out for you, it seems that you are desperately needed back home." "I won't go back, I can't go, it hurts too much." Sobbed Buffy. "It is your decision but if you decide to go back there is a plane ticket waiting at the airport for you." Buffy refused the Watcher's food and lay down to sleep. Again when she closed her eyes all she could see was Angel but this time it was Angel's vamped out face. =20 Part 3 Dreams and home Buffy was hiding behind a bookcase in the library. All her friends were there talking but they did not know she was there. Suddenly a gust of wi= nd blew open the library doors and in walked Angel. He grabbed Giles by the neck and shouted for Buffy to come out. She could not move, she was trapped by fear. Giles protested that Buffy wasn't here but his protesti= ng stopped when Angel killed him. ~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy awoke with a start and realized that it was only a dream. She couldn't take it any more she had to see if Giles and the rest of her friends were okay. She jumped up and left the Watcher who had gone to be= d a note and slipped out of the house. The streets were empty except for t= he shadows but Buffy did not notice them this time. She ran the three miles to the airport even though it was incredibly hot, but she was glad of the heat, it distracted her from thinking about her Mom. She booked in and sa= t down on a seat and closed her eyes again. Again and again the same dream played in her mind and she could not take it anymore. She woke up and boarded the plane. When she arrived in Sunnydale she walked to the school library, it was about three in the morning and she did not expect anyone to be there. ~~~~~~~~ The library was all lit up and all of Buffy's friends were there. She slipped in and hid behind a bookcase wondering if she should show herself= .=20 Suddenly Buffy's dream started to come true. Angel walked in, grabbed Giles, and shouted for Buffy to come out. "Not this time," she thought. "Well hello lover" shouted Buffy as she walked down the stairs. =20 "How was hell, Angel?" asked Buffy not really caring. "I loved it." He replied. Giles and the others were so shocked at seeing Buffy that they forgot Ang= el was there and they ran out to greet her. "Get back, this is between Buffy and I." "I won't fight you Angel" "I don't want you to, we are just going to talk, you know about your dead mother." Buffy felt herself wanting to cry but she resisted. Angel was walking around her, staring at her. "Oh, your Mother was very nice, polite and so on. She misses you, well I suppose I should say, she missed you." "Buffy couldn't take it anymore, she just burst out crying and fell to th= e ground. She hadn't eaten or slept in six days, she had lost her mother, her friend, and her lover. Angel laughed and walked out promising to be back. Giles ran to her and helped her to her feet. She couldn't hold he= r balance so Xander came to help. =20 "I am so terribly sorry, I am so terribly sorry." Giles just kept repeating those words over and over again, Buffy said nothing. Xander tried to help by saying silly things like, "Where's your Slayer cool?" and "don't worry it was your destiny." He didn't have a clue why = he kept saying things like that but one look from Giles and she shut up. =20 "Xander, take the others and your stupid comments and go somewhere else," "preferably to somewhere where Angel had not been invited in." he added. Xander obeyed and left with the others heading to Oz's house. Part 4 "Vengeance is mine" says the Lord." ~~~~~~~~~ Hours later Buffy felt better. She and Giles had talked about what had happened and she knew things would improve. Giles had took her to his house and made her some Hot chocolate. Normally she hated the stuff but now she accepted it graciously. "Did you get my note?" asked Buffy. Giles looked confused so Buffy explained. "The note I left in the library, in your Watcher's diary in your office, = I know your diary is the only place you actually look about once a day." "except for Vampire books and death books and evil books, which you seem obsessed by." Giles shook his head and said there was no note. =20 "I left you a note, explaining where I was going and why I had to go." Protested Buffy. They decided they would go back and look for it as it was not like Giles = to lose things. When they arrived at the library Buffy ran to where she had left her note and was surprised to see it was not there. In it's place though was another note, on golden bond paper, with a red ribbon tied around it. Buffy knew who it was from instantly and she called for Giles. "I can't open it." "I will," Giles replied, seriously. On the paper was a drawing of her Mom a lot like the one Angel had drawn = of Jenny.. Giles watched as he saw the pain that he went through when he ha= d found Jenny dead come alive in Buffy's eyes. He turned the paper over slowly and read the message on the back ""Vengence is mine" says the Lord= ", he chuckled to himself at the way he had spelled vengeance wrong, but he stopped laughing when he relized the sternness Angelus meant the message = to be delivered with. He shuddered to himself then went to support Buffy. "Wait a minute, how did Angel escape hell and how did he know I would be = in the library at that time?' questioned Buffy ignoring the paper and the drawing. "...........And what does Vengeance is mine mean?" Okay this is turning out to sound like a six year old w/ emotional proble= ms wrote it so any feedback is appreciated. Thanks to all those people that said they liked it! That helps more than I ever thought could!!! Misery4 slayer@swlink.net misery4@geocities.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Slayer01" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Fanfic: The Good Spike Date: 19 Sep 1998 17:59:29 -0700 TITLE: The Good Spike AUTHOR: Misery 4 EMAIL: misery4@hotmail.com SPOILERS: I don't know Angelus is bad that's all CONTENT: Bit of violence, no detail. RATING: PG SUMMARY: Cross over of BtVS and The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) DISCLAIMER: I don't own Buffy & Co. Joss Whedon does. I certainly don't own Luke, God does. I'm just scum, nothing more, nothing less. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This was just a silly thing I did inbetween writing An Act of Love. I just thought it would be so cruel to do a Bible crossover oh well. It's only short, and not really well written but I hope you get the general gist. If you don't go read a Bible.... If I get good feedback I might start on the other parables, if I don't I might not. -------------------------- The Good Spike by Misery4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke 10:30-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins* and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It wouldn't take a genius to figure that Buffy was losing the fight. She was down on her knees struggling against the constant blows her enemies were giving her. For the first ten minutes of the fight it looked like Buffy was winning, but then *it's* friends had arrived and now she had no chance. It all started three weeks ago when Angelus had called in the Order of Teraka against her (again). Giles and the others had kept her safe so far, with their wonderful books and research parties, but there were just some things she had to do on her own, like fight and die. She had planned tonight to go and force Angelus to call off the Order of Teraka, she hadn't a clue how she was going to do so, but she set out anyway. Half way through her favorite slaying place, the graveyard, she had been attacked. The ugliest thing she had ever seen had raced towards her and started beating her up. She fought back as well as she could, but now she was near death. Just when she thought it was over they all left. She knew that they had gone to get Angelus to *finish* her off. They had had strick instructions to allow him the glory of killing his lover/slayer. She had to get out of there fast but she couldn't even move a muscle---literally. She crawled closer to a gravestone hoping that she could just melt into the background but she knew that even a non-vampire could smell her blood and sweat miles away. The pain in her body was torture, she had never felt pain this bad, and she wondered if she would get through this at all. Even when she had *died* at the Master's hand she had not really felt much pain. Angelus's losing his soul and killing Jenny--now that was pain, but of a different kind. A sharp stab in her lungs brought her out of her thoughts quickly. She realized her ribs were probably pressing into her lungs that she might not even last until Angelus gets here. She screamed out for help, but no-one appeared. She laughed at how if someone did come to her aid, they would probably be a vampire, after all who else hangs around in graveyards. "I don't see why we have to make-out in graveyards, they're just so scary" whined a voice in the dark. "But honey, that's the best part, that way we can huddle up together....safe....warm...."replied a male with an attitude. Buffy called out to them, not knowing who, where or even what they were. "Jack, do you hear something, it sounds like someone shouting for help" "By the time I'm finished with you, you'll be screaming for help" replied Jack with an even bigger attitude than before. The girl giggled as Jack kissed her all over. Buffy cried out once more and this time the couple came over. If Buffy had not been in so much pain she would have laughed at how similar the girl looked to herself before she had become the slayer and how similar the guy looked to Pike. Jack came over and asked her if she was okay, and Buffy glared at him before replying . "Do I look okay?? I have broke nearly every bone in my body, I have blood all over me and I am practically passing out, of course I'm NOT okay" Buffy knew she was being a little bitchy but she was in too much pain to care. "Jack, we should go, we don't want to get involved." "Okay honey." The couple started walking away, and Buffy couldn't believe what had just happened. They just walked away and left her. Gosh, the number of times she had saved their lives risking her own and they just left her to die. She thought bitterly of how worthless her destiny seemed. Maybe it was better that the vampires suck everyone dry, at least they did something with their undead life albeit releasing demons and killing. She didn't have long to think bitter thoughts before another figure came towards her. "Well, well if it isn't Miss Summers, the school's biggest liability and trouble-maker, seems like you are in quite a fix." Buffy recognized the ears before she got a full view of the person. It was none other than her troll-like School Head; Mr. Snyder. "Mr. Snyder," She laughed nervously not knowing how to ask her worst mortal enemy to help. "..Could you please phone for an ambulance for me?" She stuttered out as the pain increased. "No I don't think that I will, you see if you die, our school loses it's biggest trouble maker and I get a promotion out of this hellish town." Synder replied as he walked off leaving Buffy once more stunned. She couldn't believe these people, she saves lives, they let her die, how terribly unfair. Tears started to roll down her face as she realized that she had no hope of living. She could hear footsteps approaching her and she was sure they were Angelus'. She closed her eyes and braced herself for whatever was to come. "Oh pet, what did you get into this time?" Buffy opened her eyes quickly recognizing the voice as none other than another off her immortal enemies Spike. Spike picked her up ignoring her cries of pain and carried her out of the graveyard. "Spike, what are you doing?" inquired Buffy after he had put her into his car. She reached inside her jacket for a stake, even though she would not have the energy to use it. "Don't worry luv, I'm here to save you." replied Spike grinning. Buffy would have continued, but the pain was kicking in even more now, and she was struggling to breath. "Slayer, you better live, you got blood all over my coat" Buffy raised her eyes and silently inquired as to why he cared about her. "If you die," Spike continued "Angelus's ego will be even bigger than before," "and I'll have no-one to love" he thought to himself silently. It had been a week since he had realized he loved Buffy, but he had not even seen her since then. He knew it was wrong, to love your mortal enemy, but it was a trait he had inherited from his sire. Spike pulled up outside Giles's house and carried her to the door. He banged hard on the door until Giles appeared, dressed in his tweed pajamas. Buffy wondered how he even found tweed pajamas, she had never even heard of the stuff until she had met him. She put the thought in the back of her head, reminding herself to ask him later. Right now she had to concentrate on staying alive. "Spike?? Buffy??" Giles did not understand why his slayer was lying battered in her immortal enemies arms. Before Spike could answer Giles snatched Buffy out of his arms causing her to scream in agony. Spike winced at the pain she must be going through and slowly turned to walk away. "Spike..." called Buffy. Spike slowly turned around to face Buffy and their eyes met. "Thanks" said Buffy slowly and meaningfully. "Anytime Slayer" Spike replied before walking off to resume the cripple act and to cope with Angelus's abuse. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Misery4 misery4@hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: NightHunter Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Invasion (3/?) Date: 21 Sep 1998 16:27:18 -0400 Sorry it took so long hope to get part 4 up a lot quicker. The Invasion (3/?) Buffy and Xander arrived at the library to see Willow crawling under a large piece of machinery. Buffy walks over to it and gives it a kick. Which causes it to tremble. Willow crawls out from under the machine as quick as she can. "Slayer, the device is ready to test." Said Willow "Then show me this other world." Commanded Buffy Willow moves over to the machine and starts to type commands into the keyboard. In just a mater of seconds the machine starts to rumble. The lights all over town begin to flash as the machine draws more and more power. Then a bright beam of light surges from the machince hitting the wall, then, it starts to widen. Then in a flash the gateway is opened. "There you have it using science and magic the first interdiminisonal portal." Stated Willow Buffy turns grabs one of her vampire menions and throws him in the portal. In a flash he's gone, a second later he can be seen on the machines viewing globe. It shows him standing outside of Buffy's house. "You've done good Willow." said Buffy puting her arm around Willow "But, if anything goes wrong, then, well I'll think of something." Buffy turned to Spike "Get everone ready. We have a new world to conquer" A few hours later the largest army of demons, vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of evil stand at the ready. They are about to march through the portal at the command of the Slayer. They would feed good on this new world. "Slayer!" called Willow "We have a small problem!" Buffy reached over grabed Willow around the neck lifting her off the ground. "Problem! what kind of problem!" "UH! Please! Slayer!" Cried Willow causing Buffy to remember that she was the only one who knew how the machine worked. So, she released her hold causing Willow to fall to the ground. "It's just that only five people can pass through the portal. I have to create another one on the other side. Then, we can open the portal all way. Then, that will allow the army to pass through." Said Willow "Very well! You will accompany me to build your machine along with Xander, Spike and Luke." Said Buffy The five enter the portal and find themselves transported to another Earth. The vampire that Buffy had sent through eairler awaited her. Later as Buffy entered the school. With Xander, and her minions she was approached by principal Synder. "So, there you are you little trouble-maker." Said Synder grabing Buffy's arm. "Your coming with me. We'll just see wha..." Before he could finsh his sentence Buffy ramed her hand through his chest. It came out the other side holding his heart. "NO ONE TOUCHES ME!" Said Buffy dropping his heart to the ground. Buffy then walked away leaving the dead body of Synder laying on the floor. She continued toward the library to a meeting with her other self. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Andrea Newbery" Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Talk, (1/1) Date: 21 Sep 1998 19:59:02 PDT Title: The Talk Author: Andrea e-mail: anewbery@hotmail.com disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. They are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB, etc... Rating: PG Summary: Willow talks to Joyce about Buffy. Spoilers: Everything up to and including B2 Feedback: Good, bad, anything. Willow walked slowly down the almost deserted street as the afternoon faded away. Her eyes lingered on the few children who played, their voices muted. She watched them, wondering why they were so quiet; if they could feel the change in the air as clearly as she could. If they had some innocent sense that things were not okay in Sunnydale, that their only line of defense had gone missing. Closing her eyes she thanked whatever force was out there for the peace that had hovered over the town for the last few weeks. If things didn't remain that way she wasn't sure what they would do. None of them were prepared to fight. Especially Giles, who was still recovering, the physical injuries healing much faster than the emotional ones. She thought back to his confession, the stiff words barely containing his pain as he confessed to the trick he had fallen prey to. Her words of understanding meant so little to him, his horror at betraying his Slayer and his duty and his love all but consuming him. He had barely spoken for two weeks after his confession except to make suggestions of places to look for Buffy. And every time one of the teens had to tell him about another dead-end, she watched the pain that tortured him increase. This morning he had come into the library later than usual, his face even more drawn, and had gone immediately into his office, not once looking at any of them. She had followed him in, determined to break through his shell, terrified that if she couldn't then she would lose him too. She had let Buffy hide her pain over Angel, had been content to believe that Buffy could handle it, up until Buffy ran away, and she realized how much pain her friend had been hiding. Willow took a deep breath before straightening her shoulders as she walked into his office. He had looked up at her as she entered, his face raw with pain. As one tear fell down his cheek he told her that he had been to see Buffy's mother. She had called him late the night before, sobbing to him about Buffy running away and then confessing that she thought Buffy had lost her mind. Giles looked at Willow, his face suddenly old, as he told her that Buffy had confessed to her mother that she was a Slayer. Whatever else had happened on that night they might never know, but they had this new piece of the puzzle. Giles shook his head as he related going to Buffy's house, trying to explain to her mother that Buffy told the truth. He had wanted to console her, to reassure her that Buffy was more than capable of taking care of herself. Staring at Willow, their roles reversed as his eyes begged her for help. Holding his head in his hands he told her of Buffy's mother's anger. That she wavered between thinking he was a pervert who had taken advantage of her insane daughter and believing him and cursing him for letting her daughter face death every night. Willow watched helplessly as he searched frantically through his drawers for his diaries. Thumbing through them he read passages aloud to Willow, words recreating battles that Buffy had won, demons she had destroyed. Wondering if this is what he should share with Buffy's mother, these triumphs of the Slayer. Willow had sat there, her mind racing with the best words to use, words that could explain to Buffy's mom that she would probably lose her daughter very young. That Buffy would most likely die a violent death at the hands of a demon. Listening with one ear to the clinical words the Watcher had written and remembering with her heart the horror and fear she had felt when she first understood who Buffy was and what the Slayer stood against, Willow had softly cleared her throat, pausing Giles. Holding her hand out to him she offered to take the burden. To tell Buffy's mom of the truth in Giles words, and was rewarded by the look of relief in Giles eyes. And now she stood on Buffy's street, staring up into Buffy's bedroom window, wishing that the Slayer was home. Taking a deep breath she slowly walked closer to the house, her imagination playing tricks on her, making the house seem horribly lonely sitting there surrounded by other houses. She almost felt the sorrow that encased it as it waited for the Slayer to return. With only the slightest unsteadiness to remind her of her injuries she walked up the steps and knocked on the door. And waited, praying that there would be no answer, that she could avoid it for one more day. Then, angry with herself for her cowardice she knocked louder before stepping back to wait. Listening carefully for any sound she stiffened as footsteps walked cautiously to the door. Her breathing shallow now, she cautioned herself to remain calm. She had to get through to Buffy's mother, had to make her mother understand. She ignored the crazy hope that lived in her heart, telling her if she could make things right, Buffy would come home. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on removing her nervousness from her face, then stared calmly at the door as she waited for it to open. Buffy's mother pulled back the door slowly, her face a mixture of hope and dread. Seeing Willow standing there she opened the door further, the hope on her face returning to pain. Willow slipped inside quietly, feeling like a traitor to come in her house as Buffy's friend only to confront her with the Slayer. They stood uncomfortably inside the door, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally Buffy's mother offered her a drink and they moved towards the living room. Willow sat down on the edge of the sofa as Buffy's mother brought the drinks in, her throat suddenly dry. She waited as Buffy's mother sat down in a chair and looked at her, only her eyes betraying her nervousness. Clearing her throat Willow began to speak, "Ms. Summers..." "Joyce." "Joyce...I...I..." Willow choked at the last minute, unable to bring herself to destroy Buffy's mother's peace of mind forever. She hesitated, trying to think of a way to make it better without telling her anything else. Opening her mouth to tell lies the truth spilled out. "She is the Slayer." Joyce sat there staring at her, no anger on her face, in fact, there was no emotion at all. She slowly took a sip of her ice tea, the only clue of her inner struggle was the clink of the ice cubes against the glass as her hand shook. Speaking slowly, her voice barely calm, "Why? Why are you doing this? My daughter is missing! Isn't that enough? She's gone and she thinks there are vampires. My daughter needs help and you should be ashamed that you are taking any part of this...this lie." Willow forced herself to look at Ms. Summer's as she spoke, telling herself that it was to late to chicken out now. Her voice was timid as she responded. "She was telling the truth, so was Giles. She's the chosen one and I'm so sorry." The older woman sat frozen, her hand still holding the glass of iced tea. She didn't move a muscle for an eternity, her face betraying nothing as she stared at the plate of drinks and cookies that sat in front of her. Then suddenly she threw the glass she had been holding, shattering it against the far wall in the room. Turning to Willow she glared at her, like she would like nothing better than to throw her against the same wall. Standing up she paced around the room, her eyes never leaving Willow's face, her hands clenched at her sides. Turning she spat the words at Willow, "My daughter is missing, maybe even d..dead. And you want me to live in the same fantasy world you all seem to be living in? You need help. All of you." Her breath coming in short gasps she spun around and pointed to a picture of a much younger Buffy on the wall. "See? That's my daughter. And that will be my daughter again, as soon as I find her and get her away from you people." Willow forced herself to lean forward in her chair, fighting her instinctive desire to avoid this confrontation. "Joy...Mrs. Summers, I'm not lying. Buffy told you the truth, so did Giles. It's not a fantasy world, it's real." Struggling to keep her voice calm she continued, "Buffy protects the world against vampires. And whatever else comes along." Mrs. Summers shook her head, her anger growing again. Slamming her hands down on the table she leaned across to speak directly into Willow's face. "Vampires don't exist." Closing her eyes, Willow willed her stomach to calm down. She stared into Mrs. Summers' face, trying to portray more confidence then she felt, "Don't you remember parent-teacher night? How the members of the gang all had something wrong with their faces? Remember how Buffy handled it?" Mrs. Summers hesitated for a moment, her angry expression clouded with confusion. Then she took a shaky breath before speaking in a calmer voice to Willow. "I don't blame you. That Mr. Giles probably confused you too. That was just a gang. On drugs or something." She walked closer to Willow, her expression full of pity. "Vampires aren't real Willow. I met the gang leader Buffy was fighting at the school. On the night Buffy left. There was nothing wrong with his face. He looked just like you or me." Willow slid back in her chair, trying to make sense of Buffy's mother's words. She could feel her stomach churning with confusion. "Spike...was here? In your house? She invited him in?" Joyce looked nervous, as if the tone in Willows voice frightened her. "Yes. He sat in the chair you're sitting in. He knew the person that killed the girl...at school." Willow looked at her, suddenly angrier than she had ever been. How blind could one person be, how oblivious to the horror that surrounded them? She pushed herself forward on the chair, and spoke in a low voice. "And that seems reasonable to you? Your daughter invited a killer into your house and that seems okay? But no vampires, right? Cause that would be crazy." Willow paused, suddenly aware that her voice was rising with every word she spoke. Taking a deep breath she lowered her voice and continued. "Your daughter brings home a man who tried to kill her and you think that the idea of vampires is crazy?" Willow held her head in her hands trying to get a grip on the anger that was burning in her throat. Joyce stared at Willow for a moment, her hands dangling limply at her sides. She backed slowly away from Willow as if she could avoid her words. Shaking her head she denied them, not answering Willow's question. Willow stood up quickly, ignoring the way the room swam around her eyes and the nausea that gripped her stomach. "I know it's hard. It was hard for me too. When I first found out I thought I was trapped in a nightmare. But it's real, all of it, everything Giles told you. The demons exist Mrs. Summers." Walking slowly over to the couch Joyce collapsed onto it, all her anger dissipated. "You want me to believe in a world where my daughter is a vampire Slayer. In a world where my daughter fights monsters." Her voice was thick with emotion as she spoke, "In a world where I can't protect her?" "In a world where she can protect herself." Willow spoke carefully, praying that her words were true. "Better than the rest of us." "How can she? She's so tiny. She couldn't fight someone like Spike." Joyce paused then, her face frightened. "But she did. I saw her..." Willow felt the first tears slip from her eyes at the pain in Buffy's mom's face as her words faded away. She held the older woman's gaze, refusing to let Joyce turn away from her. Willow felt as Joyce gave in, as she let the unimaginable become reality. Willow recognized the fear that came from realizing that every monster you ever feared was real. The boogeyman existed and for Mrs. Summers it was worse, because not only did she have to accept that monsters existed, but also that her daughter fought them. Willow reached out and grabbed Joyce's hand, her voice soft. "You saw her?" The older woman spoke softly, as if she hadn't heard Willow's words, her voice surprisingly steady. "My daughter fights vampires. She risks her life every night to keep the rest of the world safe? But vampires aren't real! It's not real, none of this." Willow listened to her words, understanding that Joyce was doing what she had done almost two years ago, to try and make the horror real. She leaned forward, her face full of compassion as she waited for Mrs. Summers to accept the truth. Waited to answer the questions that she could answer, the ones that had some explanations, the where and the when. The why and how could never be answered, they just had to be accepted. Her voice breaking Joyce continued, "But it is real. Vampires exist. I saw her kill one. I saw him turn to dust on my front porch." She stared at Willow with an almost child-like expression, "Do you know I haven't swept the front porch since? I rarely ever go out that door. I knew then that it wasn't possible, what she did. It shouldn't be. How can it be?" Willow spoke quietly then, remembering Buffy's strength. "It just is. She's not as fragile as she looks. She has more strength than other people. Once, when someone was trying to kill my boyfriend, she took his gun and bent it." Willow stopped as she took in Joyce's look of horror. "It's okay, he wasn't trying to shoot Buffy." "Guns?" Mrs. Summers' voice was panicked. "You use guns to fight? This sounds more like gangs than the vampire's you would have me believing in." "No. Oz...my boyfriend, he's a werewolf. And the guy, he was a poacher. And he wanted to kill Oz...even though Oz is only a werewolf three nights a month." Willow broke off as she saw the disbelief mixed with terror on Mrs. Summers face. "Buffy doesn't use guns. She uses wooden stakes, holy water, sometimes a crossbow, but never a gun. It wouldn't kill a vampire anyway." "And Spike...he is a vampire?" Mrs. Summers spoke cautiously, as if she wasn't sure she wanted the answer. "Yes." Mrs. Summers shook her head, "That was a vampire? Any more vampires that I've met?" Taking a deep breath Willow figured it was all or nothing. "Angel. Angel was...is a vampire." Joyce didn't say anything in response to Willow's words. She just sat there, looking at her hands. Finally looking up with tears sliding slowly down her face. "So, my daughter not only kills these...these...vampires, she also sleeps with them? This doesn't make any sense." "She doesn't sleep with _vampires_, she _slept_ with _Angel_. Because she loved him. " Willow leaned forward, her face begging Mrs. Summers to believe her. "Angel's not evil, he had a soul. Most vampires don't, but he was cursed with one a long time ago. He, he helped us, helped Buffy. He loved her more than anything and she loved him. But...when they slept together, the curse was broken and he became evil again. That's why he tormented her and why she had to kill him. But I recursed him, so maybe she didn't have to." "How can I believe this? It's all like some horror story, not my daughter's life. Buffy was in love with a vampire who turned bad after she had sex with him. It's almost laughable, or it would be if I wasn't starting to believe that this is the truth. Willow, is this really my daughter's life?" Joyce's eyes were pleading with her to take the words back, to say something pretty and let her go back to denying what she saw. "Yes." Willow knew her words were shattering years of deception. Lies that Buffy had told and Joyce had let herself believe. She felt so guilty for destroying the lies, but she couldn't help thinking that it would be easier for Buffy to do her duty if she didn't have to hide the truth from her mother. She set her shoulders, ignoring the little voice in her head that was telling her Buffy may never come back. "But she does what she has to, all of the time. You should be proud of her, she's fought tons of demons and saved the world from being sucked into Hell. Her life isn't fair, but she did it anyway. And when she left, it was because the price may have been too high." Joyce stared at Willow for a moment, her face guilty. "I told her never to come back. She said she had to save the world, and I told her if she left..." Willow shook her head, refuting Joyce's words. "She knew you loved her. She just lost too much I think." Willow hesitated before speaking again, not knowing if the other option would give Mrs. Summers the same hope it gave her. "Or maybe, maybe the curse worked. Maybe Angel has his soul again. Maybe she left with him." "Will he hurt her again?" Joyce looked dazed as she spoke. "No." Willow smiled a little as she remembered how much the vampire had loved her friend. "If it worked, if he has his soul, then he would rather die than hurt her. He's saved her many times, saved all of us." "Saved her? I thought you said she could take care of herself?" Joyce’s voice was rising again, her fear coming to the surface. "She can, but sometimes it's good to have back-up.” Willow said softly, flashes of all the close calls Buffy had running through her mind. “Did Giles tell you?" "That my baby would die young?" Joyce's voice was devoid of emotion. "He told me that Slayers throughout history had not lived long lives." Willow swallowed, knowing how hard it was for her to accept that Buffy might not win forever, she couldn't imagine accepting that about your child. "Buffy's different though. She's won battles no one thought she would. And we help her, and if Angel is back, he'll help her. We aren't going to believe that she won't live forever." "You want this vampire back? Angel?" Joyce questioned her. "I want Buffy to live. And I want her to be happy. With him she has a better chance for both." Willow stared directly into Joyce's eyes as she spoke. "But you don't know if your curse worked?" "No. On the night, that night, Angel had kidnapped Giles and was going to wake a demon that would have opened a vortex into Hell. Buffy stopped it, but we don't know if she did it because Angel got his soul back or because she killed him. If I did the curse in time, he wouldn't have before he woke the demon or if she killed him before he could do it." "She left a note. All it said was that she had hurt too many people." Joyce spoke softly. Willow sucked in a breath and then nodded her head. "That could mean either one. She felt so guilty about what happened to Angel, and what happened to everyone else because she couldn't kill him." The older woman's eyes clouded with tears. She spoke in a whisper, her voice barely audible. "My poor baby. Do you think she'll come back?" Willow stared at her, wondering how to answer her or even if there was an answer. "I need to believe she will. We need her here, and I think she needs us. If...if Angel is dead, she needs time to mourn him. And if not, well, she'll come back when he's ready. We're looking for her though. Every day we look." Joyce sat back against the couch, her eyes shut tightly. Willow watched her, knowing that she had faced all the truths she could for that day. Walking slowly over to her bag she pulled out the first of Giles' Watcher diaries. Setting it softly on the table she turned to leave. Mrs. Summers voice caught her as she reached the front door. "Will you come back tomorrow? Will you come and tell me who my daughter is?" Willow turned back and nodding her head she answered the woman. "Of course. We can all come. Xander, Giles, all of us." Willow slowly broke eye contact with Buffy's mother and slipped out of the door. She stopped once she felt the door shut behind her, feeling all the emotions she had been holding back hit her. Her legs trembling she continued holding the door for support. She could feel the dizziness swarming around her head and the panic that wanted to overtake her. Closing her eyes she reminded herself of the nightmares she had already lived through. Why should telling Buffy's mother be any big deal at all? Taking deep breaths she walked down the steps and away from Buffy's house. She headed down the street, her feet taking her back to the library. To tell Giles that she had done it. That she had explained the horror to one more person. Taken peace of mind from one more life. She spoke to Buffy as she walked, sending out her message, the same one she sent out every night. Please come home Buffy, we love you. fin ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Cutter Kinseeker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Xander's Incredible Journey (6a/?) Date: 21 Sep 1998 20:06:49 PDT Okay, this is the third time I've tried to post this, and every time it gets bounced. This go-round, I've broken the chapter up into three parts instead of two. I hope it works! TITLE: "Xander's Incredible Journey" AUTHOR: Cutter Kinseeker E-MAIL: ckinseeker@hotmail.com FEEDBACK: Yes! Yes! Yes! Tell me what you think, but constructive criticism only please. No "it sucks" type messages. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: Mostly PG-13 for language and adult themes. A couple of parts will be R. DESCRIPTION: In the aftermath of "Becoming," Xander sets out after Buffy and winds up "becoming" in his own right. Xander and Cordelia track Buffy's trail to Bakersfield, where they learn a terrible truth and make a new friend. DISCLAIMER: I don't own jack. Correction--jack's probably the only thing I do own. The rest belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the Frog Network. SPOILERS: Everything up to "Becoming". S S P P O A I C L E E R Chapter Six It's a Long, Hard Road Out of [the] Hell[mouth] Except from the audio journal of Alexander LaVelle Harris: "Bakersfield was a bust in the sense that Buffy wasn't there, but at least we managed to pick up a trail. Buffy turned her credit cards into cash at about half a dozen ATM machines near the bus terminal. As far as confirmation goes, we called Willow and got her to track the transaction--not to mention a police report about an attempted mugger winding up in the hospital with seven broken bones, a concussion, and numerous small cuts and scrapes. Says that a 'cheerleader with blond hair' beat the hell out of him when he tried to hold her up; serves him right, and if that isn't Buffy, I don't know who else it could be. "From the times we got out of Willow's little online venture, we can't have missed her by more than a few days. From Sunnydale to Bakersfield by Greyhound bus takes a little over fifteen hours, plus the time we spent debating over whether or not she had left at all. If she left the night she killed Angel, that would give her a five-day head start; if it was the day after, it's only four. Either way, I'm pretty confident that Cordy's sports car can catch up with a slow-moving bus. The big problem is figuring out which bus she took; the Greyhound people don't keep accurate records of cash transactions, and after Bakersfield, there won't be any paper trail to follow. "Another problem, of course, is sleeping arrangements. Even in some sort of staggered sleeping pattern, me and Cordy wouldn't be able to keep driving all the time... well, Cordy less than me, since she doesn't know how to sleep in a moving vehicle. So that means that we're gonna have to stop every night and find some sort of acceptable place to sleep--acceptable to Cordelia, that is. And since Cordelia lied to her parents about where she is, she had to turn one of her cards into quick cash, too, and hope that they don't get the statement until after we get back. For those of you in our studio audience, that means that we're on a budget. "The idea gives me a wiggins. And I'm still trying to decide how I feel about having to share a room with Cordelia. Yes, you heard right, since we're on a... brrr... budget, I have to share a motel room with the Cordelia Monster. I wonder how I'm ever going to live this down when we get back to Sunnydale; I wonder how I'm going to live *through* it now. Tonight is the first time we get to experience the joy of sleeping in the same bedroom... Wait, that doesn't sound right; I should probably go back and delete it... Anyway, hopefully, we won't have to do this very often. "And if she snores, I will not be held responsible for my actions. "End journal entry for May 25, 1998, and it looks like about 5:30 PM." *** "Are you about done with that stupid audio thingie," yelled Cordelia from across the Motel 6 parking lot. She began to stalk angrily towards her boyfriend, drawing a harsh diagonal from the office to her sports car, blatantly ignoring incoming traffic and moving vehicles. Xander sighed, made sure that the mini-recorder was turned off, and chucked it in his backpack. "Yeah, Cordy," he said with a rueful grin, "I'm done now." "I still don't see why you won't let me hear what's on those tapes you carry around with you," she said testily. *Actually*, she thought, *I know exactly what you're talking about--you're mooning over your precious Buffy and complaining about me.* She supposed that she couldn't blame him, really; habit was a hard thing to break, and he had hated her for most of his life. Even dating her couldn't make him reshape his habits and beliefs overnight. It was just the speed of his adjustment that bothered her; he may be slow, but he wasn't normally this slow--unless he wanted to be. "We all set?" asked Xander, attempting to derail what looked like the beginnings of fury on Cordy's face. "Yeah. I got the manager to give me a single for the night." "A single? What about me?" Xander queried in half-hearted outrage. "You can sleep on the floor or something." She looked at the stunned expression on her boyfriend's face. "Don't look like that; a single's the cheapest thing they have, and we *are* on a budget, you know." "The 'B'-word again," Xander muttered darkly. "Besides," Cordelia continued, oblivious to his utterance, "he thinks I'm traveling alone. How could I tell him that I have a guy waiting out in my car that's going to spend the night in my room? Do you realize what he'd think?" "Cordy, what does it matter what the manager thinks? We're never going to see him again!" Cordelia looked at him, a slight moue of disdain painted on her already-painted face. "Unlike *some* people," she stated archly, "I care what people think about me." "And look where that got you: zapped by an evil witch, beaten up by an invisible girl, almost chopped up for spare parts by a dead ex-boyfriend, nearly eaten by a giant demon-snake in a frat house--should I go on?" "Please don't," she said, somewhat abashed. "Let's just pull around to the other side and get settled in. We've been driving all day, and I need a shower and a change." Xander leaned in and sniffed lightly at her hair. "A shower is most definitely called for," he informed her with a grin. "But you, change? Never happen." To counterpoint his words, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and slid across the hood of her car to the passenger's side. "We moving or not?" he asked as Cordelia continued to stand in front of the car, unmoving. "Yeah, sure." Cordelia shook her head in wonder as she got behind the wheel. After a decade of being his worst enemy, a year of being his friend, and a few months of being his girl, she still doubted that she would ever understand Xander Harris. *And maybe*, she mused, *it's better that way*. *** The Carlsons were not having a good vacation. Setting out from their Nevada home in their ancient, bedraggled Winnebago, they had intended to be at their destination--Anaheim, California, home of the Giant Rat--almost two days ago. Bad weather and worse driving conditions had pushed their estimated time of arrival back over and over, until they were counting their lucky stars that they had made it to the state they were headed to, let alone the city. With any luck, they would be in Anaheim by tomorrow; after all, Bakersfield was just a hop, skip, and a jump from there. The oldest of the Carlson children was lounging in her Winnebago bunk, contemplating all of the events of the last half-week; at the very least, this would be a vacation all four siblings would remember. On their way out of the driveway, they had blown a tire on a chunk of metal so twisted that they couldn't even discern its original function, pushing their departure back by a full day. As far as Jack, the youngest of them, was concerned it was a sign--if not from God, then from someone He knew pretty well. Jack was too young to leave at home alone, but just old enough to complain about family trips. His twin sister, Jill, older by less than two minutes, kept haranguing him about his lack of maturity; in truth, she just wanted a chance to worship at the altar of the Mouse-Ears. The next day had been a terrible one on which to start a trip of any sort, but Miles Carlson, the patriarch of the family, was something of a trooper and insisted on pushing forward--full speed ahead and damn the dust storm. While his wife of twenty years, Emily, shared the concern of her children and the radio weathermen for the serious nature of the storm, she had always been preternaturally supportive of her husband and certainly wasn't about to desert him on their first real vacation since the twins had been born, eight years ago. It had been her idea to name them Jackson and Gillian, but it took her husband's quirky sense of humor to catch the joke; for as long as they could remember, the twins had been Jack and Jill. For the next couple of days, the road seemed to be populated by a combination of weather-maddened drivers and simply careless ones. A series of near-misses, cut-offs, enraged motorists, and minor engine complaints had caused them to lose nearly another full day of traveling time. Kurt, the stereotypical middle child, had declared that the entire trip was cursed and they were better off turning back while they still had the chance. They were just snotty words from a snotty child, but they would all have cause to remember them later on. At long last, they had entered the sunny state of California, except that the state didn't seem all that sunny. In fact, it seemed decidedly dreary, with low-hanging storm clouds that threatened to burst forth with their wet cargo. The hours they had lost in fighting both weather and the traffic caught up to them in Bakersfield, where it was decided that they could afford--indeed, needed--to hole up in a motel for the night. It would give them a chance to separate for a little while, spend some time apart before they started the actual vacation, stretch their legs after three days in a cramped Winnebago. The truly ironic thing was that Bakersfield hadn't been on their itinerary at all; a wrong turn-off on one of the interstates had caused them to approach Anaheim at a wide parabola, cutting a path through rarely-seen areas of California. Weary beyond most senses of the word, with a short fuse from all of the infighting among his children, Miles Carlson stopped at the first place that happened to cross his path--the Bakersfield Motel 6. Even here, however, the "curse" of their vacation wouldn't seem to leave them alone. A careless pedestrian stepped out in front of them in the parking lot, and Miles had barely managed to miss both her and a potential lawsuit. Cursing under his breath, he only just restrained his urge to lean out of the window and vent some of his anger on the girl verbally. Driving on, the girl was forgotten to Miles in moments. While the Winnebago idled, the oldest of the children started looking out the window at her surroundings; if she was going to spend the night here, she wanted the layout of the place beforehand. The girl who had walked out in front of their hugely ugly recreational vehicle was still in the parking lot, talking to a boy with a cast on his arm. *Strike that*, thought Miles Carlson's oldest child, *she's putting that poor boy through the wringer*. The girl in the parking lot was stunningly beautiful, wearing a form-fitting dress that would be illegal in parts of the country with more stringent public decency laws. Her boyfriend--for surely no one else would put up with so much verbal abuse--didn't have the girl's model-like good looks, but he had a casual handsomeness about him and a disarming smile; his good humor was almost infectious, even from this distance. As she so often was, the eldest Carlson child found herself wondering about these people that she knew nothing about: Who were they? Where were they going? What motivations drove them? Her mother had often told her to mind her own business, but she found all too often that her curiosity got the better of her; there were so many stories just begging to be written, so many people to use as characters in those stories. Even before their room was ready, the girl knew that she was going to find these two and talk to them; there was just something about them that demanded attention, as though they had a secret so big that you could almost see it hovering around them like a halo. They would make fascinating characters in a story, she was sure, or maybe even her novel, which she hadn't even begun to write but knew was in her somewhere. And someday, she would write down that novel and then everyone would know her name. Stacy Carlson had always known she was destined for greatness. *** Xander did his absolute best to stay out of Cordelia's way as she rummaged through her carry-on in search of something that wasn't so wrinkled she would disown it, but in the end, it was his complete ignorance of fashion that did him in. He quickly came to understand the terrible pressure and stress on a guy whose girlfriend was trying to pick out an outfit while he was in the room. The horrors that a member of the "fairer sex"--especially one as fashion-minded as Cordelia--could inflict on a fashion-blind male were legendary, but they could all be summed up in one simple sentence, an interrogative so subtle that it could almost be a genuine question instead of a test: "What do you think of this one?" After sitting through nearly half an hour of the interrogation, the innuendo, the disparaging remarks about his fashion sense (or lack thereof), Xander felt much like a survivor of the Titanic: adrift on a turbulent, half-frozen sea, full of hazards and perils, except that the sea was Cordelia's shifting, mercurial mood. He was casting about for something, anything, that would pull him out of this situation when his eyes lighted upon a small plastic bucket on the small sink outside the bathroom. "Ice," he interjected quickly, apropos of nothing, putting in his single utterance so quickly that Cordelia wasn't sure she had heard correctly; she asked him to repeat. "We need ice. I just thought that I'd find the machine while you take your shower and pick out your outfit and everything. You realize," he added in false concern, sidling slowly towards the bucket and trying not to make any sudden movements, "this is a big place; I should start looking for the ice machine right now, and it still might take me, oh, I don't know, an hour to find it. You know how bad I am with directions, and navigation, and pretty much anything that has to do with finding your way around someplace--did I ever tell you that I got lost in my own house one time?" He reached out, snatched the ice bucket, and darted for the door in a series of motions so fluid and swift that Cordelia never had a chance to say anything--a true rarity. "I'llbebackinalittlebitbye." And then he was gone. Cordelia just stood there a little while longer, shaking her head in mild amazement that her plan had worked as well as she planned. Well, not quite as well; she originally thought that Xander would crack in less than fifteen minutes, but he had held out for almost twice as long. She would make a note of that and file it away with all of her other gimmicks and tricks. If she hadn't scared Xander off, she would have had to change clothes and shower with only a thin wall between them--practically in the same room, and Cordelia wasn't quite sure if she could handle being nude that close to Xander yet. Hell, she couldn't control their not-infrequent makeout sessions, and that was a lot heavier than she had ever gotten with most of her boyfriends. At least it had worked; Xander was so freaked out that he wouldn't be back for at least thirty minutes, maybe even an hour. With that much time on her hands, she could afford the luxury of a bath. Who said that Cordelia Chase couldn't be subtle? *** ATTENTION: This is not the end of the chapter or even a major break in the action. It is just where I had to make an awkward page break. The second part of the chapter will be marked Chapter 6b. Cutter Kinseeker -Chieftain of the Wolfriders -Holder of New Moon, artifact sword -Slayer of the dreaded beast Madcoil -Keeper of Xander's firm belief that he could take Angelus with the help of a bunch of orderlies, cops, doctors, and nurses (KBD) -Keeper of Xander's derisive sneer at Angelus (KBD) -Keeper of Xander's jaunty stake-whittling tune ("School Hard") -Keeper of Willow's longing gaze at Xander while he talks about the unattainable ("Some Assembly Required") -Keeper of Giles' masochistic need to spar with Buffy -Keeper of Cordelia's divine request for aspirin ("School Hard") -Keeper of Buffy's need for a warning label (KBD) "AYOOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHH!!!!" --Cutter Kinseeker "From famine to feast and back to famine again." --Skywise Visit the Holt of Cutter Kinseeker http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/2234/ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Cutter Kinseeker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Xander's Incredible Journey (6b/?) Date: 21 Sep 1998 20:09:41 PDT TITLE: "Xander's Incredible Journey" AUTHOR: Cutter Kinseeker E-MAIL: ckinseeker@hotmail.com FEEDBACK: Yes! Yes! Yes! Tell me what you think, but constructive criticism only please. No "it sucks" type messages. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: Mostly PG-13 for language and adult themes. A couple of parts will be R. DESCRIPTION: In the aftermath of "Becoming," Xander sets out after Buffy and winds up "becoming" in his own right. Xander and Cordelia track Buffy's trail to Bakersfield, where they learn a terrible truth and make a new friend. (This is part two of a three-part message.) DISCLAIMER: I don't own jack. Correction--jack's probably the only thing I do own. The rest belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the Frog Network. SPOILERS: Everything up to "Becoming". S S P P O A I C L E E R Chapter Six It's a Long, Hard Road Out of [the] Hell[mouth] [section two] *** Xander leaned against the door of their room for long moments, catching his breath and contemplating the "fate worse than death" from which he had just escaped. When he returned to full awareness, he realized that he was still grasping the plastic ice bucket in his good hand, holding on to it as though it were a lifesaver and he were a drowning man. The irony of being saved from the ice queen by an ice bucket was not lost on him, and in other circumstances, he might have laughed out loud at it. Right now, he was just too busy being grateful to escape Cordelia's grasping clutches. He began to walk away from the room, as much to clear his head as to find the ice machine. After all this time with Cordelia, over a year of fighting the forces of darkness together, and half of that as boyfriend and girlfriend, he was still slightly intimidated by her. Of all of the frightening things he had faced, few terrified him more than his relationship with Cordelia Chase. He was never sure from one moment to the next what her mood would be, and roughly half of their time with one another was spent catering to her whims; the other half was evenly divided between angry makeout sessions and incessant arguing, interspersed with vampire slaying and monster hunts. Also, he was never sure from one moment to the next exactly how serious their relationship was. Sometimes it felt like a really casual thing, something that was just for the moment; every now and then, they would be like a real couple, just walking and talking or doing nothing but sharing comfortable silence, but those moments were few and far between; and very rarely, he would half-sense a greater seriousness, something that could--with a lot of work and time and effort from both of them--become permanent. He just wasn't sure if he wanted it to be or not; after all, he had admitted to himself, and all but admitted to Cordelia, that he was deeply in love with Buffy and not with Cordelia. Xander shook his head; no, until he could resolve all of the problems in his own life, he didn't need to contemplate adding Cordelia's to them. And thoughts like these were better left for a time when they weren't on some sort of life-and-death race against evil. Xander smiled; if they waited until their lives weren't in danger, neither of them would ever have a real relationship with anyone, let alone each other. He was so busy wrestling with his own thoughts that he never noticed the girl until he ran into her. They both reeled back from the force of the impact, and Xander's arm jarred painfully. He dropped the ice bucket, and she dropped what looked like a notebook and handful of pens and pencils. Xander started to apologize, looked at her, looked at the scattered writing implements, began his apology over, and bent down to pick up the lost objects as he did so. Unfortunately, she had started to apologize as well, so that their combined words became meaningless cacophony that degenerated into embarrassed giggles; and as he bent over, she did as well, causing their heads to collide with a resounding "thunk" reminiscent of a coconut hitting a concrete floor. They both staggered back once more, again trying to apologize over each other's voice. Finally, Xander gestured for her to stand back and managed to recover everything without mangling it too badly. He held the ice bucket gingerly between the thumb and forefinger of his cast-encased hand and picked up her things with the other. As he stood to hand her things back to her, he noticed her careful scrutiny of him. Quickly and casually, he checked to make sure that his fly was zipped; finding that it was, he started to wonder why she was staring at him like she was. To defuse the tension he felt and to make her break her close examination of him, he spouted out the first thing that came to his mind. "You seem familiar. Have we run into each other somewhere before?" *Oh, smooth, Harris, real smooth*. At least it was better than how he had first greeted Buffy. To his amazement, the girl laughed out loud at his line and clapped her hands lightly. Feeling more foolish than usual as he did so, Xander took a slight bow and announced, "And the award for most clichéd line goes to... me! By the way, I'm Xander." He made to offer her his good hand in greeting, then remembered that he was still holding her things in it. He saved himself from further embarassment by continuing through in the move and simply handing everything back to her. "I'm Stacy," she said as she recovered her possessions. Xander took a moment to evaluate her in much the same way she had done to him. As he did so, it occurred to him that she might have been checking him out, but he instantly dismissed it as a combination of wishful thinking and hormones. He decided that she was probably pretty, but he admittedly didn't have a lot of experience in checking out "real" girls; he was too used to pining after girls he already knew. The desert-dark tan she sported made her seem more exotic, even as it detracted from her beauty, so he supposed it balanced out. Under the motel's flourescent lights her hair looked dark blonde, but it was her eyes that really struck Xander. As she moved, they almost shimmered, changing color like oil on water, but that had to be an optical illusion. When she noticed his observation, she had the good grace to blush slightly, though it hardly showed through the tan. "And," she added, "I don't think the line was that clichéd, certainly not enough to win an award for it." "You must not get out often," Xander said good-naturedly. "Actually, no. I'm from New Mexico, a little town Skyview. They built most of the place back in the early 40's as temporary housing for the scientists involved in the Manhattan Project so they could commute back and forth to Trinity. After the brains and military left, there were a lot of civilians left in the area--shopkeepers, merchants, suppliers, that sort of thing--and they just sort of stuck around. My grandad was a technician at Trinity, and when he retired he came back to Skyview." *Why am I telling him all this?* Stacy wondered to herself. *I came here to question him, not tell him my life story*. "Trinity..." Xander muttered. "Why does that name sound familiar?" "It's where they detonated the first atom bomb," Stacy informed him. After living in that area her whole life, she often forgot that many people didn't remember Trinity. "And your grandfather was there?" Xander asked. Stacy nodded her head. "Jeez... How terrible for him..." Noticing Stacy's confused look, he continued. "What I mean is, how terrible to be part of something that destructive and have to go along with it. I remember the Manhattan Project from history class--it's actually one of the only things I do remember, in fact--and even Einstein, who wrote the formula that made the whole thing possible, thought it was a bad idea. Most of the other scientists in it said the same thing after they realized what they were doing had a real-life effect and wasn't just some mind game they were playing around with at a MENSA dinner party." "I've never heard it put like that before," Stacy said thoughtfully. "What was your grandfather doing around that time?" "Dodging the draft," he said automatically. "Actually, he called it 'advancing the cause of human knowledge' in his official protest to the government, but they called his number anyway. Fortunately, he was out of the country at the time, so they couldn't make him come back. Unfortunately, he wound up getting stuck behind Nazi lines and had to dress up like a harem girl for the better part of a year to avoid being captured." Stacy burst out laughing at his story, clasped her hand over her mouth to stop, and continued to giggle anyway, many of the giggles revealing themselves as snorts and shuddering shoulders. Xander smiled his crooked smile and said nothing. That was always the way he told other people the story, because he knew it would get a laugh; the truth was a little more complicated, but they didn't really have time for it right now. When she finished laughing, she asked the question that had been on her mind since his introduction. "Xander's an odd name. Is it a nickname or something?" "Sort of," he said with a slight grimace. "My parents named me 'Alexander', after a story my grandad used to tell my dad, but no one except them calls me that anymore." Seeing the unspoken question in her eyes, he continued. "When I was five, I met a girl named Willow, and we became best friends--still are, really. She had a mild speech impediment at the time, and she couldn't pronounce 'Alexander', so she shortened it to just 'Xander'. After a while, that's how everyone knew me and the only name I really answered to. Which is yet another sign of exactly how clueless my parents are," he concluded. "Aren't everyone's parents clueless?" Stacy asked in a voice so innocent he couldn't help but laugh. "My parents are pretty cool, really, but sometimes they don't understand that they aren't my age anymore." "I know how it feels. Rather, I would know how it feels if my parents were ever around, or if they were a little more like other people's parents. I don't even know what my dad does for a living; my mom either for that matter." His good mood quickly turned introspective and glum; it always did whenever his parents came up in a conversation. Sensing this, Stacy moved quickly to derail the train of his thoughts. "Who's the girl you're with?" Xander jumped as if stuck with a pin. "I saw the two of you come in together. Actually, my dad sort of almost ran her over." "You were the people in the Winnie!" he said, snapping his fingers. "Yeah," Stacy replied, seemingly surprised. "How did you know?" "Well, a bunch of cars swerved to avoid Cordy, but the Winnie was the only thing big enough to hold more than a couple of people, and somehow I don't think you're old enough to drive anyway." "I'm fifteen," Stacy sniffed derisively, "and I'll be sixteen in August." "I was just kidding," Xander said, holding his hands up as if to deflect her anger. Noticing that he still held the ice bucket in his hand, he started looking around. "Do you happen to know where the ice machine is? I came out here to look for it when I, um, ran into you. And if I'm not back soon, Cordy'll burn me at the stake. Assuming, of course, she can find a stake to burn me at. Failing that, she'll resort to strangling me with a designer belt, but I hope to be back long before she starts picking out one that goes with my shoes, and is it just me, or have I once again become a bibbling idiot?" Stacy seemed ready to make a reply, but before she could, a hideous scream cut through the tranquil night. She half-turned, glancing over her shoulder in the direction of the disturbance. As she did so, her eyes became large as saucers and she paled visibly beneath the desert-dark tan; her mouth fluttered to her mouth like a butterfly on its way to her stomach, then dropped back to her side and clenched in a fist. "That came from where we're at... Oh, God!" Ignoring Xander, she took off towards the source of the sound, running as though the devil himself were at her heels. She took no time whatsoever to think that it might not be her family that was in trouble, or that even if it was, there was little that she could do to help. All of these thoughts occurred to Xander, passing through his mind in a blur, leaving a numbing calm in their wake, before he decided on a course of action. He immediately turned and ran the other way as fast as he could. *** The door to the motel room burst open roughly, not as though it had been broken down, but as though someone had not turned the key completely before forcing it open. Cordelia let out a small shriek of protest, then remembered her current state of dress--namely that she wasn't--and covered herself with a crude bedsheet toga. She prepared to let whoever was entering have it with the first thing that came to hand, a heavy (and tacky) lamp. She relaxed when she saw it was Xander, but only slightly, not releasing her grip on the lamp; it was a long moment before she decided not to hit him with it. She began to complain, but Xander was in and out of the room so fast that he only had time to make one wisecrack: "Let's try to keep this whole thing PG-13, huh, Cordy?" After that, he grabbed his natty backpack and rushed out again. His speed confused and worried Cordelia; normally Xander only moved this fast when there was free food in the offing, or when he was... No, that was impossible, not here... Then a scream of mortal terror came through the half-open door, and she realized that in this, as in so many other things, she was wrong. Quickly, she dressed, completely ignoring all laws of fashion and even neglecting the need for undergarments. If that scream was what she thought it was, she wouldn't be much help, but she had to know: Was there anyplace they could go that would be safe? Anyplace that would be sane? Anyplace that didn't have monsters? And in the end, she wasn't sure which sort of monster would terrify her more: a vampire, or one of the human variety. *** Xander rummaged through the backpack as he ran, a task that was made harder by the fact that he only had one arm to work with. Finally, he found what he was looking for and tucked it into the sleeve of his cast. Grasping another object tightly, he threw the pack to one side; if he survived, he could always pick it up later, and it wasn't as though there were anything in it worth stealing. After what seemed an interminable amount of time, he arrived at the rooms Stacy had indicated and found the first door he came to open. The lights inside flickered and flashed, casting an eerie glow on the sidewalk. Gathering all his courage and gripping his weapon tighter, Xander walked forward, into the proverbial jaws of Hell. And Hell it seemed to be, for the sight that greeted his eyes was certainly an incarnation of one of the tortures of the damned: when the lights were on, the walls of the room were spattered with blood, seeming almost to be a madman's idea of art nouveau; the carpet under his feet was soaked in the stuff, squishing faintly as he walked; the air was heavy with its foul, coppery stench, so that even when the lights went off he was still aware of exactly where he was. *Oh, man... Stacy...* Xander was so keyed up that he very nearly screamed himself when he heard the door reopen behind him. "God... what happened here?" asked Cordelia in a voice much smaller than he had ever heard her use before. He looked over his shoulder at her; she stood in the doorway, apparently unwilling to commit to the act of crossing the threshold. Her eyes darted about the charnel pit in terror, and she seemed quite ready to blow her lunch on the floor. *What the hell?* thought Xander in a sort of panicky amusement. *It's not like it can be stained any worse*. He almost laughed out loud at that, but the only noise that came out was a sickly moan. His own eyes cast about, searching for anything left living in this nightmare of blood and death. In one of the longer periods of illumination, he finally sighted what looked like a woman's hand, gripping the bedsheets of the farthest bed in a grasp so tight the sheets were bunched together. He made his way there, being careful not to trip; it wasn't what he might trip over that worried him, but what he might land in. Finally, he made it to the other side of the bed. Groping about in the dark, he found the woman's hand and checked for a pulse. When the light came on again he saw that he shouldn't have bothered. The hand was intact and perfect, totally unblemished up to just below the elbow. And there it simply stopped, ending in a ragged stump so neat it appeared to have been cut with surgical precision. Xander dropped the ghastly trophy as fast as he was capable and took an involuntary step backwards. His mouth opened, but nothing came out, and he was left standing there with his mouth open wide, looking for all the world like a land-bound goldfish. And this time, when a hand touched his shoulder, he did scream. *** Cordelia entered the room gingerly, doing her best not to think about where she was or what she was doing. She had become quite good at repressing unpleasantness through the years, and this skill proved invaluable under the circumstances. Focusing on shopping at Sach's, having a café latté *anywhere*, even at the Bronze where they never got your order right--anything to avoid the realities of what was making that sloshing-mud noise beneath her feet, that what was coating the walls wasn't paint, that... She squashed the ideas before they could fully form. Quietly, too quietly perhaps, she made her way to Xander, who seemed to be moving to help someone. Seeing the look on his face after an especially bright flash of the room's lights, she steadfastly refused to look down, instead using Xander's face as a beacon. As far as metaphors went, this one wasn't too bad; he was certainly pale enough to be a beacon, and his dark eyes reflected the flickering lights mixed with a sour revulsion and a pitiful expression of deflated hope. She reached out and touched his shoulder to gain his attention. She almost screamed himself after he did. "Come on," she said frantically, "let's get out of here and call the cops." "But what if it's-" he began, even as he walked toward the door with her. "Don't even say it," she pleaded. "We're not in Sunnydale anymore, and even if we were, it's not our job. And if it isn't... them... we could be destroying evidence or something." Xander's eyes cleared slightly at this, then hardened into the eyes of a soldier. With the calm demeanor of a military officer, he responded to her. "Our first duty is to aid the survivors; that means checking the other rooms. Then we secure the area and set up defensive fortifications. Next..." He shook his head violently to clear it, and when he looked at her again he seemed more pitiful than ever. "Cordy, a person didn't do this. I- I just can't believe that a person could do this." "Whatever," she said in a doleful voice, "just stop channeling Patton or whoever and come on!" Xander moved faster, forcing her to match pace to keep up with him, but when they reached the door he turned left instead of right. "What are you doing? Our room and the phone are this way!" "But the other rooms are this way," he replied calmly. His tone brooked no argument, and when Cordelia showed the least resistance to his movement, he shook her arm off of his and continued on. She sighed and stood stock-still for a few moments, then moved to follow him, slowly at first then almost as fast as him. He might be a fool, but he was her fool. *** ATTENTION: This is not the end of the chapter or even a major break in the action. It is just where I had to make an awkward page break. The final part of chapter six should be in the message marked Chapter 6c. Cutter Kinseeker -Chieftain of the Wolfriders -Holder of New Moon, artifact sword -Slayer of the dreaded beast Madcoil -Keeper of Xander's firm belief that he could take Angelus with the help of a bunch of orderlies, cops, doctors, and nurses (KBD) -Keeper of Xander's derisive sneer at Angelus (KBD) -Keeper of Xander's jaunty stake-whittling tune ("School Hard") -Keeper of Willow's longing gaze at Xander while he talks about the unattainable ("Some Assembly Required") -Keeper of Giles' masochistic need to spar with Buffy -Keeper of Cordelia's divine request for aspirin ("School Hard") -Keeper of Buffy's need for a warning label (KBD) "AYOOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHH!!!!" --Cutter Kinseeker "From famine to feast and back to famine again." --Skywise Visit the Holt of Cutter Kinseeker http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/2234/ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Cutter Kinseeker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Xander's Incredible Journey (6c/?) Date: 21 Sep 1998 20:11:11 PDT TITLE: "Xander's Incredible Journey" AUTHOR: Cutter Kinseeker E-MAIL: ckinseeker@hotmail.com FEEDBACK: Yes! Yes! Yes! Tell me what you think, but constructive criticism only please. No "it sucks" type messages. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: Mostly PG-13 for language and adult themes. A couple of parts will be R. DESCRIPTION: In the aftermath of "Becoming," Xander sets out after Buffy and winds up "becoming" in his own right. Xander and Cordelia track Buffy's trail to Bakersfield, where they learn a terrible truth and make a new friend. (This is the final part of a three-part message.) DISCLAIMER: I don't own jack. Correction--jack's probably the only thing I do own. The rest belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the Frog Network. SPOILERS: Everything up to "Becoming". S S P P O A I C L E E R Chapter Six It's a Long, Hard Road Out of [the] Hell[mouth] [section three] *** Xander burst into the second room, his nerves steeled against whatever might await him. The sight that greeted his eyes was almost anticlimactic: a spotless room that looked as though a small fight had taken place, knocking over a lamp and ruffling some sheets, but doing no real damage. Xander let out his breath in a sigh of gratitude, and thus wasn't ready when he was attacked. The figure blurred out of the closet, streaking toward Xander with an inhuman speed and precision. He was so startled that he debated between screaming and dropping his stake, but finally decided on tripping over his own heels. It was probably his klutzy fall that saved his life, however, as the creature--nothing that moved that fast could be human, surely--lashed out with a wicked-looking blade, cutting the air above the now-prone Xander's head with an audible "whoosh". As it went off-balance, Xander had a moment to take a breather and evaluate his opponent. If the glowing eyes, sharp fangs, and general facial ugliness were any indication, Xander was again facing a vampire, as he had so often done in the past. Xander lashed out with his heels, striking the vamp in the shins, just below the kneecaps, and sending him reeling back. Xander vaulted to his feet, gripping the stake tightly in his clenched fist and launched himself at the fiend with a roar that was more bluster than bravery. As he struck downward, the vamp rolled out of the way and performed a martial arts move so smooth and quick that Xander was again on his back--without the stake, this time--before he realized it had even moved. Another swift kick sent the stake flying across the room, but in the moment that the vamp's attention was diverted, Xander pulled the flask of holy water out of his cast and twisted the cap. It wouldn't budge. He tried again, but it was still stuck fast. Xander looked up at the face of his opponent and saw a grin across the creature's face, a grin that spelled Xander's doom in inch-high letters. *Great, just great*, Xander thought to himself. *I survive untold numbers of demons, possession by a hyena, various bug-based monsters, and dating Cordelia--and all to get done in by a goth-punk refugee with a bowie knife!* As the vampire prepared for the killing blow, a shrill whistle pierced the room. The creature looked up, annoyed that its enjoyment of the kill had been interrupted. Xander used the split-second afforded him to tug the cap off the bottle, which made a popping noise as it released. "Hey, long, tall, and ugly!" he shouted to regain the monster's attention. "Isn't it me you're after? Well, bring it on!" As the vampire returned its gaze to the prone teenager, Xander flicked his wrist upwards, sending a jet of lukewarm water out of the bottle's neck like champagne under pressure. His aim better than he could have ever hoped for, the stream took the vampire directly in the eyes. The creature reeled back in agonizing pain, clutching its eyes and dropping the knife it had held. "Stake!" Xander yelled, hoping that whoever had distracted the being would know what he was talking about. A thick wooden dowel, pointed at one end and blunt at the other, dropped into his hand without a word from his unseen compatriot. Xander regained his feet and charged the blinded undead beast, sending his shoulder into its unbreathing chest, knocking the creature onto its back. It offered no resistance, being too busy screeching with its pain to even notice the change in locale. Once it was down, Xander threw himself at it bodily, leading his not-inconsiderable weight with a sharp wooden point. Downward he swept, sending the stake into the monster's heart hard enough to drive it through the chest and out the back, where it imbedded in the floor. The vampire had one last moment to utter a demonic scream, its sightless eyes bugging out of its hideous face, before it and the stake were reduced to mere ash. The teenager stood, brushing dust and ash off of his shirt with his good hand and trying to shake his cast free of the detritus. *Geez*, he thought in a sort of sick wonder, *that's the first one I've ever taken care of without Buffy's help--and I still wouldn't have beaten it if it weren't for...* Then he stopped. Who was it that had distracted the vampire at that critical moment? He turned back towards the door, certain he would see Cordelia standing there, looking smug and self-righteous as usual. But a part of his was also gripping to the childish, futile hope that it would be Buffy, passing back through town on her way home, come to pull his fat out of the fire once again. His expression of greeting and thanks dropped from his face like a stone into a pond when he saw that it was neither of them, leaving him with that fish-out-of-water look he had demonstrated several times before. Standing there in the doorway, a combination of fear, loathing, triumph, and bottomless agony warring for possession of her features, stood Stacy. Xander's heart went out to her instantly, as well as the sense of helplessness he had long since become accustomed to as a Slayerette. Bruises, almost black in the harsh motel lights, covered almost every inch of her visible skin, making her look like some hideous patchwork doll grown to human size. Small cuts and lacerations dominated her arms, further adding to the "patchwork" appearance; blood from these cuts dripped off her fingers, spattering gently into the thick carpet like some coppery, polluted rain. Much of the blood had dried already, covering her forearms with a brownish-red crust of scales. Where the bruises stopped, she was pale beneath her tan, obviously suffering from heavy blood loss and keeping her feet by willpower alone. She staggered and swayed as she walked toward Xander, and her eyes--burning with a dull fury--were the only part of her that seemed to be truly alive. "That was a vampire," she said in a voice that seemed to come from a great distance. Xander decided that whatever this girl had gone through had earned her the right to the truth, not some half-assed lie to cover his tracks or convince her that it was an hallucination. Her pain demanded the truth. "Yeah, it was," he said in a voice choked with shared anguish. He had seen too many people die, watched too many friends and almost-friends fall to these monsters, not to understand at least some of what she must be going through. "There's a lot of them in the world, but most of them gather in a few places. The ones that did this must have been rogues or something, vampires without a master, just wandering from town to town." Actually, he thought that they had probably been on their way to Sunnydale, but that was too complicated to go into right now. At the moment, the priority was getting an ambulance here; the police would come too, but they were not only out of their league, they were completely useless in this sort of situation. He walked slowly toward her, reaching out with his good arm. As he moved, he kept telling her that it would be all right, that everything would be okay. She might have earned the truth about other things, but he felt that she had also earned the right to hear a few comforting lies. He didn't think it would be all right at all, but as she collapsed into his arms--as much from gratitude as blood loss--he decided that maybe truth was overrated. *** When the police arrived, Xander and Cordelia gave them the Snyder-ized version of events. That is to say, a total lie that sounded like the truth. To wit, they had met Stacy and her family earlier that day and were going to get together with them for dinner; by the time they had arrived, the "massacre" had already taken place. Xander gave a thorough, but false, description of a culprit, but added that it might be wrong for two reasons: first, the guy's face was twisted and distorted, probably by something like PCP; second, Xander had been so terrified that he wouldn't make a good witness. The "gang" had apparently had several more members to it, as judging by the theft of the Carlsons' aging Winnebago. Stacy would live, though she required a number of stitches on her arms and a transfusion of blood--which was sickly ironic. Stacy could not (or would not) give the police any information about her attackers; she couldn't remember anything after the lights went out in her parents' room, so she said. Stacy's parents were the only two dead--both of them dismembered in a fashion so gruesome that a rookie cop at the scene passed out--but all three of her younger siblings were missing. The police assumed the worst, and most of them had already given up on the children. A routine patrol would turn up the Winnebago in a week, maybe two, and inside it would be the bodies of the other three Carlsons; they had seen it happen all too often before to have any real hope for them. Of course, they kept quiet about their assumptions and their fears around Stacy. They asked her a few questions every now and again, always with sympathetic smiles on their faces, and generally made sure she was safe and comfortable in a private room at the Bakersfield hospital. The day after the attack, Xander and Cordelia were still in town; the police had given them leave to go, but they wanted to make sure that Stacy would recover. The doctors kept assuring them that she would survive her wounds--which were comparatively minor--but that wasn't how they meant it. Late that afternoon, they were permitted to enter the room and speak with her in private. "How much do you really remember?" was the first question Xander asked after the nurse closed the door. Stacy swiveled her slightly dull eyes to face Xander; they had apparently given her some kind of pain-killer, and it was slowing her down. "Everything," she replied, choking slightly on that single word, a word that contained a world of pain and anger. "I remember their faces, and their teeth, and... and... oh, God..." Her voice trailed off into a barrage of wracking sobs. Cordelia, demonstrating a nurturing instinct not even Xander had been sure she possessed, rushed forward and held the shaking girl. After a few minutes, the weeping subsided and Cordelia released Stacy. Xander looked on, started to speak, stopped, then turned away from them and finally managed to choke out what he had been thinking. "I'm so sorry, Stacy. I know how hollow and pathetic and cheap that sounds, but it's true. I'm sorry for what happened to you, and I'm sorry I couldn't save them. I- I just..." He hung his head in silence, waiting for her judgment of him. "Xander..." she started, and he was surprised to hear a note of sympathy in that voice. "You couldn't have done anything. They- My parents were already dead by the time I got there." The tears began to flow freely across her face again, but she didn't stop talking because of them. "If you had come with me when I went, you would have been killed too. I don't know why they didn't kill me too, but I do know they were going to... "When you ran away, I hated you; I thought that you were afraid, and you were just leaving me there by myself. But you came back, and that's all that really matters. You didn't have to, but you came back for me... you came back, and you fought them, and you killed that bastard that killed my parents. The only thing I regret," she stated in a steel-hard voice, "is that he isn't here right now, so you could kill him again. "You saved me, saved my life, and for that I guess I have to thank you... But I just keep thinking, 'I should have died too. It isn't fair that they died, and I'm still alive.' It just keeps going through my mind that they should have killed me too, so I wouldn't have to hurt like this..." "Stacy," began Xander cautiously, trying to think of what Giles would say in this sort of situation, "I can only begin to imagine what you're going through, but I can tell you this: It's not your fault. If anyone's to blame, it's the monsters that did this, and if I could, I'd destroy every last one of them--not just for what they've done to you, but what they've done all through history, to countless people. And the only one who could take them on wholsesale is... not around right now. "I also know something else. It's not what happens to us that defines us as people, it's how we deal with what happens to us. And I know I don't know you very well, but I think you're a strong person. You'll survive this. You'll recover. You won't ever be the same--I won't lie and say that you will--but you will come out of this stronger, tougher than before, and eventually you'll return to your normal life." "What doesn't kill us, right?" she spat bitterly. "Right now, all I feel is pain, and that's all I can imagine ever feeling again. You tell me I'll recover; what if I don't want to recover? What then? What if I like my pain? It's all I have--all that's left to me." "No," Xander said softly, "it's not. What about what was in those notebooks? You seemed so protective of them when we first met. Surely there's something in there that's important to you?" "My notes..." she whispered, turning her battered face away from the Slayerettes. "I'm writing... I *was* writing... a novel... I hadn't really started on it yet, but it was going to be so good, I know it. Now..." "You're still going to write it," Xander told her firmly. "Take your pain and put it there, where it can't hurt anybody, least of all you. Pour out all the hate and fear and pain into that novel, and by the time you're done, maybe it will be great. And more important, it'll help you. Besides, don't they say that every really good piece of writing comes from some real emotion, usually a painful one?" "Whoever 'they' are," replied Stacy, not so bitterly this time. Xander looked carefully at her, seeing the idea take root in her eyes and pushing out some of the hate. He didn't know if what he had said to her was good therapy or not, but he did know that when the pain and hate threatened to take over, a person had to keep busy or the darkness would eat them alive. For Stacy, it was writing; for another person it might be pottery, or gambling, or computer programming. For Xander, it was this little cross-country jaunt to find Buffy. He paused a moment. This trip was about more than just recovering the Slayer; it was about Xander purging himself, emptying all of those negative emotions. He had originally thought about it on his own, but it had taken The Whistler's intervention to get him moving. He scrunched his brow in concentration: the only other person they knew about who had dealt personally with Whistler before was Angel, and he had been the small demon's pawn in some sort of cosmic chess match. For the first time, Xander began to seriously consider his own role in all of this; namely, was he being manipulated too? Moved about like a piece on a board, all for the inscrutable whims of the enigmatic Whistler? And if he was, why? To what end? He tabled the questions for the time being and returned his attention to Stacy. "We'll be leaving tomorrow morning," he told her quietly. "I'm sorry we can't stay longer, but we've already lost a day and we can't afford to fall any further behind. Until then, though, is there anything we can do?" "Yeah," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly, "there is, in fact. You said earlier that there was someone that could fight the monsters that killed my family, take on any of them and win. Who?" "Well," said Xander nervously, "that's kind of a long story, but it's also the reason we have to leave tomorrow..." "Well, tell me." "Go on, Xander," interjected Cordelia, who both of them had almost forgotten, "tell her. I'll drive tomorrow, and you can sleep in the car, so don't worry about how long it takes. You two can start talking; I'll go get some drinks and a couple of chairs." Xander was so stunned at the idea of Cordelia volunteering to do anything that he was totally speechless for nearly a minute, before Stacy coughed into her hand, gently reminding him of what he had to do. He grinned sheepishly at her and shrugged, then stepped to the edge of the bed and began to speak. "It really all began for us almost two years ago, on a warm day in March, when a girl named Buffy Summers moved to our town, Sunnydale. I went head over heels for her right away, literally..." *** A Californian highway; sometime after dawn: "Do you think she'll be all right by herself?" asked Cordelia. Xander repressed a yawn so he could answer her. "Well, the doctors said that they'll release her in about a week if there aren't any complications. The police won't need her unless they catch a suspect, which they won't, of course." "How terrible for her... I can't even think what it must be like for her. I don't know what I'd do if my parents died like that..." Cordelia held back a shudder and went on. "Did she say where she's going after they let her go? Do you think she'll go home?" "She told me that she has an aunt and uncle up in Colorado; she tried to get hold of them, but the message on their machine said that they're on vacation until the middle of June. She's gonna grab a bus to Denver and then take a cab the rest of the way to Boulder; that's where they live. I don't know how she has the money to do all that, but she refused to let me give her any of ours." "You offered her our money? *My* money?" Cordelia asked in false indignation. Actually, Stacy refused to take money from Xander because Cordelia had already given her almost five hundred dollars--as a gift, not a loan. She was secretly glad that Stacy hadn't said anything to Xander about her act of kindness; it wouldn't be good for her image if he found out she had done something nice of her own accord. "Sorry to have bothered," he said frostily. "Besides, she seemed to be okay on her own. Said she still had her purse, and her parents gave her birthday money to her early this year, so she's not hurting as far as that goes. She mentioned something about staying at the Y-" "Speaking of buses," Cordelia said to steer Xander's mind off its single track, "you haven't told me which bus we're supposed to be following yet." "Well, from Bakersfield, Buffy went to Los Angeles. I guess she was going to stay with her dad or something, but when Willow called him, he said he hadn't seen her. I don't know why she kept moving on, but whatever the reason, she left LA almost immediately. The Greyhound people don't have good record-keeping, but one of the people at the ticket desk said they remembered her. We've also got another beaten mugger for confirmation." "Then where are we headed?" Cordelia asked testily. "Las Vegas," Xander muttered. She looked at her boyfriend to make sure she had heard correctly, but his eyes were closed and his breathing slow and even. He was asleep. She smiled at his unconscious form, then returned to the task of navigating across the state and towards Nevada. Cordelia didn't know how he stayed so calm through everything, but she was glad that someone did. They had only been out a few days, but this trip had pulled them closer together than ever before. She almost dreaded the moment when they found Buffy, because then they would have to go home and everything would go back to how it used to be: Xander drooling over Buffy, Buffy pining over her fallen Angel, and Cordelia stuck in the middle of it all. For a moment, she entertained the idea that maybe they wouldn't find Buffy at all, but restrained the idea; finding Buffy was more important than just their stupid love triangle... or was it a love rectangle? Cordelia shook her head and returned to the business of driving. Someday, Xander would have to make a choice between them, but that day wasn't today. For that she was thankful, since when it came right down to it, she already knew which of them his choice would be--and she also knew that it wouldn't be her. Xander slept on, oblivious to his girlfriend's deep thoughts. He slept most of the day, waking up only when Cordelia stopped to find a place for the night. END CHAPTER SIX Cutter Kinseeker -Chieftain of the Wolfriders -Holder of New Moon, artifact sword -Slayer of the dreaded beast Madcoil -Keeper of Xander's firm belief that he could take Angelus with the help of a bunch of orderlies, cops, doctors, and nurses (KBD) -Keeper of Xander's derisive sneer at Angelus (KBD) -Keeper of Xander's jaunty stake-whittling tune ("School Hard") -Keeper of Willow's longing gaze at Xander while he talks about the unattainable ("Some Assembly Required") -Keeper of Giles' masochistic need to spar with Buffy -Keeper of Cordelia's divine request for aspirin ("School Hard") -Keeper of Buffy's need for a warning label (KBD) "AYOOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHH!!!!" --Cutter Kinseeker "From famine to feast and back to famine again." --Skywise Visit the Holt of Cutter Kinseeker http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/2234/ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sah Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: List rules Date: 22 Sep 1998 10:26:16 -0400 (EDT) Welcome! This list is for fiction related to "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," both the TV series and the movie. To ensure that we all get to enjoy as much fiction as possible, please adhere to the following guidelines, and please save them for future reference. 1. Fiction should have Buffy characters in it and clearly be related to Buffy. Crossovers are great, and expected, but general vampire/monster stories that aren't in the Buffy universe and don't use Buffy characters belong somewhere else. 2. Discussion of posted fiction is permitted onlist. Please put "DISCUSS" in your subject line. Requests for missing story parts should go directly to the author, and not be posted to the list. Discussion that is not related directly to the fiction should go over to the general Buffy list. Discussion of fiction is expected to follow common netiquette guidelines and use PG-13 language. 3. 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Jill Kirby (jtkirby@mcs.com) & sah (romana@mindspring.com) Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List buffyfic@xmission.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sah Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: Free email policy Date: 22 Sep 1998 10:26:14 -0400 (EDT) Please read this. It's very important. Effective immediately, anyone who wishes to s*bscribe to any Buffy list on a "freemail" account (Geocities, Hotmail, etc.) will be required to provide us with a "permanent" e-mail address as a backup. We will under any circumstances reveal this permanent e-mail address to anyone. This is for our reference This new policy has become necessary because of the problems we've experienced with freemail accounts. They're too easy to set up and cancel, and there is so little recourse if the individual with the freemail account causes problems, that we have no choice but to enact this policy. The s*bscription information pages will be changed to reflect this policy. IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY S*BSCRIBED UNDER A FREEMAIL ADDRESS: as long as you stay s*bscribed, you do not need to provide us with this information. However, if you uns*b and want to res*b at some point, you will have to give us this information even if you were previously a s*bscriber through a freemail account. If we have to uns*b you for bouncing mail, again, you'll have to provide the information to res*b. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us offlist. Thanks. sah and Jill romana@mindspring.com and jtkirby@mcs.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (00/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:42:50 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 00/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (01/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:45:18 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 01/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Opening "In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." Two teens embraced each other. They could've been any anonymous pair of forbidden lovers meeting secretly. In their minds they were Romeo and Juliet. The parking lot at the Sunnydale Quickie Burger was their Verona. They were oblivious to the world, with interest only in each other. All their worries, troubles, and pains were dissolved in the passion they felt for each other at that moment. In short, they were making out. It would have been a perfect scene of a tale that was too lovely to be accepted as true. Their lives alone were nothing. Together they gave each other a reason for being. But, this is the Hellmouth. Here good things get spoiled all too often. The male partner stopped discovering the inner reaches of his female companion's oral cavity to notice that they had an audience. The feminine of the two curiously turned to find out what had spoiled their moment of bliss. In the shadows loomed a figure, ominous fell short in its descriptive capability. "Go away, perv! Don't they have the Spice channel where you live?" was all the wit the girl could muster to send the unwanted intruder to any place but here. He did not answer, but instead took a step forward and revealed himself under the glow of an overhead light. His face was unnaturally pale and noticeably dry. Both of moisture and of expression. Not a hair grew from this face so devoid of warmth. He widened his eyes to reveal a pink hue where white should be, his eyes bloodshot in the worst extreme. The two companions froze in his awful glare. Fear hung over the scene like a wet blanket. The first motion was made by the masculine of the two lovers. It was of a protecting posture, one that has been replicated throughout the ages. This time it was in vain. A terrible odor came like a weapon. It smelled like the very stench of suffering. The intruder's mouth was open as if to talk, but nothing was said. In the stead of spoken word came an awful black gas. It seemed to come from every part of his being. Soon the intruder was enveloped in a cloud of this gas. It grew larger until it came within inches of the pair of disenchanted lovers. The man, or to be more accurate, boy continued his protective posture by pushing the girl behind him. He faced this black cloud with his young shoulders broad. His noble spirit was rewarded: angry, pink tentacles ripped the surface of the cloud and pulled him into his tortured death. Screams and cries of pain replaced his gesture of controlled protection. With only her imagination to tell her what fate lie her companion, the girl let out a scream of her own. The cloud threatened to engulf her as well. She turned to escape as quickly as reality let her. As suddenly as she began she halted and realized the inhuman face she had witnessed before loomed directly in what was to be her escape route. Yet again she turned, not knowing left from right, and ran with all her speed. Her attacker pursued her. Not with the vigor and energy she expended in her own run, but with a maliciously simple walk. He made a gesture that didn't give credence to the horror that he unleashed. Flames that seemed to be alive, but dying with cries of expressive sadness, came from him toward his victim. Before her foot hit the ground in her next hurried step the hellish fire was upon her. It seared her legs with a pain that was too great to be merely physical and she crashed to the ground. Crawling was the only means of flight left to her. She entertained it enthusiastically. Clinging to the filthy pavement of the parking lot as if hanging on to life. She crawled with every ounce of ability she had left. Who was her attacker? What happened to her companion? With what was she assaulted? None of it was of her concern. Her mind was preoccupied with one thought alone: survival. The solemn cadence of her attacker almost brought him upon her. She kept crawling in an increasingly vain attempt to survive. While still lost in the chaos of her suffering she sensed someone before her and looked up. There was another like her original attacker, but his face held more warmth and his eyes betrayed his menacing intentions. "Don't be afraid," were the quiet words he spoke. They brought her little comfort. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (02/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:46:40 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 02/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 1 The inconspicuous school library of Sunnydale High had served a purpose its builders couldn't have begun to invision. It had been the "war room" in the fight against the current vampire, demon, or other threat to mankind that had been the concern of one Buffy Summers. She approached it with an odd sense of familiarity. It held a contrasting variety of emotions for her. Memories of friendship and camaraderie, but also the anguish of pain and loss. She looked like a normal enough teenager as she paused at the door to the library, but she was chosen to be the Slayer. More responsibility then one would even begin to trust to a young woman her age rode on her shoulders. With a fresh breath of air she prepared herself to be told about yet another horror she would have to confront. She entered. "Hey, Buff," was the simple greeting of a grinning Xander, always happy to see her. The sight of her assembled friends comforted her. "What's a matter?" inquired Willow, concerned about Buffy's stoic demeanor. "Nothing, just had my 'spider sense' tingle. Must've been a false alarm," explained Buffy even as she still had a nagging sense of worry. "What are you guys up to?" casually asked Buffy. She observed her friends Willow and Xander busy sorting and arranging. "We're helping Giles unpack a shipment of new books," excitedly answered Willow, "There's all kinds of interesting things in here." One particular ancient looking tome attracted Buffy's eye with a bright glint. It was dark green with gold foil trim. Severely worn and stained, it certainly had no shortage of character. Buffy picked up the book, almost hypnotized by it. Gradually an intuitive understanding filled her mind. It told her that the foreboding feeling she had woken up with this morning somehow now stared back at her from her hand. Her eyes were drawn to the title. "The Lost Art. . ." the title began. The gold foil had eroded away, but Buffy squinted to continue reading. "The Lost Art of Necromancy" was the full title. As the words of the title were realized a sudden rush of unintelligible thoughts, sounds, and pictures hit her like a dream in fast forward. Startled, Buffy dropped the book back down to the table. "Be careful," chastised Giles as the always preoccupied librarian darted across the room. He continued, "Some of these books are priceless relics." Buffy looked on as Giles checked what was once the object of her interest. "Luckily this particular book couldn't have been damaged further, it's almost illegible. Looks like it wasn't very well cared for over the years," diagnosed Giles. Willow shuffled over to see for herself. "Oh, the school has some software for scanning blurry and damaged text. I've been wanting to try it out," suggested Willow as she peered into the book. "What language is it in?" asked Willow. "It appears to be an ancient language possibly. I can't recognize it," replied Giles with the standard dose of studder. "I don't know if the program can handle it, but I'll see if I can get it to work," offered Willow. "Right then. You can use the, uh, computer device later. Let's get back to tidying, shall we?" commissioned Giles as he returned to his beloved books. "Do you care to lend a hand, Buffy?" inquired Giles. "Oh, no thanks. It's not that I find sorting old, dusty books boring. But, I think I should save my energy for patrolling tonight," answered Buffy. "Good one," commented Xander. He added, "I'll have to remember that line the next time Giles asks me for a favor. . . and I just also happen to be the Slayer." He shrugged and continued. Cordelia entered with a casual step and made her way to an empty chair. Dropping her books on the table and sitting back, she made herself at home. Not bad progress for one who would have thumbed her nose at the current occupants of the library just a year earlier. "I am sick of school already!" declared Cordelia. Her complaint went unacknowledged. "I outta just do a Stacey and ditch this place," Cordelia said as she took a bite from an apple. "A what?" inquired a perplexed Giles. "She's referring to Matt and Stacey," clarified Willow. "They only ran away yesterday and they're already a part of the school lexicon," added Xander. "How are you so sure they left of their own volition and it isn't demons or other miscreants afoot?" questioned Giles. "Paranoid much?" quipped Cordelia. "Don't worry, this time it's definitely troubled teenagers and not death spawns from hell," comforted Xander. "Matt and Stacey have been going out even though their parents have been such jerks about it," explained Buffy. "Yeah, I mean they've been talking about running away for awhile," said Willow. "Well it's suspicious considering the grave robbery last night," commented Giles. A chorus of questioning looks followed Giles' statement. "Ok, I'll bite. What grave robbery?" asked Buffy. "Don't you ever read the morning paper?" returned Giles. "Giles, you're in high school, not the McLaughlin Group," replied Xander. Giles demeanor became slightly annoyed, but he continued, "Well, in any case, a large quantity of bodies were taken from the Sunnydale Graveyard last night. Buffy, I suggest you check up on it during your patrol later this evening." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (03/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:47:51 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 03/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 2 The solitude of patrolling the quiet streets of Sunnydale brought with it a lulling sense of serenity. Often times this serenity would be punctuated by a brief encounter then requisite slaying of a vampire. So went many of Buffy's adolescent evenings. Evenings that could have been put to much more applicable uses like socializing, shopping, or even, gasp, homework. This particular night seemed to offer an extra dose of serenity with very little punctuation. Buffy's mind grew tired of the boredom of strolling the empty streets of the unwitting center of demonic activity that was Sunnydale. Heading home and retiring for the night was an increasingly seductive course of action. "Oh, the graveyard!" Buffy said aloud. How could she have made such an oversight? With a task to accomplish the boredom of idle wandering went quickly out of mind. Buffy renewed the spring in her step and made progress toward her morbid destination. A brisk jaunt later and the only thing between Buffy and the Sunnydale graveyard were two dark, shadowy figures. Buffy had quite a few experiences with such dark, shadowy figures and remained perfectly calm as she began to stalk her prey. As she ducked behind some convenient foliage she somehow knew that what was before her was not a brace of vampires, but something else. The two figures were soon complimented by another duet of late night prowlers. "Matt and Stacey?" Buffy whispered to herself as she realized the identity of the two additions. They weren't exactly as she remembered them. They staggered about like drunks and looked as if they had been run over by a tractor trailer one too many times. Buffy watched intently. "Your zombies are a disgrace to your calling," said the younger of the two strangers. As well as being shorter in the tooth this individual seemed to be more animated and present. "How so?" coldly barked the older figure. This stranger was more withdrawn, less animated, and stood as if he had a broomstick up his backside. "Oh, I don't know, let's see," sarcastically replied the youthful individual, "For one this is about the tenth time we've had to stop to let them catch up." "We're in no hurry," blankly interrupted his senior. "They walk as though they're rag dolls," added the more juvenile figure. "They ambulate sufficiently," factually stated the more matured of the two. "They are moaning for God's sakes!" said his youthful companion with exaggerated exclamation. The stranger of an earlier vintage stared back quietly at first and gave no reply. Finally he questioned, "God?" "It's a figure of speech," somberly explained the younger of the two as his eyes drifted onto the ground. After a brief pause he looked back up. "Why don't you release them and I'll animate them instead," he suggested. His counterpart appeared quite offended. "How dare you insult me, your tutor," chastised the older of the two. "The same way you dare irritate me, by far your superior," came back the juvenile. Proverbial chest thumping ensued as the two faced each other in a posturing match. As the older stranger's face grew more stern his younger comrade's fists clenched. His closed hands seemed to burn with fire and a terrible screeching, flaming noise came from them. "You wouldn't smite me down with the very hellfire I taught you to summon," obtusely said the elder stranger. "And I thought my family had issues," Buffy whispered to herself. "Wouldn't I?" said the adolescent mockingly while the look of his demeanor seemed to mimic the angry flames he held in his fists. The older one conceded by ending the posturing match and turning away. "Make no mistake, the only reason you were sent to this world was because of me your apprentice. I am the greatest necromancer alive, you are merely an old fart. As far as I am concerned I am the one in charge here," berated the younger of the two. His expressionless mentor looked straight ahead. Seemingly forgetting his original suggestion the more youthful stranger led the way toward the graveyard with the older individual and his stumbling zombies in tow. Buffy shadowed the late night expedition with peaked curiosity. As Buffy came within view of the graveyard proper, evidence of the robbery Giles had told of earlier was quite plain. A taped off section of the graveyard had every other grave or so missing its occupant. "How many more zombies do we need to complete the lair?" questioned the adolescent stranger as he tore apart the police tape in front of him. "At least two dozen if we are to finish the lair on time," replied the older of the two as if he was issuing a challenge. "Easily done," arrogantly stated the younger individual, "Watch very carefully. Perhaps you'll learn something." The other dark figure looked on with interest. That being said the juvenile stepped forward and stood as if he had owned the ground he tread on since birth. He let out a deep breath into the chill of the night's air and bowed his head quietly. With a full voice this stranger began to speak an incantation in a language that Buffy couldn't begin to identify. Gradually another voice accompanied the phrases he spoke. It was a powerful, booming roar that seemed to come upon the scene from all directions. Soon the young stranger's voice couldn't be heard as the unearthly cry dominated the scene instead. As the mysterious words continued to flow the young stranger's pale complexion heightened until his face was so white it glowed in the darkness. His eyes looked locked in an intense struggle to see what was not there. To Buffy's intrigue the stranger was suddenly engulfed in the same fire he had brought forth in his fists earlier. The flames seemed to mimic faces and people in contorted, painful expressions and positions. A horrible shriek of suffering emanated from the flames and dominated even the booming voice. When the hellish fire had expanded to what seemed to be the limit of its capacity it leapt from the stranger's body. The flames danced from grave to grave in a macabre fashion crying out as they went. Quickly the fire disappeared into the solemn earth and silence came upon the scene louder the grand noise before it. The youthful stranger stood motionless in a hunched posture. He breathed heavily as if he had just run a marathon. After a few moments of awkward quiet the older individual finally spoke. "Now what?" where his simple words. "Now I suggest you and your pathetic examples of the undead start digging up my new zombies," came the adolescent's reply. He turned to leave, but was stopped by the objection of his older companion. Buffy didn't bother to listen to the words of the complaint. She hurriedly made her way out of the immediate vicinity of the Sunnydale graveyard. There was always one person a Slayer could turn to when she needed explanations: her Watcher. She certainly had a story to tell. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (04/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:48:55 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 04/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 3 "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear," said Giles as he took off his glasses and placed them on the high school cafeteria table he was seated at. "A triple 'oh dear', this must be trouble," wittingly said Xander as the group of Buffy, Willow, and Xander abandoned their lunches and leaned in closer. "What you have described to me sounds distinctly like two necromancers," diagnosed Giles. "Necromancers?" questioned Buffy. "You mean like in WarCraft?" blurted Xander. "Oh, yeah, and when you click on them too many times they get mad at you," said Willow as she and Xander shared a grin. "Anyway, back to reality here," snapped Buffy. "So what type of undead baddies are we talking about?" asked Buffy. "For all intents and purposes these individuals are both human and alive," corrected Giles. "I feel an explanation coming," predicted Xander. "Necromancers, put simply, are practitioners of the undead. You see, according to folklore it all originated back in a prosperous ancient civilization. There was a type of scientist fellow who was fascinated with death, more specifically how to avoid it. His research led way to a following of individuals dedicated to finding a means to circumvent death. Eventually this group of intellectuals was corrupted into the demon summoning craftsmen of undead we know as necromancers," explained Giles. He returned his glasses to his face and continued, "Soon these necromancers took over control of this prosperous civilization and conquered all the other nations they could find. Eventually they were overthrown somehow. Fearing another takeover, an agreement was made between nations that made practicing the art of necromancy punished by summary execution. A type of inquisition time followed and all necromancers and all of their materials were purged from the populace." "So if all necromancers were wiped out how can we have two here in Sunnydale?" inquired Willow. "I doubt these two alone could have laid low for several thousand years. Nor is it probable that they figured out the intricacies of necromancy on their own. Perhaps a small hand full of necromancers escaped to a place where no one could find them and established a community there," speculated Giles. "Wait a minute, who cares where they came from? I mean, Buffy has taken on worse. Why doesn't she just march down to whatever dung pile they call home and whoop them back to purgedville?" asked Xander. "Necromancers may not posses the brawn and fighting ability of the vampires we are used to, but we shouldn't underestimate them. In their dealings with death they have most certainly come up with a trick or two for avoiding it and inflicting it for that matter. From what Buffy tells us these two have a plan. We'd do best to collect as much information as we can and get an idea of how to deal with them," returned Giles. "So what do you suggest we do in the mean time?" inquired an impatient Buffy. She had heard this speech many times before. "I'd suggest you get to class," interrupted a snoopy Principal Snyder. Buffy glanced back over her shoulder to spy the brooding principal's face. "Right, off to class now," Giles affirmed in his most authoritative voice. He cleared his throat and added, "We can continue our discussion after school in the library." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (05/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:50:55 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 05/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 4 Willow Rosenburg strolled the halls of Sunnydale High with relative ease. Her face was withdrawn after enduring another long and tedious school day. Her lack of social standing normally would make navigating the crowds of students rather difficult, but the fact she was now a senior made the trek through school noticeably more comfortable. The image of Oz the lovable guitarist around a corner lit up Willow with excitement. Her pace quicken to close with her beloved special someone. As she examined the scene before her more closely she realized that Oz wasn't alone. Chatting with him was someone she hadn't seen in school before. As this stranger turned to leave Willow dismissed him to the back reaches of her memory and focused on her preeminent interest. "Oz!" Willow greeted as an unmitigated smile visited her face. Oz first answered by letting an equally wide smile grace his mellow demeanor then by saying, "Hey!" "How's gigging with the band been?" Willow inquired. "It's been good to us," Oz answered. "How's it been hanging around here?" asked Oz. "Oh, just the usual," replied Willow. "That bad, huh?" said Oz through a grin. Willow answered only with a grin of her own. "What brings you back?" asked Willow. "You mean besides you?" sweetly said Oz. Willow's face shrugged with flattery. "Heard about the grave robbery and figured something was up. I had some time so I thought I'd drop by," explained Oz. "That's great because we were just about to meet in the library. We can catch up on the way," happily said Willow as the two began to walk together. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (06/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:51:56 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 06/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 5 "Hey, Willow. Hi, Oz!" said Buffy as the two love birds entered the library. "Hello, Oz," greeted Giles while he came in from the back room, books in hand. "I've looked over my literature for information on necromancers and such," stated Giles. "And?" asked Xander. "The only thing I've been able to find are tidbits of legend regarding their history which is interesting in its own right, but doesn't need to be discussed here," answered Giles. An implied "phew" was collectively let out by the present adolescents at not having to hear what Giles found interesting. "We're not going to just sit around until we are knee high in zombies are we?" questioned Buffy. "No, but I'll need time to study and gather the proper equipment," replied Giles. "In the mean time perhaps you should patrol every night until these necromancers are dealt with," suggested Giles. "But-" started Buffy. "Now I know it may sound easy for me to say. But, we are dealing with a new and very dangerous enemy. We cannot throw caution to the wind. One can only imagine what kind of horrific machinations these two necromancers are up to," lectured Giles. Just then the doors opened and closed depositing an inconspicuous looking student into the library. Startled, everyone turned to see who had entered at such a timely moment. The sight of the rather studious individual caused curiosity to wane. "Isn't that the guy you were talking to?" whispered Willow as she leaned closer to Oz. "Yeah, he's kinda weird. Is he a new student?" replied Oz, continuing the conversation under his breath. "I don't know, never seen him before. What do mean weird?" asked Willow, sotto voce. "He just stopped me to say hi, but everything he said had a twisted tie-in to full moons, fangs, and body hair," answered Oz. "Do you think he knows you're a-" began Willow. "I don't think so," replied Oz. The stranger walked up to the library counter and looked around casually. He glanced back at Buffy who was staring rather closely. Giles approached him wearing his librarian duties like a tweed jacket. "Can I help you?" politely questioned Giles. "Yes, do you happen to have geological and seismic maps for the area?" inquired the student while briefly eyeing Buffy every so often. "Yes we do. Is it for a class project?" said Giles as he pulled out a drawer full of maps. "Uh, yeah," answered the stranger. He looked back nervously as Buffy stood up and began slowly walking toward him. Noticing Buffy's fascination Xander spoke up, "What's a matter, Buff?" "It's him," she said confidently. "Who?" asked Willow. "One of the necromancers," Buffy replied while mid stride. She continued to slowly poke closer o the stranger like cat about to pounce. When she came within a step the bewildered stranger spoke. "What are you talking about?" he said with a confused look on his face. "What does the 'greatest necromancer alive' need with maps anyway?" questioned Buffy, not looking away for a second. The stranger gave Buffy only a befuddled look in reply. He then replicated this look for every single onlooker in the room. When no one explained to him what was going on he let his eyes slowly drift to the floor. Without warning his head jerked upright. The look of intensity now on his face matched the contrasting tint of pale skin and pink eyes. His arms flailed and cold, colorless hands grabbed at Buffy's side. A smoldering voice echoed an incantation and in an instant both of them disappeared in a burst of flame. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (07/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:53:11 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 07/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 6 "I must apologize for my impromptu kidnaping, but your superior sense of discernment left me no choice," said the stranger with a pretentious sense of politeness. Buffy was too disoriented to identify her surroundings. Darkness was interrupted only by the unnatural flames of eerie candles that were positioned on a mantle adjoining the wall. The air quality was poor with a distinct pungent smell. "I, on the other hand, am terrible with faces," said the stranger as he stepped forward now dressed in dark, ornate clothing. "Oh, but I haven't introduced myself. Forgive me, my name is Abel Medrian. Servant of death at your call," he said with pride and a slight bow. "Where am I?" questioned Buffy as her world slowly stopped spinning. "Not one for small talk I see. You are currently in the study of my lair. Underground to be precise," answered Abel. "Nice place you got here," Buffy said as her eyes adjusted to the low light. Abel sat behind an intricate wooden desk and said, "Yes, well, we had to build around what was already down here a lot. You wouldn't believe how many things there are underneath this town." "So, is this when you tell me all of your evil plans?" said Buffy now with her wits about her. Abel replied with a maniacal laugh. "That would be too easy for you, wouldn't it?" he said. "Please make yourself at home," said Abel as he gestured to another equally intricate wooden chair. Buffy remained standing defiantly. "Well as you so observantly said earlier I'm not one for small talk so if could you show me the door-" Buffy began. "Come now," interrupted Abel, "I have practically no one to talk to down here since you've been so kind as to slay most of the vampire population of this town." "What about your friend?" said Buffy with just a touch of spite. "Who?. . . Oh! I'd be better off striking up a conversation with a zombie," Abel explained. His pretentious civility was quite convincing. "So tell me, how is vampire slaying?" queried Abel. "Long hours, bad pay," responded Buffy in jest. Abel let out a different, but equally twisted laugh. After the laugh had petered out he advised, "You'd do best to consider a career change then." Buffy stood silently. "I know the whole drill. There exists in every generation one who is chosen. One who will stand against the vampires, the demons, and all my other nasties. You are that one. You were picked to bare the burden of an angstful existence and a brooding heart," preached Abel. Buffy didn't like where he was going with this. Abel continued, "Yet you did not choose to be the whipping girl for the forces of good. There wasn't a chance in hell that you'd accept of your own free will the short tortured life you are now faced with. How is that just? I on the other hand chose to walk the dark paths I now tread. That's right a choice of my own. Why don't you make a choice of your own for once and give up this hopeless calling of vampire slaying?" Buffy was quiet for a couple moments. Even with the transparency of Abel's offer a part of her actually wanted to buy it. She scrunched that part of her down somewhere near her large intestines and replied. "No, thanks," she said simply. "No, thanks?" questioned Abel in dismay. "Is this the same way you ask girls out? 'Cause if it is you should know we don't like our lives being called pathetic," ridiculed Buffy. Abel stood up quickly knocking his chair back into a wall. He was visibly annoyed. "Oh, you don't like being told no?" taunted Buffy. Abel answered with tight-lipped anger, "Know this: I am preparing the way for an army that is coming from a very, very bad place. It will conquer the earth. You can't stop me. You can't kill me. You can't even hurt me! I on the other hand I will turn your world inside out and let you live to suffer for all eternity." "Great, it's a much better threat than the last couple dozen losers who just wanted to kill me," said Buffy mockingly. Abel gave up with a disgusted gasp and reclined back into his chair. With a gesture of ease he let horrible fire leap from his hand. It formed a sort of path out beyond an open entryway. He said matter-of-factly, "Follow the burning, tortured souls of hell to the exit." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (08/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:54:08 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 08/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 7 The mellow Sunnydale afternoon that surrounded her gave Buffy an opportunity to reflect. The long shadows and gentle breeze made it seem as if the world were slowing falling into an empty void. She wandered aimlessly as she contemplated the fight that most certainly would soon come and Abel's loaded offer. Even while she paraded her tough girl exterior Abel had found an old wound that stung yet again. Many times she had dealt with the issue of her reluctance to have to be the heroine every time another threat to humanity rolled around. Tried as she did to spurn it, neglect it, and run away from it she always came back to it. She had resolved it in her mind that she was the Slayer and that it was more than just a job, but who she was. That assuredness wouldn't last very long however as yet another painful experience would come along and cause her to question her life's path. Why couldn't she just have a normal life? Of all the people in world why her? Her directionless journey brought her to within eyeshot of someone who had been very close to her in her battles with darkness. Rupert Giles stood above an inconspicuous grave. He seemed to be just as contemplative as she was. She approached slowly, not wishing to disturb her surrogate father. "They didn't take her," Giles said absently. Buffy looked down at the grave to see the name "Jennifer Calendar". As if awaking from a dream Giles snapped to his senses. "Buffy, good heavens, are you all right?" he asked with genuine concern. She nodded affirmatively. "You still miss her don't you?" inquired Buffy. Giles returned to his absent demeanor. "Do you remember when Angel and Drusilla kidnaped me?" his question came slowly. "Oh course," Buffy replied. "They were trying to get me to reveal to them what they were doing wrong with that ritual of theirs. They made me see Jenny. I felt like I was dreaming, but even in peril and surrounded by vampires I didn't want to wake up. Because she was there you see. It was if a part of me that had been lost came back," Giles said forthcomingly. Uneasy silence drenched the scene as the two stood there gazing at the tombstone motionless. After some eternal awkward seconds Giles brought back his shoulders, straightened his back, and took a breath. "But, I must come to terms," he pronounced. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (09/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:55:13 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 09/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 8 The sweetness of home couldn't have come at a better time. Buffy entered her house through the front door. It felt rather good considering she had been in and out of her house through her bedroom window more times then she cared to remember. "Hi, Buffy, how as your day?" cheerfully greeted Buffy's mom. Although she was ashamed of it Buffy was actually unhappy to see her mom home already. She had hoped to relax in an empty house and get some rest. She intended to reply, but no words came from her mouth. "What's a matter?" questioned mom. "Nothing," Buffy answered. "I see. And by 'nothing' you mean something vampire related," said mom. The edges of Buffy's lips tensed slightly in what would of been a smile if she were in a better mood. Her already tumultuous relationship with her mother had been even more awkward ever since mom had found out about her status as Slayer. "Would you like to talk about it?" inquired mom. "No," came Buffy's gentle yet straightforward reply. "Is it something that you can handle?" asked mom. After some introspective thought Buffy realized and answered, "Yes." Buffy's mother smiled solemnly. "Dinner will be ready in a half hour," she said. Buffy was surprised at how well her mom was coping. It actually made her feel quite better. She returned the smile and made her way to her room. "Oh, what's that on your arm?" mom asked as Buffy passed by. Buffy contorted to see a curious small object on her right arm. She picked it up with her thumb and index finger and held it up to a light. To her horror she realized it was a small eye like that of a rodent. As she moved it left and right it continued to focus on her in an uncanny fashion. As her fascination turned to anger she threw it down on the floor and stamped on it with a single quick, violent blow. "Damnation!" exclaimed Abel in his underground abode as the mystic picture before him evaporated into the thin air from which it came. "She was going to discover your Mason's Eye inevitably," coldly stated his older companion. "Yes, but I was really hoping she was going to discover it in the shower," said Abel with a villainous grin. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (10/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:57:54 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 10/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 9 With the new morning came the brave new promise of yet another mind numbing school day. Xander, Cordelia, and Willow stood in a busy school hallway discussing the condition of their recently kidnapped friend. "She's fine," assured Cordelia with an irritated tone of voice. "How do we know that?" questioned Xander quite pathetically. "Giles said she was fine," answered Willow. "Yeah, well, Giles' definition of fine and the non-whip-cracking-Watcher definition of fine don't always match," said Xander. Cordelia let out an annoyed sigh. "What level of 'fine' are we talking about anyway?" asked Xander. "I mean there is 'just fine' and then there's just 'fine' and then there's 'just' fine," rambled Xander. "She could be in serious shock right, she could be injured, she could be-," Xander's added babblings were cut short. "Right there," interrupted Willow. One very much alive and well Buffy Summers strolled through the entrance to Sunnydale high and began to close with her friends. Xander closed the gap first with an extra amount of zealotry. "Buffy! Are you all right?" he inquired enthusiastically. "I'm fine," Buffy replied. Willow and Cordelia gave Xander "I told you so" looks in unison. "What happened?" asked Willow. "Abel just took me back to his place for the standard bad guy rhetoric," answered Buffy. "Abel?" questioned Cordelia. "The current 'Evil of the Day'," explained Buffy. Buffy went through her pockets and removed a key. "Giles is out collecting some gear to deal with the necromancers and I'm supposed to open the library. I'll catch you later," Buffy said as she smiled politely and walked off. "I'll help," offered Xander as he rushed off after her. "God! He's still fawning all over her. He's like some kind of really sick and twisted puppy dog," commented Cordelia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (11/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 21:58:59 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 11/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 10 Abel sat behind his desk in the underground cavern he called home. He was busy sorting through various books and manuscripts, always faithful about his studies. The diligence he showed in his work was interrupted as his tutor entered. Abel looked up and questioned, "How goes the construction of the lair?" "It goes satisfactory. I must say that your zombies are very good workers indeed," commented the older necromancer. "That's the way I resurrect them," Abel stated proudly with a smirk. No smile was given in return. "You have a call," said the elder necromancer. "I'll take it in the seeing room," said Abel as he got up and took a brisk walk around a couple corners to reach his destination. The space he now occupied was made of barren earth; walls, floor, ceiling, and all. The only illumination came surreally from the ground itself. Abel stared at the center of the glowing floor. As he stood focused, his eyes soon met a worm like creature that wriggled itself out of the dirt and came about chest high. As it stood there unsteadily a sort of eyelid opened to reveal none other than a horrific eye. As this strange creature drifted back and forth, to and fro it beamed an image into the air above it. The picture was of a dark, hooded figure who's facial features could not be made out. "I trust you have everything in order there," spoke a voice that must have been partnered with the figure. "I am always in control," replied Abel confidently. "That is good to hear," commented the voice. "Trust me, it's much better to say," said Abel with a smile. "I am sorry to have to tell you that a coup de tat is being staged against me," said the voice. "That's unfortunate to hear," remarked Abel. "It's much more unfortunate to have to say," the voice said with much grief. "I must ask you to return and help me put down this uprising," shakily added the voice. "What?" angrily questioned Abel. "You are my only hope. No one can match your prowess as a necromancer," the voice said as its tone became more and more worried. "But, if I return we will lose our link to this realm," reminded Abel. "I am aware of this," somberly stated the voice. "How typical of us! Too busy infighting to seize the opportunity to conquer this world," exclaimed Abel. "You are needed here," the voice persisted. "I do not wish to be there!" yelled Abel in return. "Then I will retrieve you," ominously stated the voice. "Oh, no, guess again, big guy. Consider the Gateway closed!" defiantly declared Abel. Before any reply could be given Abel laid waste to the worm creature with a terrible hellish fire. Its muffled screams sang a duet with the awful sound of the flames themselves. As the pupil of its eye dilated and it fell to the ground Abel turned to leave. However, his egress was blocked by his tutor standing in the entryway. The two stared each other down. "Are you with me?" questioned Abel. "Let me consider my options. If I err on the side of loyalty and say no, you will most certainly kill me. If I err on the side of self preservation and say yes, I will become your perpetual lap dog," stated the older necromancer. "Well?" snapped Abel. "I can hardly be against you. My allegiance lies in your camp," said Abel's former teacher. "Good. Come now, we have a world to conquer," said Abel as he led the way out of the room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (12/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:00:23 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 12/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 11 Giles emptied a bag of paraphernalia onto the Sunnydale High library table. Buffy studied the equipment while Xander and Willow looked on. "What's this?" asked Buffy as she picked up a finely finished dagger. "That is a Dagger of Tzeenclach," answered Giles. "Nice name. Sounds like a football player clearing his nose," commented Xander. "I wonder how you spell it," wondered Willow curiously. "I don't care how you spell it just tell me how you use it," Buffy said. "According to lore if you stab a zombie with it the aethereal bonds that its necromancer has on it get cut," explained Giles. "It also slices, dices, and julian fries," wittingly said Xander. "Now this is an Amulet of Celindra," Giles said while picking up a small, polished back stone attached to a simple string. "Giles, you renegade! Snooping through Celindra's jewelry box again," said Xander. "Xander, this would go a lot easier if you didn't endeavor to make jest at every object we discuss," chastised Giles. He continued, "This amulet is very important because it provides protection against the primary means of a assault utilized by necromancers: hellfire." "Is that as nasty as it sounds?" inquired Buffy. "Tenfold," answered Giles. He explained, "Although no manuscript was particularly certain on the subject of hellfire. It was speculated to be the life force of those who have fell victim to the undead." "What are these?" questioned Buffy while picking up a variety of long, slender nails. "They are the Nails of Schlounge," replied Giles. All heads turned to Xander in expectation of a timely quip. "I'm not saying a word," uttered Xander as he shook his head and kept back a grin. "Legend has it that once a necromancer is nailed down to a surface with one of these he can never brake free," said Giles as attention returned to the matter at hand. "Wait, is there anything in here that will actually kill these guys?" asked Buffy. "Well, there is this," quietly said Giles as he picked up a regular looking ax. "Is that some kind of magic ax?" inquired Willow. "No, I purchased this at local hardware store," replied Giles as he was given an array of dumbfounded looks. "The only documented method to kill a necromancer is to injure him beyond his capabilities of recovering. Dismembering is perhaps the surest way," Giles explained further. "So let me get this straight, you want me to chop this guy to pieces until he can't put himself back together anymore?" asked Buffy in dismay. "Basically, yes. I suggest you'd start with decapitation," benignly answered Giles. "Ok, so when do I head down there and do my best Lizzy Borden imitation?" queried Buffy. "On the contrary, necromancers are most lethal in their own lairs. You should wait for him to emerge before you strike," counseled Giles. "But, if we wait for him to make the first move chances are he'll be the one doing all the striking," observed Xander. "Nevertheless, it would be deathtrap to walk into a necromancer's lair," said Giles. "I suppose you want me to patrol every night, too?" questioned a slightly irritated Buffy. Giles responded with a look of consolment as he began to say, "Well. . ." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (13/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:01:26 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 13/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 12 "Are you sure you wish to try this?" coldly stated the older necromancer with very little sincere caring. He was standing just inside the entryway of an unidentifiable underground room. "Why? Do you think I may fail?" inquired Abel while kneeling in the center of the room. Two zombies entered as they carried a corpse hidden within the confines of a dark canvas bag. Their movements were very deliberate although their faces led one to believe they weren't even there. "I expect you to fail. Very few have accomplished this feat," replied Abel's elder. His limited expressive capability showed curiosity and interest. "Thank you for the words of encouragement," Abel said with heavy sarcasm. The zombies dropped the corpse in the darkness before him and exited hurriedly. With that Abel closed his eyes and and became very still. The older necromancer studied Abel's demeanor then began to circle the room while watching inquisitively. When directly behind Abel he peered over his shoulder then continued his pacing. As he came within eyeshot of Abel's face again he was startled to see his former apprentice with a quite evil expression and his eyes wide open. Abel stared directly ahead with menacing intensity. The older of the two followed Abel's eyes in an attempt to realize what he was looking at, but saw nothing there. Abel quietly began saying and repeated a foreign, mysterious phrase again and again. After what seemed like a few quick statements of this mantra a chorus of dark voices began to accompany him. Together they stated the incantation over and over like it was the only thing they knew how to say. Their combined cry quickened with each pronunciation while the sound they generated crescended to an incredible volume. As the older necromancer reexamined Abel's face he noticed that Abel had stopped mouthing the words that so loudly penetrated his ear. Just as the noise was about to become unbearable it stopped much quicker than it came. Abel swooned and fell to floor immediately. "I knew he could not succeed," pronounced the elder of the two. Suddenly Abel raised his head and looked directly at his naysayer. "Did you?" he said sarcastically. A hideous creature of a vampire stepped forward out of the darkness. Although quite monstrous its appearance also possessed the quality of a newborn foal. "I never doubted myself," said Abel through a thick grin and exhausted, heavy breaths. His attention now turned to the addition to the scene. "Don't look so confused, my blessed creation. I believe I shall call you "Puritan", since you are originally created, pure, and not tainted by centuries of mixing with the blood of humans," advised Abel. The newly born vampire journeyed the room erratically with his eyes. He seemed rather overcome with nervousness. Without warning he leapt forward and tossed Abel aside with a growl. Before anyone could realize what had transpired he was out of the room. The older necromancer's look of amazement transfigured itself into smugness. "It appears your blessed Puritan didn't take a liking to you," he said. "He'll be back," assured Abel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (14/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:02:43 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 14/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 13 Willow and Oz sat chatting happily at a high table in the club known as the Bronze. The stools they sat on lended themselves to the comfort they felt with each other. It was quite a Friday night with a good band playing, the dance floor crowded, and two sweethearts reunited. Buffy entered the only cool place in town both tired and bored from the monotanous task of patrolling. She spotted her two friends thoroughly caught up with each other and began to head the other way so as not to disturb them. Before she could, however, she was spotted and Willow waved in recognition. "Hey, you two look cozy," greeted Buffy as she leaned on their table. She didn't occupy an available stool as she still did not wish to get in their way. "You wouldn't believe some of the stuff that happend to Oz while his band toured," said Willow enthusiastically. "Willow exaggerates my stories just a bit. I'm sure it's been just as interesting here for you guys," shrugged off Oz. No one said a word to confirm Oz's statement. "Right?" he queried. "In a word: no," acknowledged Buffy. "Slayer thing been getting you down, huh?" asked Oz. "Yeup, Giles has got me out doing the whole Slayer thing every night," Buffy said just a tad grumbling. "Oh, but these necromancers are new and interesting. . . well, they're at least new aren't they?" offered Willow. "I don't know, saving the world gets pretty dull and samey after awhile," commented Buffy. "So, wait, if Giles has you out patrolling every night then why aren't you hitting the streets right now?" Oz inquired. "It was pretty quiet out so I thought I'd call it a night early," explained Buffy. In an alley behind the converted wearhouse that was the Bronze a muffled echo of the music being played inside could be heard. A dapper young man who was out "crusin' for chicks" approached his destination eagerly. A rustling noise attracted his turned head toward some garbage leaning against an old, run down building. Uninterested, the young man turned back and resumed his strut-like walk. Again the noise presented itself. He thought it best to ignore its persistence. As the noise came yet a third time he conceded and looked over his shoulder to see nothing, but the garbage again. Abruptly, a large, muscular hand stabbed the air in front of his face and grasped itself on top of his mouth. His eyes widend and he tried to let out a scream, but only a wimper of sound was bellowed. The struggles that he put up to fend off his attacker could not compare to the strength of the vice that was upon him. A face drew in close to him and his eyes strained to see the outstretched fangs and horrible visage of Puritan. The victim's eyes drew even wider as he saw the end to his insignifigant life personified. With a terrible hiss Puritan thrusted his head forward and bit deep into the young man's burly neck. His feeding was quick and as the young man's eyes rolled back he let him drop to the murky ground. Puritan's hunger was great. This boy didn't satisfy it. He looked down upon his victim without a thought in his head, he was driven purely by instincts now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (15/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:04:57 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 15/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 14 Early next morning Abel sat behind his desk consistently intrigued by his studies as a necromancer. The reading and writing of morbid topics that made up most of his time would seem frivilous if it weren't for the amazingly gratifying results of their applications. A bothersome unknown word halted his reading like a pothole in a highway. Abel stood up and exited his study. He would have to consult the archives to solve this enigma. As he casually stumbled down his lair's hallway with his head buried in a book he thought about exactly which manuscripts he would peruse. A gut feeling made him stop in his tracks and look up. Puritan's broad chest hovered in front of him. "I see you've returned," Abel observed. A half dozen or so fellow vampires emerged from the darkness around Abel. "And you've brought friends," he added. The stone-like silence of Puritan's chin chilled the room. "Can you not pass a word through those lips of yours?" facetiously questioned Abel. "Get him," Puritan barked in return. Abel's head drifted backwards in a cackling laugh. "'Get him' he says. Well, come get me," said Abel while still recovering from his laughter. The menagerie of vampires hesitated en masse. Abel stared down his would be attackers one by one. As his eyes met the vampire on his extreme left the one lurking at his right finally mustered enough courage to close ranks with his prey. Before he could come within range Abel's arm leapt out toward him and shot out hellfire that blasted the brave hearted vampire into ashes which playfully fluttered in the air. "Let me explain to you something," began Abel while grinning with enjoyment. He continued, "There's a food chain. You see, at the bottom there are humans. Above that we have vampires, which would be you. Skipping up we eventually get to me. You owe me with your very lives not because I created you and made you what you are." Abel paused while making a disgusted noise then said, "I almost gagged on that cliche." He righted himself then completed, "As I was saying you owe me not for that reason, but because I can proverbially eat you for breakfast." "What you want from me?" savagely asked Puritan. Abel answered, "Well, my verbiage challenged friend, I want you to do what you naturally do. Feed on humans, sire vampires, and if you happen upon a Slayer-" A furrowed brow on Puritan interrupted as he vocalized, "Huh?" "You'll know her by the fact she's trying to kill you," explained Abel. Puritan acknowledged with a maliciously innocent, "Oh." "Anyway, if you happen upon this Slayer then do me a favor and dispatch her. Odds are another one will be sent rather quickly, but you could have some fun in the mean time," commissioned Abel. Puritan nodded in understanding. "So, run along with your friends then and get into mischief. Oh, just spare me one vampire as a bodyguard if you will," Abel said. That having been said Puritan gestured at what used to be the young man he assaulted in the alley to stay. The rest of his gang made their way out of the lair ready to appease their collective hunger. The remaining vampire looked at Abel eagerly for orders. "Guard the entrance to the lair," commanded Abel. The vampire grunted in approval and scurried off. Abel also began to return to his study, forgetting the reason he had emerged from it in the first place. His former mentor happend by along the way. "Beware, there are vampires in this lair," Abel cautioned. Without a word spoken the older of the two removed a piece of stained black metal neckware and began to put it on. "Going to wear your gorget I see," Abel said with minor amusement. "It is a valuable precaution," coldly stated the elder necromancer. "I never liked those things much. Rather ugly to my tastes," mentioned Abel as the two parted in opposite directions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (16/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:06:16 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 16/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 15 "Where are we going?" impatiently asked the vampire that had been given bodyguard duties. He was part of a small entourage consisting of Abel on the point and a few zombies tagging along behind. This tireless group prowled the dark, early morning of Sunnydale. "We are going shopping. Could you hand me that crow bar?" answered Abel. A zombie produced the requested hooligan tool and the vampire delivered it to its destination. "Thank you," said Abel politely. He used the device on a large, red metal box with no success. "Could you give it a try? Elbow grease was never really my forte," requested Abel. He made way for his brawnier companion who made short work of the task. "Thank you again," reiterated Abel as he peered into the contents of the box. A sign stated the equipment as the property of a mall security agency. Abel looked at it with contemplation at how he would disarm this high tech system. He drew back slightly and laid waste to the multi-thousand dollar equipment with hellfire. "That ought to work," Abel stated assuredly. The midnight party made their way to the entrance of the mall which was soon openend in a similar manner. Abel and company preceded to the young men's section of a department store with due haste. Meanwhile a restless Buffy Summers could not attain a desired state of sleep. She lay awake preoccupied with an odd feeling. Was it a sense of guilt for ending patrol early and hanging at the Bronze? Could it be an intuitive warning of iminent danger? She couldn't tell, but she had a solution for both. She got up and began getting dressed in preperation of a quick climb out of her bedroom window and then some spirited roaming of the streets of Sunnydale. "I like it!" proclaimed Abel back in the mall. He examined the solitary figure that was his image dressed with newly aquired clothing in a department store mirror. The vampire standing next to him projected no reflection. "This world has quite a sense of fashion," Abel said admirably. He placed his hands in his pockets and turned first to his right then to his left. He freed his hands quickly to pick up a pair of shoes that caught his eye. "Oh, these look quite nice!" declared Abel as he looked them over up close. "Go see if they have these in size tens," he ordered as he tossed them into the unexpecting arms of his bodyguard vampire. "Why me?" questioned the vampire. "It seems I've sent all the zombies off on other tasks," observed Abel while he looked around. The vampire growled in displeasure, but he went off in search of a pair of shoes for his master anyway. "You are being impulsive and juvenile," Buffy told herself as she took easy steps on a quiet Sunnydale sidewalk. She resolved to stay in bed the next time she couldn't sleep. Not a soul stirred as a crescent moon added its light to that of an overhead streetlight. An odd sight broke up the lonely moonlight serenade. A figure was walking toward Buffy with a bag like that from a department store in each hand. "I didn't know any stores were open this late," Buffy whispered into the moist early morning air. The figure closed and then passed while Buffy realized its true identity of a zombie by its absent face and its methodical walk. "He's shopping," realized Buffy aloud. She let out a restrained laugh. "They didn't have any size tens so I got you a pair of nine and a halfs and a pair of ten of halfs," stated Abel's accompanying vampire. He tossed down two shoeboxes on a table and a security guard clad corpse with two holes in its neck upon the floor. "You had time to get a snack I see," observed Abel. The vampire replied with an evil smile. "You know what, I like this color better," Abel informed as he handed another pair of shoes to his would be protector. The vampire's grin turned into an exasperated expression as he turned to head back to the stock room. Abel continued examining the displayed articles of clothing before him with great interest. He was throughly and enthusastically entertained by the merchandise available. "Hold it right there!" exclaimed a frightend mall security guard as he aimed his sidearm shakily at Abel's center of mass. He looked down at the body of his fallen comrade then back up at Abel. "Don't try anything!" he yelled, but Abel already made paces in his direction. Fearing for his own life he fired one shot that hit Abel squarely. The sudden force knocked Abel back and he fell scrunched up against a display case. Still in shock at having to take a life, the security guard slowly approached the two corpses. Abel got up quite abruptly. To the security guard's horror the wound he had just inflicted on Abel now closed up before his very eyes. "That was very," Abel's sentence lingered as he searched for a word. "Compelling," he finished. The security guard could not believe his eyes. As Abel approached him he fired multiple shots into Abel's torso which all healed nearly instantously. No acknowledgement of pain was given. The guard backstepped in terror to match Abel's forward progress. With Abel just a few feet away and closing the security guard was too preoccupied to notice what lay in his backwards path. That was particularly unfortunate since a vampire that had abandoned his cargo of a pair of shoes waited ready to pounce. Abel managed to reach their unwitting victim first and he calmly took advantage of his proximity by removing the guard's firearm from his hand. Now disarmed, the security guard turned and ran right into the awaiting arms of a still hungry vampire. As cries of of pain and anguish permeated the scene Abel looked himself over to survey the damage inflicted. "Damnation! He ruined this shirt," Abel grumbled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (17/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:07:39 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 17/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 16 The group of undead burglers made their way through a still, empty food court. Their number was augmented by two new additions dressed in spiffy security uniforms. A plunder of shopping bags that was too many to count was burden of these restless zombies. "We had best be going," advised Abel even as he spied a jacket from afar. His pet vampire murmered in agreement. "How many outfits does someone who spends so much time in low light need?" questioned Buffy from atop the Corn Dog on a Stick counter. The mostly zombie crowd gave very little reaction to her attempted surprise. "Oh, how cute, our first real confrontation," sarcastically said Abel. Only he and the vampire stopped their forward progress, the zombies walked on. "Tell me, is this early enough in the morning to put one over on you?" asked Abel as his bodyguard took a few steps in Buffy's direction. "Don't you remember? I'm not one for small talk," challenged Buffy as she threw down a bag of gear onto the counter. With that the fight began. As Slayer and vampire partnered in a familar duel Abel watched safely from afar. Buffy struck first, leaping off the counter and landing with a kick to the vampire's chin. Her opponent quickly recovered and returned her favor in kind. His kick landed upon Buffy's stomach sending her flying back into a neatly tucked away table. "You may notice that these vampires are new and improved," called out Abel. The vampire affirmed his statement with a growl and a lunge. Buffy rolled out of the way letting her aggressor fall onto his face. She added to his punishment with a blow to the back. The vampire scrambled to his feet angrily. A chair became a handy weapon in the hands of a resourceful Slayer. It broke upon impact, but nearly sent it's target to the ground again. Buffy followed its impact with an uppercut. The vampire rolled back his eyes as if knocked out, but came back at Buffy without warning. First with a nasty claw at the face, then with a knee to the gut, and finally with a trip type maneuver that gave Buffy a close up view of vintage mall cuisine. The Slayer didn't take to a meal just then so kicked backwards just as her attacker came within striking distance. While in a prone position the vampire struggled to get to his feet once more, but was met by a stake that Buffy had produced from within her jacket. Her prey didn't turn to ashes quickly as was expected and he grabbed at the stake that she firmly held in his chest. Smoke drifted upward from his wound as the vampire bemoaned his pain. The two struggled for control of the stake, but Buffy managed to hold it in place. After a long few seconds the ashes of a former vampire finally littered the floor. "See, I told you they were improved," commented Abel after his protector finally met his end. "Yeah, well, not improved enough," Buffy said while she gasped for breath and redirected herself to face Abel. "My turn," said Abel as an onrush of hellish flames put Buffy into a long distance fling across the food court. She clattered onto a stack of chairs and lay motionless. "Awww, looks like I win already," Abel declared. He walked toward his victim with ease. An easy victory for someone as great as he. But, it didn't quite work out that way. Without being startled he observed her return to a fighting posture, standing on her own two legs. "An Amulet of Celindra?" Abel inquired. His answer came in the form of a kick to his chest as he toppled and aquired a more intimate relationship with the ground. Buffy sped off toward the Corn Dog on a Stick counter and her equipment. Abel scrambled to his feet and let loose another burst of hellfire that accelerated Buffy in an airborne manner toward her destination. She overshot it just a bit and landed behind the counter next to a wastebasket full of corn dog scraps. "You only delay your death with that blasted piece of jewelry," remarked Abel. Buffy staggered back up and reached into her bag producing a lengthy nail. A quick throw had it darting through the air and pinning Abel against a table that was turned on its side. He looked down and laughed wickedly as Buffy retrieved an ax from her gear. "First of all, in order to use the Nails of Schlounge properly you are supposed to use them to crucify me. Second of all, there's no such thing as the Nails of Schlounge they're just a myth," Abel explained as he pulled the metal hindrance from his chest and tossed it aside. The wound it left closed up like a minor cut. Buffy raised her ax in an attempt to strike, but it was blasted from her hands with hellfire. A second blast knocked her up against the Corn Dog on a Stick counter. This time she was signifigantly disoriented and struggled to keep concious. Abel rose to his feet and stood above Buffy. She kicked at him instinctively. The blow hit without full impact and he only took a few steps back. While still dizzy Buffy came to her feet once more and assumed a halfhazard fighting pose. Abel looked impressed with her resolve. "I'd like to stay and spar all evening, but as my zombies and therefore my clothes are well on their way, I'll be going now," said Abel with an overly phony polite tone of voice. He disappeared in a quick burst of hellflame. Relieved, Buffy fell to her knees and drew in a few deep, labored breaths. Combat with a necromancer was more frustrating and tiring then she had expected. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (18/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:08:33 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 18/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 17 "Where have you been?" asked Abel's former teacher with an audible amount of disgust. Abel gave little acknowledgement of his defunct tutor who watched him busily tend to his wardrobe. "Well, I don't know, I seem to have aquired a great wealth of new attire that I am putting away in front of your very face. Perhaps I was out taking a walk," Abel answered bitterly. "And how does this shopping expedition aid us in our conquering endeavors?" questioned the older necromancer. "Relax. We have time to use for ourselves while Puritan sires enough vampires to begin a proper campaign. Anyway, what have you done that was so useful?" snapped Abel while he continued folding clothing. "I. . . I. . .," the elder of the two was at a loss for words. "There you have it then," smugly said Abel. "Where was the vampire that was with you?" asked the older individual. "We were ambushed by that Slayer," replied Abel. "You let her slay the vampire?" queried the longer in the tooth necromancer. "I wasn't expecting her to prevail. Her fighting abilities are superior to most. Anyway, I had to test out the potency of Puritan's new bloodline of vampires," Abel explained. He added, "She put up quite I fight when I attempted to dispatch her. Her Watcher managed to procure her an Amulet of Celindra." The cold, grim face of Abel's former mentor began to show a glimpse of regard. "He must be quite a resourceful fellow," he commented. Abel concured, "Indeed. The Watcher is the proverbial head of the foul. If I deal with him I'm sure the Slayer will just thrash about like a chicken without a head for a bit and then die." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (19/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:10:40 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 19/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 18 "Buffy, you're late, I was saving you a seat," whispered Willow as Buffy arrived during the latter portion of a mid morning class. Just as Buffy sheepishly took the seat her friend had kindly reserved for her the class was dismissed and got up to leave. The two exchanged looks as they made their way out with the crowd. Their destination was implied and understood. "Buffy, you look. . . you've looked better. Did you get any sleep last night?" asked Willow as the conversation resumed in the halls. "Nope, had some late night slayage to accomplish," said a tired Buffy Summers. "Did you? Accomplish it that is," Willow inquired. "One vampire down, one hellfire wielding necromancer to go," answered Buffy. A jovial Xander Harris spotted his friends and hurried to catch up. "Hey, Willow. Hey, Buf-," he cut his greeting off as he came within eyesight of them. "Someone looks like they got three hours of sleep," observed Xander. "That's not bad considering I only got two," said Buffy. Her tired attempt at a joke fell somewhat short on the laugh meter. "Buffy fought with the necromancer last night," Willow brought Xander up to date. "Not to mention a pretty tough vampire," supplemented Buffy. "The wierd part was when I staked him he didn't turn to ashes right away," contemplatively said Buffy. "Necromancers must be up to something," guessed Willow. "Sounds like a question for Giles," Xander diagnosed just as the three turned and entered the library. "I knew you three would be stopping by," called out Principal Snyder who lingered inside. "Where's Giles?" asked Willow. "That's what I'm going to ask you," said Snyder. "Well if you look at our dumbfounded faces you could tell we don't know either," Xander said sarcastically. Snyder stared him down with a disgruntled look. Xander exaggerated his expression. "See, dumbfounded," he added. "I don't know what's wrong with that guy other than hanging around you people a lot. I told them I don't like hiring foriegners, but he's been flakey even for an Englishman. It's a wonder he still has a job," declared Snyder. "I'm sure he has a good reason for not being here," protested Willow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (20/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:11:40 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 20/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 19 "Jenny," said a embittered Rupert Giles in disbelief. His deceased lover stood before his very eyes, intact and looking better than he did. She responded with a smile that almost stopped his heart. "It can't be you," Giles doubted as he scratched his unshaven chin and rubbed his sleepy eyes. "I'm right here, standing right in front of you," Jennifer Calendar replied while her smile widened uncontrolably and Giles' look of amazement turned into a face that outpoured joy. The two embraced and held each other tightly. "Please say that you're not a dream because if you're a dream-" Giles request began. His words flowed into Miss Calender's reply. "I'm not a dream, Rupert. I'm really here. I've come back. I've come back because you wanted me to come back so much," Jenny's words sounded too good to be true, but they were also too good for Giles not to believe them. He finally loosend his grip on his reunited companion to look into her eyes. He became lost in them and finally let a question slip from his mouth. "But, how?" he asked. "I don't know," she answered. "You died," he said as joy gave way to disbelief once more. "I. . . I remember feeling surreal. Everything was really still and quiet like at a funeral. But, then it became so chaotic. It felt like the world was spinning so fast. It lasted forever. Then I suddenly realized I was walking around Sunnydale," her recount of experiences was spoken with a confused, foggy tone of voice. Giles finally broke eye contact and dropped his head, overwhelmed by what was going on. "What's happening?" he questioned. The floor considered his inquiry for some time before Jenny interrupted. "All I know is I don't have much time and you have to come with me," she said. "Come with you? Come with you where?" he looked back up and asked. "I. . . I don't know," she replied still not sure what her own words meant. Giles' rational, analytic persona kicked in. "We must find out what's going on. Perhaps I have something in my personal library that will tell us-" he said. "Rupert," she said and silenced her companion with a kiss. The two hypnotized each other and time held no meaning, all there was was now. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (21/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:12:45 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 21/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 20 "Thanks again for the ride," politely said a tired Buffy Summers. "No problem," assured Cordelia. She parked the latest in a long line of automotive baubles as skillfully as she could. Cordy added, "I mean, I care about Giles, too. It's not that I'm just using this as an excuse to get out of school for an hour. I care. I do. Just as much as the next gal." "Don't worry, at least you have a reason to come," comforted Buffy. Xander leaned in from the back seat. "Are you saying that I'm usless on this little trip?" he asked with feigned offense. "No, she's saying that you're just plain useless," answered a grinning Cordy. "Touche," replied Xander as he let his head drop only to raise it back with a smirk of his own. "Let's go," said Buffy. Cordy and Xander's twisted form of flirtation was more than she could stomach on so little sleep. The three made their way to the residence of their friendly school librarian. Buffy tuned out as her companions continued the sniping and giggling they called a relationship. She didn't quite get the whole Xander and Cordy thing, but was learning to live with it. A crazed car alarm jolted Buffy back to the land of the awaken. Cordelia let out a sigh and grumbled, "I wish I could figure out how to work that thing!" She scurried back to her car to attend to the nuisance. Buffy and Xander continued on. "So, do you think we'll find Giles with a hangover in a trashed house after an all night kegger?" Xander sarcastically questioned. "I'd bet on something more like getting carried away in the fascinating world of undead rodents," answered Buffy as she knocked casually on Giles' front door. An unusually unkept version of her Watcher greeted her with a introspective, withdrawn expression. Buffy and Xander were silent for several seconds as their minds struggled to identify this hobo looking individual as the Giles they all knew and loved. The lack of tweed clothing added a few extra moments to their discernment. "Giles," uttered Buffy, half as an address and half as a question. She paused to think of what to say. "You wouldn't happen to have a really bad hangover?" Xander inquired, beating her to the punch. "I'm sure you're here to find out why I'm not at the school. Don't worry, I'm just a bit preoccupied at moment," slowly enumerated Giles. He turned and gave a slight shove to the door which caused it to start to close sleepily. Buffy and Xander exchanged looks of concern. Buffy led the way and pushed the door open while Xander followed right behind. They both stopped dead in their tracks as they caught glimpse of the scene inside. "Hey, I finally figured out how to turn it off-" Cordy cut her sentence short when she entered and felt the stillness of the scene. "Whoa," she said. "That's an understatement," said Xander. Everyone was transfixed on the presence of Miss Calendar. Everyone except Giles that is, he turned toward the corner. "Hey, guys," greeted Miss Calendar familiarily. No gleeful response was given. Jaws hung low as the three visitors looked at her. Buffy finally spoke, "Giles, don't fall for this. This is obviously some kind of trick." "Oh, it's no trick. I'm really alive. Nothing is making much sense to me at the moment, but I do know I'm alive," Miss Calendar said. "This can't be happening," absently said Xander. No end was in sight to this awkward situation. Giles was content to face the corner and pursue an itch on the back of his neck rather tenaciously. "I know this is hard to deal with, but reality is staring you in the face," said Miss Calendar. She looked as honest and sincere as she could and added, "I'm back." Buffy stared blankly into the ground and tried to think things through in her exhausted mind. She could come to only one conclusion. "No, you're not," she pronounced gradually with mounting conclusion. That having been said she reached back into her back pack and stealthily pulled out a fine dagger. The weapon caught Giles' eye and he rushed over to intervene. "Put that away! There's no use for it here!" ordered Giles passionately. "You gave this to me to slay zombies. I'm going to slay a zombie," methodically responded Buffy. "This isn't a zombie this is Jenny for God's sakes!" insisted Giles as he gestured toward his protectorate. Buffy's hardend face cracked with emotion, "This isn't real. Why can't you see that? She died, she can't come back. She can't really come back!" Giles angrily chastied, "Damnit, Buffy, you don't have to always hurt the ones you love for some greater good!" Buffy questioned Giles cutting statement with a forceful look. "I'm sorry, Buffy, but, it's quite common for those who go through a tramatic experience like you have to need to recreate it somehow," Giles explained as he regained his cool. He continued, "This, now, isn't you and Angel. You don't need to turn this into what you had to once do. Over there is Jennifer Calendar, someone who was-," Giles stopped and soured his face as he realized his slip of the tongue. He corrected himself and continued, "...is very dear to me. Through some miracle she is alive when we thought she was dead. Let's come to terms. Please?" Buffy dropped the dagger onto a coffee table and shook her head. "I'm not the one who's blinded by their needs right now. I'm not going to do it, you'll have to realize what exactly is staring you right in the face," Buffy said quietly. She ran out the front door and a concerned Cordelia followed. Xander was left standing alone. He glanced at Miss Calendar then stared right at Giles. "Buffy's right. Once someone dies that's it. No man can bring them back, super death guy or not. This necromancer is clever, he knows how to jerk you around," Xander declared. He remained staring just for a few more moments and then stomped off slamming the front door behind him. Giles slumped down and once again consulted the floor for some kind of answer to the question that was this instance of his life. Lost, he turned and faced Jenny for with a look that begged for assurance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (22/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:13:36 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 22/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 21 "Geez, and then Buffy ran off?" asked Willow curiously. The Sunnydale High library seemed so cold and empty knowing that Giles wasn't there. Xander answered with a nod. Willow's look of distress brought the comforting arm of Oz. "I went after her, but she being the superhero Slayer girl and all she took off like the Flash," Cordelia further answered. "Um, did Principal Snyder care that we missed the rest of the school day?" asked Xander in an attempt to change the subject. "No, he found some other students to be anal retentative with and seemed to forget about you guys," replied Oz. "What do we do now?" wondered Cordelia. Xander began, "What can we do? We're just the Slayerettes, we'll just have to wait for-" "Buffy!" greeted Xander. "Where have you been?" Willow questioned. "Taking an afternoon stroll to sort things out. I've been quite the strolling girl lately," explained Buffy. She continued, "I'm sorry to have to skip the small talk, but if no one minds I'd like to get at slaying this necromancer of ours." "But, Giles-" started Willow. "Giles will have to deal with his own issues. We'll take care of saving the world without him," interrupted Buffy. "Any luck with the book you were going to scan?" asked Buffy. "Yeah, actually, it's partly in Old English, but there's a lot of quotations in another strange language. There was reference to a method for creating a vampire from scratch. Well, not completely from scratch. You do need a useable corpse. Anyway, it would explain why that vampire didn't turn to ashes very quickly," Willow said in a knowledgeable fashion. "How?" wondered Xander. "Well, the vampires we're used to have been diluted by generations of mixing with the blood of humans. What probably happend is this necromancer created a vampire that wasn't so watered down," explained Willow. "So that's what I fought with last night?" inquired Buffy. "Probably not. That was probably just a vampire that was sired by the new one," answered Willow. "Great, so now we have a whole bloodline of vamps in Sunnydale that stronger, better, and all around nastier," said Xander. "I'm no expert on fighting the forces of darkness or anything, but wouldn't the best thing to do be slaying this new bad ass vampire before he sires a super race," suggested Oz. "Sounds good to me," agreed Buffy. "We can stay and research how to get rid of this necromancer guy while you're out hunting," offered Willow. "You guys can stay here and do the bookworm thing, I for one think Buffy could use some backup on this one," Xander said valiantly. "No, you should really go to Giles' place again," quietly said Buffy. "What happened to letting him deal with his own issues?" questioned Xander. Buffy looked downward and finally said, "We really do need him." "And by 'we' you mean you?" asked Xander. Buffy glanced up then looked away solemnly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (23/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:14:47 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 23/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 22 "Rupert," gently addressed Miss Calender after a lengthy amount of still silence. Giles had stared at various furnishings in his living room and they had all gave him the same reply. Currently the endless expanse that was the sky outside his window gave his eyes a place to hide from his confusion. He spoke while still staring, "You gave me quite a start this morning. When everything was still foggy you appeared at my front door. I think I've been in shock all day. But, now I'm beginning to become aware." "I can't believe I'm here either. It's hard for me to feel like I'm anywhere after having been...," Miss Calender's sentence trailed off. "You know even though we're in the same room I don't feel like we're together again," she added. "Perhaps...perhaps it's because we haven't shared more than a few words," Giles said while still emotionally drained. Sparsely punctuated quiet followed for a few more moments. "I keep getting this tugging sensation that you're supposed to come with me somewhere," commented Miss Calender. Finally Giles broke from his trance and ran his hands through his unkempt hair. "You're not real. You're not real," He said in animated contrast to his former state of mind. "What are you saying, Rupert?" inquired a befuddled Jenny Calender. "All this time I've felt it. It's made me sick to me stomach to know deep down in my heart that you're not here in front of me even as I want to believe you are," Giles said with a quick winded pace. "Look at me," Jenny said as she closed quarters with Giles. "I'm right here. Look at me with your own eyes. Don't you hear my voice? I'm right in front of you," she said in desperate attempt to convince the unbelieving. Giles scrunched his face up as tight as he could make it. Even with his eyes closed he could still see her. It pained him as reality finally set in. "Rupert! Rupert!" called out Jenny as she gripped him by the arms. Giles' turned beet red with anguish and reached toward the coffee table. As the unwanted weapon seated itself into his hand he turned his head as far away as he could and thrusted the dagger in front of him. Quickly what was Miss Calender degraded to its actual state of decay and fell to the floor. No cry of pain was let out or any struggle for survival endured. That did little to comfort Giles however. All that was left for him to do was to bury his head in his own arms and let out bursts of weeping through his choked face. This perpetual agony went undisturbed for a period of time that was too great to measure in minutes. Eventually a wary Xander peered through the unlocked front door. He surveyed the scene inside with bittersweet relief. "What's going on?" whispered Cordelia from behind him. Xander tried to think of what eloquent words he could burst in and be the hero with, but nothing came to mind. He finally decided to let Giles be and turned back to Cordelia. "Let's go," he said quietly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (24/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:16:52 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 24/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 23 "Damnation, there goes a fine piece of craftsmanship," profaned Abel in his underground lair. "I ought to get an award for animating a zombie that lifelike," he said with a scratch to his head. Abel felt rather dizzy after the concentration that his creation required was suddenly relieved. The arranging of documents on his desk brought him little comfort and he opted for a little stroll to reassemble his mind. Abel traveled through the dark, twisting halls of the dungeon he called home. He had regained lucidity by the time he passed in front of his companion's study. "I wonder what he is working on," Abel thought aloud curiously. He entered undaunted and began looking through the materials assembled on his former tutor's desk. The more he saw the more anger showed in his demeanor. "That traitorous bastard," Abel pronounced. Just as he did, the one who was once his teacher entered. He saw Abel hovering over his desk and a look of sheer terror came over a normally unexpressive face. "I can explain," he said as he dropped the items he had fetched. "That's alright, I'll explain for you," Abel offered. He continued, "You are going to attempt to undo my seal on the Gateway so you can hand me over, you coward!" The older necromancer was at a loss for words. He had been caught red handed and could do nothing as he stared his own destruction in the face. "Please, don't kill me," he pleaded. Abel let out a wicked laugh. "You're going to have to do a damn sight better than that. Get down on your knees and beg like the dog you are," Abel replied. His elder dropped to his knees readily. "Please, forgive me!" he begged. Abel leaned down close to his mentor's head with a quite evil face. "You're forgiven," he whispered. A look of surprise was given in return. It quickly became a look of horror, however, as a flood of hellfire screamed its way through the kneeling torso beneath this unusually expressive head. The old necromancer's body convulsed in throws of torment. Abel's teeth clenched as he summoned forth more and more hellfire, engulfing his betrayer to a fiery death. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (25/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:17:42 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 25/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 24 The going was just as violent on the surface of Sunnydale as underneath it. Buffy was currently exercising her faculties as the Slayer on a vampire that she happened upon in an darkened alley. The fight was near its conclusion as she got the upper hand. "Before you get dusted let me ask you a question," said Buffy through accelerated breaths. A second wind by the vampire was broken by a timely blow from Buffy. She followed through with a kick to her downed opponent that made way for her to straddle her victim with her hand at his throat and a stake hovered over his heart. "Tell me where the vampire Abel created is," demanded Buffy. "Or you'll what, stake me?" snarled back the vampire. "Exactly," answered Buffy. "So, if I told you then I wouldn't get staked?" questioned the vampire. Buffy answered only with a furrowed brow. "See, I don't have an incentive here do I?" observed the vampire. "Good point. Here's another," Buffy said as she raised the stake to strike. "Oh, if you're looking for Puritan don't worry. He'll find you," blurted out the vampire as he glanced at something out of corner of his eye. Buffy looked over to see the snarling goliath of a vampire that was Puritan. She quickly thrusted the stake into the prone vampire's heart and held it in place for the annoying nuisance time it took for him to turn to ashes. With that out of the way she stood up and faced her new opponent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (26/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:19:00 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 26/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 25 "Ugh! This chapter is about how to mutate spiders into war beasts," yelled Willow, frustrated at the content of the text she had just spent the last half hour translating. Oz walked over calmly and turned off the computer screen Willow had been staring at for much too long. "I think we could use a break. Want to go for a walk?" he offered. "It's just that I'd really like to help Buffy out by making a breakthrough on this. It's almost like there's no good way to kill a necromancer or even get him out of his lair for that matter," grumbled Willow. Oz asked, "Did you just say 'making' and 'out' in the same sentence?" Willow thought quickly and replied, "Let's go for a walk." Meanwhile Cordelia drove in her usual reckless manner to the distaste of her fearful passenger. "Will you slow down already?" exclaimed Xander. "Why? Aren't you in a hurry to get back and save Buffy's rear?" returned Cordelia. "What's that supposed to mean?" snapped Xander. "Well, you're so fond of it," grumbled Cordelia as she rounded a corner rather unsteadily. "Look-" began Xander, but he was cut off. "No, you look, as long as Buffy's the Slayer and we're saving the world every other night I'm more than content to pitch in. But, I'm not going to be ignored by someone that I used to not even want to be payed attention to. . . by. . . from. . . you know what I mean," interrupted Cordelia. "So what are you saying? inquired Xander. "Get over her!" shouted Cordelia. "I can't see myself getting over her until she's forty, moved in with some hairy buckweed guy in a trailer park, and fifty pounds heftier. Even then it's a maybe," Xander's statement was softened with a boyish grin. Cordelia didn't give one in return. Back at the outskirts of Sunnydale high Oz and Willow were being a lot friendlier in a kissing kind of way. The two seperated for a moment to continue walking the darkening, moonlit late afternoon. "Do you think you'll ever go to college?" inquired Willow. "I don't know. When I think of college I think big classes, brick fissades, and professors with red pens in their front shirt pockets. It's just not me," explained Oz. "Well, at least that means we can spend more time together in the mean time," said Willow, looking on the bright side. "In the mean time? So that means after the year is over you'll be shipping out to some big name university?" asked Oz. "We'll it's always kind of been a given in my family for Willow Rosenburg to get a scholarship and become a world famous scientist. You know how expectations go," she answered. "If that's what you want then when that time comes we'll work something out," said Oz with a ever so slight smile. The two closed slowly for another kiss. "Hey, they're over here," Cordelia yelled back over her shoulder. Willow let out a sigh. "Cordelia," she whispered under her breath, each sylable had it's own unique grumble. Oz and Willow waited patiently for their friends to catch up with them. As they stood happy just to be in each other's company they shared what would be their final glance. A pale figure startlingly emerged from a nearby bush and casually put his arms around the two sweethearts like a buddy. "What's up?" Abel asked. He followed his feigned plesantry with an incantation that caused him and his companions to disappear in a shriek of hellflame. Cordelia let out a scream that brought Xander running. "What happend?" Xander questioned excitedly. "I don't know! One moment they were just standing there the next second someone turned up the reverb and they were gone," Cordelia said through a filter of panic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (27/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:19:54 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 27/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 26 Buffy's blows came quick and furious upon Puritan's chest. It did little to phase him however. What Puritan lacked in grace he made up doubly in brawn. The Slayer eventually drew back and reconsidered her technique. Noticing Puritan's lack of defensive effort Buffy decided to go for the kill early on and drew a handy stake. With skillful aim the weapon found its mark squarely in the behemoth's chest. Only a slight stagger was given in awknowedgement of this attack. Puritan pulled the stake out of his chest and tossed it aside like a splinter. "I don't slay easy," announced Puritan with a big, dark voice. He followed up his statement with a crude flailing attack that landed on the top of Buffy's head. She met the ground with due haste and struggled to remain concious. Buffy crawled while still on her back to the inner recesses of the alleyway to recuperate. Her attacker followed stomping and with fangs exposed. She wasn't about to be beat by this brute. As he came within range she tripped him backwards in a sweeping motion. Puritan fell upon his backside with a resounding crash while Buffy jumped back to her feet. "It's true what they say. The bigger they are, the harder they fall," said Buffy trying to stay composed. Puritan wasn't exactly the most agile vampire and was having a hard time regaining standing posture. By the time he balanced on his two big feet a kick from behind was delivered by the Slayer and he fell flat on his face. Buffy took the opportunity to plunge another of her stakes into her victim's back. This time Puritan had a hard time reaching the firmly lodged stake. His burly arms couldn't quite find the intrusive object in his back. As seconds flew by Buffy could see the effects of the more endured staking. Smoke and a pungent odor rose from the vampire's wound as he writhed on the ground. Finally he managed to pluck this stake from his back. Buffy didn't let up and pounced yet again when Puritan rose to his hands and knees. Her hand upon his forced the stake into his chest before he could dispose of it. This time she made sure to keep her opponent from removing the weapon from his torso. With a vice on the stake and a knee in the small of her victim's back Buffy held fast for a period time that was much too long for her liking. Puritan attempted to break free with all of his diminished strength only to grow gradually weaker. Puritan met his fate slowly. With a growl he began to turn to ashes. More and more dead vampire matter littered the ground until finally his full disintegration brought yet another victory to the Slayer. Buffy let go of the breath she had taken shortly before plunging the last stake into Puritan. "Third time's a charm," she said to herself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (28/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:20:58 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 28/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 27 A flurry of sensation ended as Oz and Willow found themselves bolted down at the wrists and ankles. A group of zombies that had fastenend them down leisurely exited the underground cavern they occupied. The tables they laid on were uncomfortable to say the least. "Welcome, welcome," said Abel. He didn't seem to talk to either of them in particular, but addressed them like a crowd. It was obvious he had made this speech before. "Yes, welcome, people. Some meaning will come to your insignifigant lives as you become subjects in the greatest calling of mankind. Be assured any hurt, pain, loss of limb or life you may incur is for matters literally of life and death," Abel advised. He put his arms out from his sides and a zombie removed his coat without any prompting. Willow and Oz were still disoriented with the sudden change of enviornment. "We necromancers sometime need fresh specimens for our research," Abel explained to Willow as he checked her eyes and mouth like a canine on show. He then walked over to Oz to do the same then rip open his shirt. "I've always wanted to play with a werewolf. In my short, distinguished career I'd never had the opportunity," Abel said while mixing together a concoction nearby. Oz recoiled in pain as a clump of hair was ripped from his scalp and tossed in with the mixture. "This may sting a bit," Abel cautioned as he dumped the mixture onto Oz's chest. Oz contorted in pain, but was held fast by his bindings. As the fluid scalded and bonded itself into his skin he let out an agonized yell. "The thing about wearwolves is they are so moody. I mean, they're only bloodthristy, amoral killers a few days out of the month. Where's the fun in that?" sarsastically questioned Abel. "But, we necromancers always seek to improve. Procedure to make the wearwolf state permanent is common knowledge," assured Abel. That being said he began reciting yet another incatation. It was quick and comparatively unspectacular. Once it was finished hellfire leapt onto Oz's body and ignited upon contact with the mixture that was burning itself into his flesh. Willow squinted and looked over with horror and the turmoil her companion was going through. "Oz!" she screamed. "Don't worry it's much more painful than it looks. . . oops, slip of the tongue," Abel attempted to comfort. Once the hellfire died down it was apparent Abel had once again succeeded. The werewolf that was Oz easily ripped itself free from it's confines and lunged at Abel. Unimpressed, Abel curbed it back with a blast of hellflame. "Run along and play naughty," ordered Abel with another blast of hellfire that herded the werewolf out the exit of the room. Willow looked on in disbelief at the beast that was her boyfriend as he scurried away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (29/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:21:52 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 29/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 28 "Are you sure that was the necromancer?" asked Xander. "I don't know. What does he look like?" replied Cordelia. She leaned back against the library counter. "Pale, dark hair, about our age," described Xander. "That's him. He was wearing some pretty nice clothes, too," affirmed Cordelia. Xander shook his head and grinned to himself. "What?" questioned Cordelia. "That's the first thing I'd notice if my friends disappeared in an inferno, how their kidnapper was dressed," sarcastically commented Xander. "Sorry," overstated Cordelia. She continued, "I was just trying to help identify this guy. You seem quick to judge recently." "Hey, guys," approached Buffy. "You look like you've been in one whopper of a scuffle," commented Xander. "Did you get that vampire?" asked Cordelia. "Yeup, one suped up vampire accounted for and slayed. I for one am ready to go after the source of all this," said Buffy as she glanced about. "Where's Willow?" she questioned. Xander and Cordelia exchanged a couple relunctant looks. Finally Xander spoke. "Um, the necromancer kidnapped her and Oz," he said. "That's it," declared Buffy while turning to leave. "Where are you going?" asked Xander. "To rescue Willow," Buffy answered. "Wait, remember the whole walking into this guy's lair is a death trap thing?" called out Xander after her. But, it was too late. Buffy was already gone and determined to rescue her friends. Xander grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to follow her," he said. "Of course you are," quickly replied Cordelia. The two stared at each other for just a second. Xander gave a frustrated sigh and went of to join Buffy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (30/31) Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:23:17 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 30/31) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 29 Willow squirmed in her tabletop confines. She couldn't believe this was happening nor could she imagine what Abel had in store for her. "Tell me, how do you feel?" asked Abel as he was busy about something out of Willow's sight. She thought she had misheard at first. "What?" she returned at the awkward question. "How do you feel?" reiterated Abel. "I don't feel fine," Willow answered. It was the best reply she could come up with. "No, no. You misunderstand me. I was asking the question in a literal sense," corrected Abel. He turned with a thin, metal needle-like object in his hands. "I'd imagine your skin would be so young and smooth, wouldn't it?" Abel speculated as he examined the needle absently. Willow felt more and more uncomfortable. With Oz and all the scurrying zombies gone she felt very alone with her captor. She hadn't realized how cold and spacious the room was. Abel poked the needle into his index finger with precision. When he pulled it out his finger healed as quickly as one could think. "Did you know that I can't feel? In the literal sense that is," questioned Abel. No answer was given. He continued explaning, "The very demons and dark forces we summon and manipulate corrupt our bodies. A variety of twisted malformations are common among necromancers. The most prevalent are complection irregularities and the lack of touch sensory." Abel snapped out of his trance like stare, got up, and began sorting through objects again. "I suppose it's to our advantage, not being able to feel that is," he said as he sat and closed his eyes. "But, there are times and experiences where one would rather savor the moment with a sense of touch. And where there's a will, there is a way," said Abel. He openend his eyes to reveal no longer a pink hue, but a common brown. Gradually color returned to his normally pallid skin. Abel scrambled for the needle once again to see if his endeavor had suceeded. He eagerly poked it into his index finger and withdrew the needle quickly. "Hah ha! It worked," he exclaimed with gladness. "Aach!" again exclaimed Abel this time out of a realization of pain. He shook his hand in the air until the discomfort subsided. Now he turned his attentions to Willow. Abel walked malevolently to where Willow couldn't see him. She strained to raise her head off the table and barely made out his figure beyond her feet. He closed to the edge of the table slowly. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you," said Abel quietly. Willow could feel the fear rise in her neck. It was punctuated by her increasingly louder and louder heartbeat. She closed her eyes and tried with all her will to not be there. The outstretched hand of Abel made contact with Willow's calf and she turned her head away. The unwanted hand slid up her leg. It caused a kick reflex that was subdued by the four point restraints, but succeeded in the removal of the intrusive appendage. "Relax. . . relax. . .," Abel whispered. He gently unbuckled the ankle clamps on the table. Meanwhile a trepidatious Buffy finished her descent into the underground lair that Abel called home. Her eyes shifted right to left in anticipation for the prophesized death trap. After passing several uncaring zombies she concluded that it wasn't going to sprung. She quickend her pace down the dark hallway. "Hmmm, he must be preoccupied with something," Buffy guessed aloud. Abel's hand once again met Willow's calf. He let it remain there for a few more seconds. It held nearly stationary, but Willow could feel a very slight rubbing motion. It once again made its way up along her leg. This time it was much slower. Willow just remained still. She felt moisture in her tightly closed eye and realized she was crying. How could this be happening to her? Why was this happening to her? She kept as still as she could and hoped it would all go away. As the cold, unwanted hand passed over her knee and up her thigh she never had regretted wearing a skirt so much ever in her life. Buffy turned a chance corner and peered through a doorway to see one of her best friends at the mercy of one of her worst enemies. Anger bellowed up out of her gut and raged itself at the human monster that was Abel. She didn't have time to think. Buffy always kept a stake handy and without concious effort it was thrown from her hand. "Grrarh!" yelled Abel in pain and he staggered to turn around. He reached around and removed the stake from his back. Looking at it in unbelief he finally tossed it aside. "How dare you use your mundane weapons against me like I'm some vampire?" angrily questioned Abel while still feeling the hurt of a sharp object. "I will make quick work of you!" he declared as he raised fists bellowing hellfire. Buffy gulped and braced herself to be hit by this evil weapon. To her wonder, however, the terrible flames didn't leap forward at her. Instead they ignited upon Abel's body like someone doused in gasoline. Buffy relized the extent of the backfire as Abel fell to the floor in agony. His own cries of pain couldn't be heard over the loud, deafening screams of the hellfire. He must of danced in macabre death throes for quite awhile. Buffy was content to stand back and watch it happen. The cataclysim petered out and Abel's body lay still on the ground. With the grandness of Abel's demise over, quiet took over the scene enough for Buffy to make out a traumatized, crackling voice. She strained to hear the quiet sound after her ears had been bombarded by the loud noise that came before it. It was Willow's voice. "Buffy. . . Buffy. . .," the voice timidly called out in a slow cadence. Buffy answered the cry of her friend who was going through stages of shock. She ran as quickly as she could to Willow's side and ripped her restraints away. Willow gazed up, but looked right through Buffy. At a loss for anything to do or say, Buffy picked up Willow's shoulders off the table and embraced her in a sisterly hug. Willow continued to speak out Buffy's name in a sadening call for salvation. "I'm here. . . you're safe," Buffy said. With her spoken words also came the implied promise of a powerful fidelity. Xander came upon the scene and attempted to catch his breath now that he had caught up. He glanced over at Buffy and Willow and then at Abel's body. Fixated, he slowly closed with the body until he was standing over it. He leaned over and felt for a pulse. "Is he?" asked Buffy while still comforting Willow. Xander waited a couple seconds and was actually glad that he didn't feel a pulse. He started to turn to deliver the good news when a faint heartbeat startled him. How could someone survive in this state? He turned and faced Buffy without a word on his lips. She could tell that Abel had survived somehow by the mixed expression of concern and fear on Xander's face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "The Necromancer" (31/31) ..finally... Date: 22 Sep 1998 22:24:54 -0700 TITLE: "The Necromancer" (Part 31/31) THE END AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: I'd greatly appreciate any constructive criticisim. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence and sexual implications. DESCRIPTION: My first BTVS fanfic with a new villian as the title character. This story is set after the end of the second season and after Buffy returns for the third season. It was written before the third season was broadcast and may not accurately reflect a third season setting. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. SPOILERS: Spoilers to "Phases" and "Becoming". ============== Scene 30 The companions that had waged an unlikely battle against the latest foe to come to the Hellmouth were gathered in Giles' apartment. All except one, that is. Oz in werewolf form was still at large. Abel was unconscious, but still barely alive. Much had yet to be resolved. But, for tonight all were eager to wrap up and get some rest. Abel's body was strewn clumsily on Giles' living room table. Willow was slightly removed from the rest of the group. She sat in a corner staring out a readily available window. "The other one was deceased then?" asked Giles. "Yeah, it looks like Abel here didn't get along with him very well," answered Buffy. "Apparently, this Abel fellow rebelled against the establishment that sent him here and put a seal on whatever gateway he came through. If he dies and the seal is destroyed then we may have to deal with dozens more just like him. I'm the first to say feed him to the lions, but it's in our best interest to keep him alive," explained Giles. "At least it looks like he's not going to give us much trouble," observed Xander. As soon as he finished his statement he bowed his head in embarrassment. "I'm jinxing us by saying that aren't I?" added Xander rhetorically. "Where are we going to keep him?" questioned Cordelia. Buffy left the conversation quietly and walked over to Willow who kept staring out the window idly. Buffy gently put her hand on Willow's shoulder and finally got a glance from her. "We'll find him," consoled Buffy. ============== THE END What did you think of the story? Want to know about sequels? Send feedback via e-mail to: traction@sirius.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jill Kirby Subject: BUFFYFIC: Admin: New rule-- please read! Date: 23 Sep 1998 10:07:23 -0500 (CDT) Effective today, we're amending the list rules slightly... Going forward, please limit your story part posts to three per 24 hour period. Those three posts can be from one story you're working on, or from separate stories, but an individual author may not post more than three story parts per day. No one has done anything wrong to make this rule necessary-- it's just a question of managing the list/digest volume so that the admin account doesn't go *spuh.* We'll be amending the full list rules shortly, but please consider this rule effective immediately. As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or Sharon offlist. Thanks. Jill co-listowner Jill Kirby - jtkirby@mcs.net There is no good news. -- Madeline, "La Femme Nikita" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: kvweller@Charleston.Net Subject: BUFFYFIC:Walls (POEM) Date: 23 Sep 1998 22:52:54 -0400 (EDT) TITLE: Walls (POEM) AUTHOR: JadeCara EMAIL: kvweller@charleston.net DISTRIBUTION: RATING: ??? SUMMARY: Kind of buffy's feelings towards everything during the end of Becoming when she id on the bus. NOTE: Its odd, but pretty nifty. I would ove feed back.... Banging my head against the wall, It doesn't hurt in this padded room, Here I am ready to fall, Standing on the ceiling gazing at the moon. Pacing on the walls, Gazing at the door, Shaking and screaming, As I fall to the floor,. Sitting there against the wall, My knees drawn to my chin, Rocking back and forth, Laughing at something funny that no one did again. Gazing at the painted windows, All black with bars of light, They dont have the bars to cage me, deep inside the night. Standing and walking, Until I'm pressed against the door, Looking out at the faces, That I dont see anymore. Touching hands through the glass, their hands are cold as steel. Wishing I could live their life, But not wanting them to be in here. I look into their eyes, And then I turn my head. I wound die, If I had to look at them again. But I lose control, And I turn to look again. But they are gone walking slowly down the hall, To me, this is the end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: KIng of the World (10/10) Date: 23 Sep 1998 23:54:16 -0400 Title: King of the World (10/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. "Oh, Romeo, bloody Romeo," Spike said, kicking Leo in the groin. "That's for butcherin' the Bard's words like that." "Mmmmph mmmph mmmmm mmm mmmmmmmmmph--" Spike removed the gag, "What was that?" "I just played it the way they told me to," Leo protested. "Yes," Spike said, "but, you could've turned the part down." He reached up and yanked one of Leo's fingernails out. The boy passed out from the pain. Spike punched him and he woke up. "That's for bein' a wanker with no sense of poetry." "I doubt you are much of a poet," Leo hissed. "Really, Mate? Well just so 'appens I'm quite good at limericks," he paused, thinking of one. "Bill Clinton went to Nantucket and let a young woman suck it She did it with style, left him with a smile, but then she refused to fuck it." Leo laughed in spite of his pain. Spike chuckled at his own joke and then slapped Leo across the face. The boy's face burned. His nose had been broken the night before and had settled into a dull ache, but the slap had caught his nose, setting his face on fire with pain. "That's for me 'avin' to see your ugly mug on the cover of every magazine for the past three years!" Spike kicked him until he had broken the boy's ribs and then leaned in close to his face. Leo was whispering something through gasps of pain. "Please don't kill me," came the weak request. "Lad, you're already dead. You just 'aven't realized it yet." Spike vamped out and shredded the boy's face with his fingernails. Leo started to scream, but the sound never came. Spike snapped his neck like a twig and fed off of the corpse. He plunged a third spike through the silent heart. Grabbing a box, he cut one of the boy's hands off and let it fall into the waiting container. He wrapped it up tightly and walked upstairs. "Stephen," he called to his minion, seated on a pew, "I want you to set sail for Europe tonight. You know where she'll be, in Prague. Give her this as a peace offering." He handed the box and a thousand dollars to the vampire. As he watched Stephen's form disappear through the door, Spike let his demonic face recede and his human features return to the surface. "Dru will be pleased," he said to the empty church. "Dru will be pleased." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* To be continued...perhaps. He's dead! He's dead! The bloody whelp is dead! Joy and rapture! ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club Proud member of Spuffy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ Subject: BUFFYFIC: SpikeFic: King of the World (9/10) Date: 24 Sep 1998 12:57:07 -0400 OOOPS! I forgot that part 9 had bounced...forgot to resend...here it is! Title: King of the World (9/10) Author: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ a.k.a. Goth Spike (ripe_wicked_plum@hotmail.com) Distribution: Everywhere and anywhere provided my name is left attached and you let me know where it is posted. Description: Spike meets a celebrity on the streets of Sunnydale, wackiness ensues. Rating: Overall, I'd say R for language and violence. Feedback: "Do you like it, Baby?" Disclaimer: Inspired by a thread on the Unholy Allies list. The original idea wasn't mine, but I was the first to do anything with it. The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's incredibly vivid imagination. Leo is not mine either. He is the product of our warped society. Leo whimpered and avoided making eye contact with Spike. "I asked you a question, Lad. Who is the 'king of the world' now?" "You are," Leo said, weakly. "Louder. You're an actor, project." "You are." "Who is?" "Spike." "I want you to say it." "Spike is the king of the world," Leo said. "You 'ave no idea what it's like to drown, do you?" Spike asked, stepping away from the boy. "No." "Yet you 'ave no qualms," he said, pacing before the boy, "no qualms at all, about makin' money off of those people's deaths." "What do you care about them? I haven't done anything to you and you're torturing me. Who the hell are you to question me about morals?" "Well, just so happens, I knew," he said, punching him in the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him, "people on that ship. I had friends on that boat." "You had friends on the Titanic? How old are you?" "Older than I look." Spike was tired of hearing the boy's voice. He gagged him and continued to torture him. He pulled a knife out of his coat pocket. Flipping it open, he smiled at Leo. "Don't worry, Mate. This'll hurt a lot." He dragged the point of the blade along Leo's hand, dipping it into the blood that dripped from the spike wound. He brought the tip to his mouth, tasting the boy's blood. His eyes rolled back in his head in pleasure. He slit the sleeves and front on Leo's shirt, causing it to fall off. With his bare skin exposed, Leo began to panic. He mumbled offers of compromise around the gag. Spike ignored the boy's pleading. "Ooh lookee, here," Spike said, flicking a finger across one of Leo's nipples. "Looks like I'm not the only one who's enjoyin' this. Don't bother tellin' me it's cold, either, Mate. You're sweatin'. You like bein' tied up by me. You like bein' hurt. Your body betrays you," he said as Leo mumbled an objection around the gag. Spike's hand trailed down to the front of the boy's pants, cupping his manhood briefly. Leo stiffened at his touch and Spike smiled, cruelly. "Ah, so our twee, little bloke is a bit of a poof. Too bad you didn't let me know earlier. We could've 'ad some fun. As it is now, with you bein' pinned to the wall and all, it's just not a good idea. You'd die too quickly of blood loss if I removed the spikes. Pity you seemed so afraid of me last night. I could've given you a bright point in your last hours. I guess it wasn't to be. More's the pity. I bet you'd 'ave been a good lay, too. Nice, tight arse." Spike dug the tip of the dagger into the boy's chest, sliding it just under the first few layers of skin. Leo screamed around the gag. He repeated this again and again until Leo's chest was covered in a forest of cuts, trickling blood along his tanned skin. After quite some time, Spike tired of hearing Titanic in the background. He walked over to the VCR and put Romeo and Juliet in. ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ -- ICQ UIN=2607806 Goth Spike All hail the Lettuce King! I'm a Spike Girl, ask me how! Spike's Ducks...and proud of it! President and founder of the Leo is a Bloody Whelp Club Proud member of Spuffy! One of Spike's Minions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Angel75427@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Surprises" Prologue Date: 24 Sep 1998 13:14:40 EDT "Surprises" Prologue by Jaclyn Link TITLE: Surprises AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link E-MAIL: Angel75427@aol.com DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Productions, etc. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: After traveling back in time, Buffy comes home with a big surpris= e. TIMELINE: About a year after Becoming took place. Buffy is still on the ru= n after leaving Sunnydale. SPOILERS: None. FEEDBACK: Pretty please with a cherry on top! ***** =09Buffy sighed heavily as she stepped off the plane. After being on the r= un for almost a year, she decided to visit Angel=92s homeland, Galaway, Ireland. = For the past two months she had saved up enough money by finding a job as an instructor for a women=92s self-defense class. After spending nearly half = of it on the plane ticket to Ireland, she decided to save the rest of it for the= way back. Therefore, she would rely on the kindness of strangers for money and jobs. =09Although Buffy knew hitch-hiking was dangerous, she hitched a ride from= the airport to Galaway. <> she thought as she stepped out of the car, <<= this place looks like it would have two-hundred years ago.>> =09The streets were empty and the buildings run down. They were the same buildings and dirt roads that had existed centuries before. It seemed as i= f no person had lived there in eons. <> she thought. =09For hours, she walked by the shops and houses, the taverns and inns, th= e gardens and fields. One particular house had the word "Angel" on the door. <> She smiled to herself, thinking = of her love in his eighteenth century clothing and long hair. <> =09It had turned dark by the time she reached the center of town. "Buffy= =85" a voice whispered from an alley near the tavern. She walked towards it, but there was not a soul around. "Buffy=85" the voice whispered again, now wit= h a more distinct sound to it. =09"Angel?" Buffy prayed, hoping to find him here. =09"Close your eyes=85" Her eyes closed, she heard more sound, like horses trotting, and music com= ing from the tavern. When she opened her eyes, it was twilight, and there were people walking about. Children were laughing and playing, women were getti= ng water from the well, men were drinking. The year was 1753, something told Buffy. =09In front of her, she saw something she had been waiting for since last = year. Her Angel was standing, in the sunset, smiling. "Angel!" Buffy cried, runn= ing to him. Throwing her arms around him, tears started rolling down her cheek= s. =09"Excuse me, m=92lady," he said in a thick Irish accent. "Do I know you?= " =09Buffy stood back, not knowing what to say. This wasn=92t her Angel, nor= was it Angelus. This was the innocent boy who would be changed into a vampire. =09"You look familiar. Have we met before?" he asked. "I feel like we knew= each other in a past life or a future life." =09Buffy smiled weekly. "Something like that." =09Noticing the American accent, he said, "You=92re not from around these = parts. Where=92re you from?" =09"Sunnyd-" Buffy stopped herself, knowing that he wouldn=92t understand.= "A British colony across the ocean, in the New World." =09"Your eyes," he whispered, looking into her, "they look so sad, so worn= . You can=92t be more than eighteen years of age, and yet your eyes tell me that you=92ve had more hardships than a girl your age should have. I don=92t kn= ow why, but I feel as if I=92ve seen your eyes before. And your hair; it smells so familiar, so welcoming. But I can=92t put my finger on it. I=92ve known yo= u not more than a few moments, and I feel a strong connection between us." He to= ok a deep breath and looked into the sky. "It=92s almost dark, y=92know. You=92= re not safe alone here. I=92m offering m=92self as escort for the evening. Would = ya like to come to my house? You can spend the night with me." =09It was odd; although he and Angel were the same people, this one acted = very differently. =09He was very wealthy and lived in a big house. Servants were everywhere,= and he ordered them all out when he brought Buffy in. He led her up the stairs= to a large room. =09"So, ma=92am, what brings you to these parts?" he asked motioning for h= er to sit on the bed. =09She sat with him. "I=92m looking for an old love of mine. He used to li= ve here many years ago." =09"Did ya find him?" =09"No, not yet. I miss him very much." =09"I=92ve never been in love with anyone before. I wonder what it=92s lik= e." =09"Don=92t worry. You=92ll find out." =09"How can ya be so sure?" =09"I just have a feeling." =09As he put his hand on her cheek, she noticed the claddagh ring on his f= inger. She pushed her face into his hand, feeling her Angel. =09Slowly, he leaned in to kiss her. Buffy kissed back, welcoming the feel= of his lips. <> she thought. <> Ge= ntly, he pulled her down into the bed covers. ***** =09The next morning, Buffy awoke in a desolate room. Much to her surprise,= there was no bed, just a dusty floor and a blanket over her naked body. Rolling over, she bumped into something. Turning around, she noticed it was the on= e person she was waiting to see. =09"Angel?" she asked, unsure if it was the vampire, human, or hers. =09"Buffy," he cried, waking up. "How=92d I-" Instantly, she through herself into his arms, never wanting to let go. "It doesn=92t matter. What matters is that you=92re here with me." "Oh, God, Buffy, you feel=85" =09"I love you," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. =09"I love you, too. I, I=92m so sorry-" =09"Shhh," she whispered, running her fingers against his lips, then movin= g her hand to his cheek. "Don=92t." With that, she kissed him gently. =09His warm lips returned the kiss, pressing harder. Leaning against him, = she put her other arm around his neck. =09After a few more moments, they each pulled away. "Promise me that you= =92ll never leave me," she said. =09"I promise." =09They each dressed and left the building quickly. Hopping on a cargo shi= p to California, Buffy felt content. <> she thought. <> ***** End Prologue ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Angel75427@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Surprises" 2/? Date: 24 Sep 1998 13:19:12 EDT "Surprises" Prologue by Jaclyn Link TITLE: Surprises AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link E-MAIL: Angel75427@aol.com DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Productions, etc. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: After traveling back in time, Buffy comes home with a big surpris= e. TIMELINE: About a year after Becoming took place. Buffy is still on the ru= n after leaving Sunnydale. SPOILERS: None. FEEDBACK: Pretty please with a cherry on top! ***** =09Buffy sighed heavily as she stepped off the plane. After being on the r= un for almost a year, she decided to visit Angel=92s homeland, Galaway, Ireland. = For the past two months she had saved up enough money by finding a job as an instructor for a women=92s self-defense class. After spending nearly half = of it on the plane ticket to Ireland, she decided to save the rest of it for the= way back. Therefore, she would rely on the kindness of strangers for money and jobs. =09Although Buffy knew hitch-hiking was dangerous, she hitched a ride from= the airport to Galaway. <> she thought as she stepped out of the car, <<= this place looks like it would have two-hundred years ago.>> =09The streets were empty and the buildings run down. They were the same buildings and dirt roads that had existed centuries before. It seemed as i= f no person had lived there in eons. <> she thought. =09For hours, she walked by the shops and houses, the taverns and inns, th= e gardens and fields. One particular house had the word "Angel" on the door. <> She smiled to herself, thinking = of her love in his eighteenth century clothing and long hair. <> =09It had turned dark by the time she reached the center of town. "Buffy= =85" a voice whispered from an alley near the tavern. She walked towards it, but there was not a soul around. "Buffy=85" the voice whispered again, now wit= h a more distinct sound to it. =09"Angel?" Buffy prayed, hoping to find him here. =09"Close your eyes=85" Her eyes closed, she heard more sound, like horses trotting, and music com= ing from the tavern. When she opened her eyes, it was twilight, and there were people walking about. Children were laughing and playing, women were getti= ng water from the well, men were drinking. The year was 1753, something told Buffy. =09In front of her, she saw something she had been waiting for since last = year. Her Angel was standing, in the sunset, smiling. "Angel!" Buffy cried, runn= ing to him. Throwing her arms around him, tears started rolling down her cheek= s. =09"Excuse me, m=92lady," he said in a thick Irish accent. "Do I know you?= " =09Buffy stood back, not knowing what to say. This wasn=92t her Angel, nor= was it Angelus. This was the innocent boy who would be changed into a vampire. =09"You look familiar. Have we met before?" he asked. "I feel like we knew= each other in a past life or a future life." =09Buffy smiled weekly. "Something like that." =09Noticing the American accent, he said, "You=92re not from around these = parts. Where=92re you from?" =09"Sunnyd-" Buffy stopped herself, knowing that he wouldn=92t understand.= "A British colony across the ocean, in the New World." =09"Your eyes," he whispered, looking into her, "they look so sad, so worn= . You can=92t be more than eighteen years of age, and yet your eyes tell me that you=92ve had more hardships than a girl your age should have. I don=92t kn= ow why, but I feel as if I=92ve seen your eyes before. And your hair; it smells so familiar, so welcoming. But I can=92t put my finger on it. I=92ve known yo= u not more than a few moments, and I feel a strong connection between us." He to= ok a deep breath and looked into the sky. "It=92s almost dark, y=92know. You=92= re not safe alone here. I=92m offering m=92self as escort for the evening. Would = ya like to come to my house? You can spend the night with me." =09It was odd; although he and Angel were the same people, this one acted = very differently. =09He was very wealthy and lived in a big house. Servants were everywhere,= and he ordered them all out when he brought Buffy in. He led her up the stairs= to a large room. =09"So, ma=92am, what brings you to these parts?" he asked motioning for h= er to sit on the bed. =09She sat with him. "I=92m looking for an old love of mine. He used to li= ve here many years ago." =09"Did ya find him?" =09"No, not yet. I miss him very much." =09"I=92ve never been in love with anyone before. I wonder what it=92s lik= e." =09"Don=92t worry. You=92ll find out." =09"How can ya be so sure?" =09"I just have a feeling." =09As he put his hand on her cheek, she noticed the claddagh ring on his f= inger. She pushed her face into his hand, feeling her Angel. =09Slowly, he leaned in to kiss her. Buffy kissed back, welcoming the feel= of his lips. <> she thought. <> Ge= ntly, he pulled her down into the bed covers. ***** =09The next morning, Buffy awoke in a desolate room. Much to her surprise,= there was no bed, just a dusty floor and a blanket over her naked body. Rolling over, she bumped into something. Turning around, she noticed it was the on= e person she was waiting to see. =09"Angel?" she asked, unsure if it was the vampire, human, or hers. =09"Buffy," he cried, waking up. "How=92d I-" Instantly, she through herself into his arms, never wanting to let go. "It doesn=92t matter. What matters is that you=92re here with me." "Oh, God, Buffy, you feel=85" =09"I love you," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. =09"I love you, too. I, I=92m so sorry-" =09"Shhh," she whispered, running her fingers against his lips, then movin= g her hand to his cheek. "Don=92t." With that, she kissed him gently. =09His warm lips returned the kiss, pressing harder. Leaning against him, = she put her other arm around his neck. =09After a few more moments, they each pulled away. "Promise me that you= =92ll never leave me," she said. =09"I promise." =09They each dressed and left the building quickly. Hopping on a cargo shi= p to California, Buffy felt content. <> she thought. <> ***** End Prologue "Surprises" 1/? by Jaclyn Link TITLE: Surprises AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link E-MAIL: Angel75427@aol.com DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Productions, etc. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: After traveling back in time, Buffy comes home with a big surpris= e. TIMELINE: About a year after Becoming took place. Buffy is still on the ru= n after leaving Sunnydale. SPOILERS: None. FEEDBACK: Pretty please with a cherry on top! ***** =09The boat ride from Ireland to the United States had not been a pleasant= one for Buffy or Angel. Because of the sunlight, Angel spent all his time in a storage room. Not wanting to leave his side, Buffy stayed with him. She regretted this, though, because of the rough seas. Being inside, she was v= ery seasick the entire ride. =09Because of a storm, the ship landed in Florida instead of going all the= way to California. It was mid-afternoon when it landed, so Buffy and Angel had= to sit on the ship for another few hours until sunset. This was dificult; the= y knew that the ship wouldn=92t leave, but they worried about being found. =09There was just enough money for Buffy to buy herself food. It took a li= ttle time for Buffy to adjust to sleeping during the day and traveling at night= . They sometimes walked, sometimes hitch-hiked, sometimes boated across the rivers. It was not an easy journey, but they both made it to Sunnydale. =09The first place Angel went was to his apartment. He had neglected it al= most the whole time he was Angelus and was gone for a whole year in hell, but everything was the way he had left it. =09He sat on the bed, and Buffy slowly sat next to him. "The last time I w= as here with you was the happiest moment of my entire life," Buffy said and smiled. =09"But last time I was here with you," he said, "was when you came lookin= g for me. The things I said=85" =09"That wasn=92t you." Tears almost came down her cheeks. "The last time = I was here with you was when we made love. That was the most pleasurable moment = I=92ve ever felt. You couldn=92t have know what was going to happen." =09"But I killed Jenny, I tortured Giles, and you=85I did and said unthink= able things to you. I deserve to be hell right now." =09"It=92s not your fault." Gently, she kissed him on the cheek. "I=92ve g= ot to go home. But I=92ll come back later, okay?" =09After one last kiss, she left the apartment. Heading towards her house,= she past the Bronze and the cemetery. Memories flooded her head; some of good, happy times, others of painful, lonely times. =09Willow and Xander; those were her two best friends, and she had just le= ft them. Without saying anything, she had skipped town, leaving them to fight demons on their own. They were probably the two people she missed the most= . Besides Angel, that is. =09When she got to her house, she raised her hand to knock. <> she thought= , <> =09Turning around, she headed towards the school. It was totally deserted = except for the library. Without a second thought, she pushed the doors open, expecting to see Giles, Willow, Xander, and Cordelia researching some demo= n. But none of them were there. =09Within two seconds of stepping in the library, a tall, blond, muscular eighteen-year-old girl grabbed her neck and shoved her against the wall. H= er eyes pierced into Buffy=92s soul. Looking her over from head to toe, she g= ave a disgusted look. "Who the hell-" "You made a big mistake coming here," she said sharply, cold and uncaring. =09Buffy easily knocked her hand away and hit her across the face, knockin= g her on the ground. Quickly, she stood in fighting stance, preparing for the gi= rl to stand up. "What=92d you do to Giles?" =09Instantly, the girl jumped up and stood in fighting position. "Mr. Gile= s is none of your concern. You are strong." They exchanged a few punches, the g= irl tripped Buffy, knocking her over. "But I am stronger." She stood over Buffy, and Buffy kicked her in the jaw, knocking her down. = The two each scrambled up, and the girl threw Buffy into the wall. Holding her head, Buffy just sat there. Grabbing an ax, she swung at Buffy=92s head, b= ut Buffy ducked and kicked her ankle, tripping her. Grabbing the ax out of the wall, she held it up, ready to swing, but she h= eard a voice. "No, stop!" Turning around, she saw the owner of the voice. "Giles!" she cried, runnin= g over him. "Oh my God," he whispered, hugging her. The two stood there, embracing, for a few moments while each regained composure. When the girl got up, she pushed Buffy away from Giles. "Cassandra!" he yelled. "What are you doing?" "The girl," she said, "is strong. She attacked me. She must be a demon." Buffy stood up, giving Giles a confused look. "You know her?" "Yes. Buffy, this is Cassandra, the Vampire Slayer." ***** End Part 1 "Surprises" 2/? by Jaclyn Link TITLE: Surprises AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link E-MAIL: Angel75427@aol.com DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Productions, etc. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: After traveling back in time, Buffy comes home with a big surpris= e. TIMELINE: About a year after Becoming took place. Buffy is still on the ru= n after leaving Sunnydale. SPOILERS: None. FEEDBACK: Pretty please with a cherry on top! ***** "A what?!" Buffy asked, confused and angry at what she had heard. Giles started to explain. "Cassandra is a Vampire Slayer, like you." "I, I don=92t understand. I=92m the Slayer, and you=92re my Watcher. Why w= ere you sent another Slayer?" A hurt, betrayed look formed on her face. Now she ha= d lost Giles as well as everyone else. "After Kendra died, there was, um, another Slayer called. Since you had le= ft, I had no Slayer to train. Cassandra was sent to me as sort of a replacemen= t." "Well," Buffy said haughtily, "I=92m back, so she can leave." She glanced = at Cassandra. "Nothing personal, but I=92m Giles=92s Slayer, so you can take = a hike." "It=92s not that easy, Buffy," Giles said, unhappy at Buffy=92s stubbornes= s. "Well, I=92m making it that easy. Giles, I was here first. I=92m the one t= hat should be trained by you. I=92m the one who was with you for two years." "You left," Cassandra hissed. "You abandoned your duty as the Slayer. I to= ok over. When you left Sunnydale, you lost Mr. Giles. And why did you leave? = Oh yeah, you had to send a vampire to hell, a place that he should be." Buffy=92s face turned red with fury. "Don=92t you ever say another bad wor= d about him. I love him. The two just stood staring at each other, hate in their e= yes. "I made a mistake coming here. I shouldn=92t have come back, Giles, even i= f Angel is with me." "He, he=92s with you?" Giles asked. =09"Then I will slay him," Cassandra said, her nose in the air. =09Buffy quickly hit her across the face. Grabbing her by the neck, she sl= ammed her against the wall. She grabbed a knife and held it up to her neck. "You even try to kill Angel, and I will kill you. And that=92s a promise. I los= t him once, and I=92ll be damned if I lose him again to you. =09"Buffy, Cassandra, that=92s enough. Now, I, I don=92t have the time or = the energy to try to train you two while you are fighting," he said, exhasperated. =09"I can=92t deal with this. I=92m leaving." =09"Wait. I want to talk to you in my office first." Giles grabbed her arm and brought an annoyed Buffy into his office. Shutti= ng the door, he started to speak. "I know this is hard on you. But it was har= d on all of us." Buffy rolled her eyes. "Please, Buffy, it will be hard enough training two Slayers, but to have them fighting as well; that would be impossible." =09"Look, I=92ll be nice to her if she doesn=92t try to tell be how to run= my life or criticize the way I deal with being the Slayer." =09"Fine." =09"I=92ll drop by tomorrow." =09With that, Buffy walked out to be greeted by Cassandra. =09"You don=92t live or act like a Slayer should. You do everything on you= r own without thinking. Maybe if you took orders, Angel wouldn=92t have become Angelus." =09"Don=92t lecture me," Buffy hissed as she walked towards the door. =09"You hurt Giles very much when you left. Don=92t you dare do it again." =09"Don=92t tell me how to live my life." =09Angry and hurt, Buffy walked out of the library. ***** End Part 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Angel75427@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Surprises" 1/? Date: 24 Sep 1998 13:18:03 EDT "Surprises" Prologue by Jaclyn Link TITLE: Surprises AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link E-MAIL: Angel75427@aol.com DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Productions, etc. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: After traveling back in time, Buffy comes home with a big surpris= e. TIMELINE: About a year after Becoming took place. Buffy is still on the ru= n after leaving Sunnydale. SPOILERS: None. FEEDBACK: Pretty please with a cherry on top! ***** =09Buffy sighed heavily as she stepped off the plane. After being on the r= un for almost a year, she decided to visit Angel=92s homeland, Galaway, Ireland. = For the past two months she had saved up enough money by finding a job as an instructor for a women=92s self-defense class. After spending nearly half = of it on the plane ticket to Ireland, she decided to save the rest of it for the= way back. Therefore, she would rely on the kindness of strangers for money and jobs. =09Although Buffy knew hitch-hiking was dangerous, she hitched a ride from= the airport to Galaway. <> she thought as she stepped out of the car, <<= this place looks like it would have two-hundred years ago.>> =09The streets were empty and the buildings run down. They were the same buildings and dirt roads that had existed centuries before. It seemed as i= f no person had lived there in eons. <> she thought. =09For hours, she walked by the shops and houses, the taverns and inns, th= e gardens and fields. One particular house had the word "Angel" on the door. <> She smiled to herself, thinking = of her love in his eighteenth century clothing and long hair. <> =09It had turned dark by the time she reached the center of town. "Buffy= =85" a voice whispered from an alley near the tavern. She walked towards it, but there was not a soul around. "Buffy=85" the voice whispered again, now wit= h a more distinct sound to it. =09"Angel?" Buffy prayed, hoping to find him here. =09"Close your eyes=85" Her eyes closed, she heard more sound, like horses trotting, and music com= ing from the tavern. When she opened her eyes, it was twilight, and there were people walking about. Children were laughing and playing, women were getti= ng water from the well, men were drinking. The year was 1753, something told Buffy. =09In front of her, she saw something she had been waiting for since last = year. Her Angel was standing, in the sunset, smiling. "Angel!" Buffy cried, runn= ing to him. Throwing her arms around him, tears started rolling down her cheek= s. =09"Excuse me, m=92lady," he said in a thick Irish accent. "Do I know you?= " =09Buffy stood back, not knowing what to say. This wasn=92t her Angel, nor= was it Angelus. This was the innocent boy who would be changed into a vampire. =09"You look familiar. Have we met before?" he asked. "I feel like we knew= each other in a past life or a future life." =09Buffy smiled weekly. "Something like that." =09Noticing the American accent, he said, "You=92re not from around these = parts. Where=92re you from?" =09"Sunnyd-" Buffy stopped herself, knowing that he wouldn=92t understand.= "A British colony across the ocean, in the New World." =09"Your eyes," he whispered, looking into her, "they look so sad, so worn= . You can=92t be more than eighteen years of age, and yet your eyes tell me that you=92ve had more hardships than a girl your age should have. I don=92t kn= ow why, but I feel as if I=92ve seen your eyes before. And your hair; it smells so familiar, so welcoming. But I can=92t put my finger on it. I=92ve known yo= u not more than a few moments, and I feel a strong connection between us." He to= ok a deep breath and looked into the sky. "It=92s almost dark, y=92know. You=92= re not safe alone here. I=92m offering m=92self as escort for the evening. Would = ya like to come to my house? You can spend the night with me." =09It was odd; although he and Angel were the same people, this one acted = very differently. =09He was very wealthy and lived in a big house. Servants were everywhere,= and he ordered them all out when he brought Buffy in. He led her up the stairs= to a large room. =09"So, ma=92am, what brings you to these parts?" he asked motioning for h= er to sit on the bed. =09She sat with him. "I=92m looking for an old love of mine. He used to li= ve here many years ago." =09"Did ya find him?" =09"No, not yet. I miss him very much." =09"I=92ve never been in love with anyone before. I wonder what it=92s lik= e." =09"Don=92t worry. You=92ll find out." =09"How can ya be so sure?" =09"I just have a feeling." =09As he put his hand on her cheek, she noticed the claddagh ring on his f= inger. She pushed her face into his hand, feeling her Angel. =09Slowly, he leaned in to kiss her. Buffy kissed back, welcoming the feel= of his lips. <> she thought. <> Ge= ntly, he pulled her down into the bed covers. ***** =09The next morning, Buffy awoke in a desolate room. Much to her surprise,= there was no bed, just a dusty floor and a blanket over her naked body. Rolling over, she bumped into something. Turning around, she noticed it was the on= e person she was waiting to see. =09"Angel?" she asked, unsure if it was the vampire, human, or hers. =09"Buffy," he cried, waking up. "How=92d I-" Instantly, she through herself into his arms, never wanting to let go. "It doesn=92t matter. What matters is that you=92re here with me." "Oh, God, Buffy, you feel=85" =09"I love you," she cried, tears running down her cheeks. =09"I love you, too. I, I=92m so sorry-" =09"Shhh," she whispered, running her fingers against his lips, then movin= g her hand to his cheek. "Don=92t." With that, she kissed him gently. =09His warm lips returned the kiss, pressing harder. Leaning against him, = she put her other arm around his neck. =09After a few more moments, they each pulled away. "Promise me that you= =92ll never leave me," she said. =09"I promise." =09They each dressed and left the building quickly. Hopping on a cargo shi= p to California, Buffy felt content. <> she thought. <> ***** End Prologue "Surprises" 1/? by Jaclyn Link TITLE: Surprises AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link E-MAIL: Angel75427@aol.com DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Productions, etc. DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. RATING: PG-13 SUMMARY: After traveling back in time, Buffy comes home with a big surpris= e. TIMELINE: About a year after Becoming took place. Buffy is still on the ru= n after leaving Sunnydale. SPOILERS: None. FEEDBACK: Pretty please with a cherry on top! ***** =09The boat ride from Ireland to the United States had not been a pleasant= one for Buffy or Angel. Because of the sunlight, Angel spent all his time in a storage room. Not wanting to leave his side, Buffy stayed with him. She regretted this, though, because of the rough seas. Being inside, she was v= ery seasick the entire ride. =09Because of a storm, the ship landed in Florida instead of going all the= way to California. It was mid-afternoon when it landed, so Buffy and Angel had= to sit on the ship for another few hours until sunset. This was dificult; the= y knew that the ship wouldn=92t leave, but they worried about being found. =09There was just enough money for Buffy to buy herself food. It took a li= ttle time for Buffy to adjust to sleeping during the day and traveling at night= . They sometimes walked, sometimes hitch-hiked, sometimes boated across the rivers. It was not an easy journey, but they both made it to Sunnydale. =09The first place Angel went was to his apartment. He had neglected it al= most the whole time he was Angelus and was gone for a whole year in hell, but everything was the way he had left it. =09He sat on the bed, and Buffy slowly sat next to him. "The last time I w= as here with you was the happiest moment of my entire life," Buffy said and smiled. =09"But last time I was here with you," he said, "was when you came lookin= g for me. The things I said=85" =09"That wasn=92t you." Tears almost came down her cheeks. "The last time = I was here with you was when we made love. That was the most pleasurable moment = I=92ve ever felt. You couldn=92t have know what was going to happen." =09"But I killed Jenny, I tortured Giles, and you=85I did and said unthink= able things to you. I deserve to be hell right now." =09"It=92s not your fault." Gently, she kissed him on the cheek. "I=92ve g= ot to go home. But I=92ll come back later, okay?" =09After one last kiss, she left the apartment. Heading towards her house,= she past the Bronze and the cemetery. Memories flooded her head; some of good, happy times, others of painful, lonely times. =09Willow and Xander; those were her two best friends, and she had just le= ft them. Without saying anything, she had skipped town, leaving them to fight demons on their own. They were probably the two people she missed the most= . Besides Angel, that is. =09When she got to her house, she raised her hand to knock. <> she thought= , <> =09Turning around, she headed towards the school. It was totally deserted = except for the library. Without a second thought, she pushed the doors open, expecting to see Giles, Willow, Xander, and Cordelia researching some demo= n. But none of them were there. =09Within two seconds of stepping in the library, a tall, blond, muscular eighteen-year-old girl grabbed her neck and shoved her against the wall. H= er eyes pierced into Buffy=92s soul. Looking her over from head to toe, she g= ave a disgusted look. "Who the hell-" "You made a big mistake coming here," she said sharply, cold and uncaring. =09Buffy easily knocked her hand away and hit her across the face, knockin= g her on the ground. Quickly, she stood in fighting stance, preparing for the gi= rl to stand up. "What=92d you do to Giles?" =09Instantly, the girl jumped up and stood in fighting position. "Mr. Gile= s is none of your concern. You are strong." They exchanged a few punches, the g= irl tripped Buffy, knocking her over. "But I am stronger." She stood over Buffy, and Buffy kicked her in the jaw, knocking her down. = The two each scrambled up, and the girl threw Buffy into the wall. Holding her head, Buffy just sat there. Grabbing an ax, she swung at Buffy=92s head, b= ut Buffy ducked and kicked her ankle, tripping her. Grabbing the ax out of the wall, she held it up, ready to swing, but she h= eard a voice. "No, stop!" Turning around, she saw the owner of the voice. "Giles!" she cried, runnin= g over him. "Oh my God," he whispered, hugging her. The two stood there, embracing, for a few moments while each regained composure. When the girl got up, she pushed Buffy away from Giles. "Cassandra!" he yelled. "What are you doing?" "The girl," she said, "is strong. She attacked me. She must be a demon." Buffy stood up, giving Giles a confused look. "You know her?" "Yes. Buffy, this is Cassandra, the Vampire Slayer." ***** End Part 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Toni Walker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Chosen One Date: 24 Sep 1998 11:40:27 PDT Title: The Chosen One (1/?) Author: ~Toni Walker aka Bradygirl (toniwalker@hotmail.com) Distribution: Ask me first Description: Buffy/Days of Our Lives Crossover -- Buffy and the Gang travel to Salem to apprehend Spike, Dru and Angel who have traveled through a rip in reality. Rating: PG Feedback: Yes, please take note that this is my first Buffy fan fiction. Be gentle. Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's imagination. The Chosen One - A Buffy/DOOL crossover by Bradygirl “You know, we could do this the easy way--” informed Buffy Summers. “Stake. Heart. Dust. Or...” Before she could finish her monologue, the immortal vampire morphed into a hellion and snapped her head back with a punch to the face. She really hated when they did that. Her eyes drew together in anger. “That really wasn’t a nice thing to do. Now apologize. Say you’re sorry.” She loved taking all her aggression out on the inhuman. She’d actually gotten very good at it. Then a stray thought came into her head. This vamp was down right unpleasant to look at. So were most vampires, but this one was unusually ugly. Why couldn’t vampires be pretty? she wondered. Buffy shrugged at the thought. Maybe because demons weren’t meant to appeal to the mortal realm. Hey, she was beginning to sound like Giles. “That’s it! I’m spending way too much of my time in the library.” She wasn’t really speaking to anyone. It just felt right to say it out loud. As she took in her environment, she found that she was surrounded by stacks of books. “I have got to get a life. I even fight in the library.” Another vampire appeared beside the first. “Are we having a party, and you didn’t invite me? I’m crushed.” They both attacked at once but soon the second vamp split off from the first. Willow was trying to appear inconspicuous as she darted behind the card catalog, but she knew it was no use to hide from these creatures. She watched Buffy and the vampire as they circled each other like competitors in a boxing ring, except this fight was to the death not to see who would go down first. While she was distracted watching Buffy work, another vampire jumped atop the card catalog she was crouching behind. She screamed Buffy’s name but her friend was otherwise engaged. From the second floor stacks, Xander appeared above Willow holding a bag of Oreo cookies. He had come in the back entrance not knowing his friends were in the middle of a battle to the death. “Hey,” he yelled from above the vampire. “Wanna cookie?” The vampire snarled and went back to Willow. “They’re really good. You sure? You can have the rest. Am I a good guy or what?” “Xander! Stop talking to him and DO SOMETHING!” Willow was trapped with no where to go. He threw a few of the cookies at the demon. They just bounced off his chest and fell to the floor. The vampire crushed one under his boot. Without a second thought, Xander dropped the rest of the cookies down on him, grabbed the largest book he could find, an unabridged dictionary, and threw it down on the monster. “Run Willow!” Buffy performed an elaborate cartwheel, grabbed two sharply pointed stakes on her way down and threw them once she was on her feet again. The first hit it’s mark and the vamp dissolved into floating fragments. The second’s aim wasn’t as true and the wooden implement clattered on the floor next to the card catalog. Xander jumped from the second story stacks to atop the card catalog with the second vampire. He was ducking punch after punch thanking his lucky stars that he wasn’t the chosen one and didn’t have to do this night after night. He could see that Willow hadn’t run far and now had the stake in her hand. “Throw it already,” he said harshly, ducking again. “I’ll give you a cookie.. when I get a new bag.” “Don’t worry Xander. I’ve got it,” said Buffy’s confident voice from across the room. She ran up the stairs and catapulted herself landing on them both. While the vampire was scrambling to get up slipping on cookie crumbs, Willow threw Buffy the stake. The vamp was dust three seconds later. Particles of the vampire were all over Xander who had been on the bottom of the pile when the demon exploded with a poof. He shook the remains from his jacket. “Remind me *never* to be near a vampire when you do that again,” he complained. “Ugh! Vampire cooties! I think I need a shower.” “Oh, you’ll live. At least he didn’t bite you,” said Buffy straightening her shirt. “Yeah, Xander. That could have been *very bad*,” added Willow. “You’re right. Becoming a blood sucking demon isn’t high on my priority list.” “You have a priority list?” asked Willow. “Hey, I brought the cookies didn’t I? The cookies made the vampire slip which saved the day. I’m so proud of myself.” “Um. Xander. Buffy saved the day and you’re life.” “Yeah, that too. But the cookies were instrumental. You couldn’t have done it without the cookies.” “She couldn’t have done *what* without the cookies?” asked Giles walking in from the hallway. He observed the disarray of the library and sighed. “Let me guess....” “Vampires.” stated Buffy. “I was just doing what you said. You said, ‘Buffy, wait here.’ So I waited. They found me first. It wasn’t my fault.” “I know.” Giles raked a hand through his hair. “I’m afraid I have more bad news. Your work for tonight isn’t over.” “Do I need to fire up the computer?” Willow asked with glee. “No, Spike and Dru have created a portal.” Giles laid down the book in his hand and opened it to the precise spot he wanted to read. “It’s more like a rip in reality. I don’t know exactly where they’ve gone but you have to bring them back. There is no telling what harm those two could do without the slayer to protect the innocent.” “ROAD TRIP!” Xander grabbed his backpack and gathered up a few uncrushed cookies. “I’m ready.” “Yeah, me too. I want to see what a rip in reality looks like.” “You’re not going to make me go alone, are you?” Buffy batted her ‘don’t-make-me-go alone-I’m-only-sixteen’ eyelashes. “No, of course not, I ... well, since I’m the watcher I thought it only appropriate that I go.” Before the disagreement was settled, the doors of the library were blown off their hinges. Angel sauntered in, in his hand was a glowing green orb. “I’ll tell you what... You’re all going.” Angel rubbed the glowing sphere. The room was immediately consumed with an emerald radiance for ten seconds. When the next second ticked by, the room was empty. The group had disappeared. To be continued (next time... Buffy meets Mike in a most unusual way and Carrie is less than happy to see her. ) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Toni Walker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Chosen One Date: 24 Sep 1998 11:41:29 PDT Title: The Chosen One (1/?) Author: ~Toni Walker aka Bradygirl (toniwalker@hotmail.com) Distribution: Ask me first Description: Buffy/Days of Our Lives Crossover -- Buffy and the Gang travel to Salem to apprehend Spike, Dru and Angel who have traveled through a rip in reality. Rating: PG Feedback: Yes, please take note that this is my first Buffy fan fiction. Be gentle. Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not my creations. They are the products of Joss Whedon's imagination. The Chosen One - A Buffy/DOOL crossover by Bradygirl “You know, we could do this the easy way--” informed Buffy Summers. “Stake. Heart. Dust. Or...” Before she could finish her monologue, the immortal vampire morphed into a hellion and snapped her head back with a punch to the face. She really hated when they did that. Her eyes drew together in anger. “That really wasn’t a nice thing to do. Now apologize. Say you’re sorry.” She loved taking all her aggression out on the inhuman. She’d actually gotten very good at it. Then a stray thought came into her head. This vamp was down right unpleasant to look at. So were most vampires, but this one was unusually ugly. Why couldn’t vampires be pretty? she wondered. Buffy shrugged at the thought. Maybe because demons weren’t meant to appeal to the mortal realm. Hey, she was beginning to sound like Giles. “That’s it! I’m spending way too much of my time in the library.” She wasn’t really speaking to anyone. It just felt right to say it out loud. As she took in her environment, she found that she was surrounded by stacks of books. “I have got to get a life. I even fight in the library.” Another vampire appeared beside the first. “Are we having a party, and you didn’t invite me? I’m crushed.” They both attacked at once but soon the second vamp split off from the first. Willow was trying to appear inconspicuous as she darted behind the card catalog, but she knew it was no use to hide from these creatures. She watched Buffy and the vampire as they circled each other like competitors in a boxing ring, except this fight was to the death not to see who would go down first. While she was distracted watching Buffy work, another vampire jumped atop the card catalog she was crouching behind. She screamed Buffy’s name but her friend was otherwise engaged. From the second floor stacks, Xander appeared above Willow holding a bag of Oreo cookies. He had come in the back entrance not knowing his friends were in the middle of a battle to the death. “Hey,” he yelled from above the vampire. “Wanna cookie?” The vampire snarled and went back to Willow. “They’re really good. You sure? You can have the rest. Am I a good guy or what?” “Xander! Stop talking to him and DO SOMETHING!” Willow was trapped with no where to go. He threw a few of the cookies at the demon. They just bounced off his chest and fell to the floor. The vampire crushed one under his boot. Without a second thought, Xander dropped the rest of the cookies down on him, grabbed the largest book he could find, an unabridged dictionary, and threw it down on the monster. “Run Willow!” Buffy performed an elaborate cartwheel, grabbed two sharply pointed stakes on her way down and threw them once she was on her feet again. The first hit it’s mark and the vamp dissolved into floating fragments. The second’s aim wasn’t as true and the wooden implement clattered on the floor next to the card catalog. Xander jumped from the second story stacks to atop the card catalog with the second vampire. He was ducking punch after punch thanking his lucky stars that he wasn’t the chosen one and didn’t have to do this night after night. He could see that Willow hadn’t run far and now had the stake in her hand. “Throw it already,” he said harshly, ducking again. “I’ll give you a cookie.. when I get a new bag.” “Don’t worry Xander. I’ve got it,” said Buffy’s confident voice from across the room. She ran up the stairs and catapulted herself landing on them both. While the vampire was scrambling to get up slipping on cookie crumbs, Willow threw Buffy the stake. The vamp was dust three seconds later. Particles of the vampire were all over Xander who had been on the bottom of the pile when the demon exploded with a poof. He shook the remains from his jacket. “Remind me *never* to be near a vampire when you do that again,” he complained. “Ugh! Vampire cooties! I think I need a shower.” “Oh, you’ll live. At least he didn’t bite you,” said Buffy straightening her shirt. “Yeah, Xander. That could have been *very bad*,” added Willow. “You’re right. Becoming a blood sucking demon isn’t high on my priority list.” “You have a priority list?” asked Willow. “Hey, I brought the cookies didn’t I? The cookies made the vampire slip which saved the day. I’m so proud of myself.” “Um. Xander. Buffy saved the day and you’re life.” “Yeah, that too. But the cookies were instrumental. You couldn’t have done it without the cookies.” “She couldn’t have done *what* without the cookies?” asked Giles walking in from the hallway. He observed the disarray of the library and sighed. “Let me guess....” “Vampires.” stated Buffy. “I was just doing what you said. You said, ‘Buffy, wait here.’ So I waited. They found me first. It wasn’t my fault.” “I know.” Giles raked a hand through his hair. “I’m afraid I have more bad news. Your work for tonight isn’t over.” “Do I need to fire up the computer?” Willow asked with glee. “No, Spike and Dru have created a portal.” Giles laid down the book in his hand and opened it to the precise spot he wanted to read. “It’s more like a rip in reality. I don’t know exactly where they’ve gone but you have to bring them back. There is no telling what harm those two could do without the slayer to protect the innocent.” “ROAD TRIP!” Xander grabbed his backpack and gathered up a few uncrushed cookies. “I’m ready.” “Yeah, me too. I want to see what a rip in reality looks like.” “You’re not going to make me go alone, are you?” Buffy batted her ‘don’t-make-me-go alone-I’m-only-sixteen’ eyelashes. “No, of course not, I ... well, since I’m the watcher I thought it only appropriate that I go.” Before the disagreement was settled, the doors of the library were blown off their hinges. Angel sauntered in, in his hand was a glowing green orb. “I’ll tell you what... You’re all going.” Angel rubbed the glowing sphere. The room was immediately consumed with an emerald radiance for ten seconds. When the next second ticked by, the room was empty. The group had disappeared. To be continued (next time... Buffy meets Mike in a most unusual way and Carrie is less than happy to see her. ) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Black Fire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (12/?) Date: 24 Sep 1998 16:39:50 PDT Title: Kender Chaos Author: Black Fire Email:Blackfire42@hotmail.com Feedback: Yes, please. Rating: PG Spoilers: Buffy: Anything before WML1 Dragonlance: Chronicles and Legends Trilogies. Disclaimers: I own neither sets of characters and I can't afford to either. Summary: Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Fizban the Fabulous have found their way to Sunnydale. Kender Chaos Chapter 12 "I don't believe this," Buffy said after searching the area around The Bronze for the third time. They had retraced their route back from where they discovered Tasslehoff was missing. But the Kender was no where to be found. And, being the typical Kender that Tas was, that meant that he could be anywhere. "That's bad, coming from her," Xander commented. "This is serious, Xander," Giles snapped. "We have no idea what Tas is capable of. Worse, with his talent for talking aimlessly, if he shoudl run into the wrong people, there's no telling what sorts of vital information he might let slip." "Well, I say, good riddance," Cordelia said. "That... whatever-he-is is a thief and a menace/ I mean, I caught him going through my purse! There are things of vital importance in there! I'm already missing three of my favorite lipsticks. And I'm sure there's other stuff missing..." She was halted by the angry glares that were turned on her, "What?" No one said a word. Then, Buffy silently turned and resumed looking. The others followed suit until Cordelia was left alone, in the dark. * * * * * "Old man!" Spike shouted from across the room. Still asleep, Fizban didn't stir. "I say, old man!!" Drusilla lifted her head from the wizards knee and shook him awake. "Huh, wha?" he sputtered. "We have a visitor," Dru whispered. "Really? Who?" "FIZBAN!!!" "Eh? What?" the old man looked up to find a small, human-like person running towards him. Tasslehoff had wriggled out of the arms of the vampire who was holding him and set off running as soon as he saw the familiar face of his old friend. The little Kender threw his arms around Fizban in a gigantic hug. "Easy there, little one," Fizban said, confused. "Now, what was your name again?" Tas drew away from the old wizard. His face was a mixture of hurt feelings and understanding. "It's me," he squeaked, "Tasslehoff Burrfoot." "Tasslehoff?" Fizban scratched his beard in confusion. "You remember me, don't you?" Tas asked, looking innocently up at his friend. "I was the one who always found your hat. We saved Setsun the Gully Dwarf together. You were there when I broke that dragon orb. And, remember? You took Flink too..." "Hmm..., yes," Fizban inturupted, "I remember you now. You left me in a pile of chicken feathers!!" "I thought you were dead," Tas replied. "And then!" Fizban continued. "Then you had the nerve to tell me that I was dead!" "But that was before I knew who you were," the Kender explained. "It's all right, Kenderkin," Fizban smiled gently. Confusion overcame him once more, "Now who are you again?" "Tasslehoff," the Kender said slowly. "Yes, yes," the old man nodded. "And what did you say my name was?" "Fizban," Tas repeated. "Fizban, Fizban...," he scratched his beard again, "are you sure." Tas smiled and nodded emphatically. He then took a hold of the wizard's robe, "Can we go home now?" he asked, looking like a lonely child. "I miss Tanis and Caramon and Tika and the rest. And I have so many wonderful stories to tell Flint now..." "Not so fast there," Spike interupted. "Well, old man, we kept our end of the bargain, now you have to keep yours." "Bargain?" Fizban asked. "What bargain." Spike was growing impatient, "We help you find your friend, you help us, remember?" "Fizban?" Tas asked. "What's he talking about?" "Why don't you go have a look around, Tas... It's very interesting here." Fizban looked down at the Kender, his expression changed in a way only tas and a few others could have recognized. Tas grew excited, "Okay!" He wandered off. "Now what did you want me to do for you?" Fizban asked. "I want you to cure Dru," Spike said, looking over at Drusilla, who leaning against a wall. "Seems fair enough," Fizban said. "But we can't do it in here." "Why not?" Spike asked. "LOOK OUT!!" a vampire shouted. Everyone but Fizban scattered as a large steel beam came loose from a chain and fell to the ground, smashing the new table in the process. "That's why," Fizban said. "Oops!" the faint, squeaky voice of a Kender echoed from a corner of the factory. "Where do you suggest we go?" Spike asked. "Someplace out doors should work nicely," was the wizard's answer. "All right then," Spike nodded. "Let's go then. There's only a few more hours until sunrise. Someone bring the car around." He took Drusilla by the hand and lead her out. Fizban followed, calling for tas to come along. A couple other vampires also went, while others started to cleam up what was left of the table. "Spike turned around. "Just leave it!" he growled. "It was a bad place ofr a table anyway." * * * * * The Black Fire | Vote for me in the Site Fights!! Blackfire42@hotmail.com | http://www.thesitefights.com/sarina/nest2.htm http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4203 "But if they all forget me I will be here anyway, like an artifact of some lost civilization" -Vlad Dracula _The Dracula Tape_ "Don't worry. I'm not here to eat." -- Angel (IG) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: taygeta@juno.com (C. Catherine) Subject: BUFFYFIC: Chronicles #27 Date: 26 Sep 1998 15:34:58 -0700 TITLE: Chronicles of the White Knight #27 Believe Me AUTHOR: Taygeta E-MAIL: taygeta@juno.com FEEDBACK: Yes, whatever the complaint. DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me first. RATING: PG KEYWORDS: Buffy/Xander fanfic DISCLAIMER: The characters any such reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series belong to their creator, Joss Whedon, and their owners, Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions, Sanddollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. In other words, they do not belong to me. Copyright infringement not intended. ***************************** Chronicles of the White Knight #27 Believe Me By: Taygeta Xander exhaled as he stared dully around the Bronze from where he sat. Oz's band was playing and Willow was sitting at the table most close to the stage to cheer him on. Cordelia was dancing with *another* guy, the third guy he had seen with her within that hour, to the slow rock song that resonated from the group on stage. Buffy, who he had been avoiding the entire night, as she did the same, sat beside their redheaded best friend looking as bored as he was feeling. It had been a few weeks since the spell had broke, and less than coincidentally, it was the last time that they had truly met and exchanged words in what could be considered a conversation. Within that time, the less argumentary Slayerettes and even the Watcher made many attempts to unite them, but needless to say, all attempts were futile. They had all just about given up on the silent couple, and try as they might to get back to some degree of Sunnydale normalcy, they couldn't. Meetings often held in the library were awkward and surprisingly empty without a sarcastic Xanderism interjected between acts of seriousness, and the fact that Buffy was considerably being serious scared them all entirely. Pushing his glass away from him, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, narrowly missing running into the stream of teenagers coming in. A blast of less-than-warm air hit his face as he left the Bronze, the music fading with every step of his tread. The near-June nights were surprisingly cold for the usually warm-climate, but the weather was among the few items of the day that didn't bother him. Clutching his jacket tighter, he continued to head towards home, all the while realizing that he was being followed. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Buffy glanced at the empty table where Xander had sat a few minutes ago and sighed as she wondered how long this 'give him time' concept was going to last. It had been awhile since she had talked to him, they hadn't even bothered with school hallway 'hi's. When they did meet, it was so awkward that they would just mutter inaudible greetings and walk away, much like they had done when Oz and Willow had trailed her to his table. Looking around the Bronze with its nominally happy teenagers, she suddenly felt tired of the old scene and stood up, "Will…you mind if I bag?" The redhead looked at her disappointedly, "Buffy, come on, you've hardly had a free night since…well…just stay and have fun." "Fun's not exactly optional for me, right now, why does it matter if I go or if I stay?" She answered, "I know you, Oz, and Cordy are trying with the happy and all, and I appreciate the effort, but can we just not right now?" Willow smiled softly, "If you want to go, Buffy, it's up to you. I wouldn't want you to stay if you're not having fun." "Thanks," she said as she grabbed her jacket and gave her friend's hand a squeeze, "I'll see you tomorrow?" "Definitely," Willow said with a nod. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A few blocks away from the teen dance club, the footsteps continued behind him and he swore under his breath as he realized that he was lacking in both cross and stake. Glancing around the dark streets of Sunnydale, he prayed to find some weaponry and soon, as he quickened his gait to equal that of the one behind him. Finally, he found a jagged piece of flat wood from a cheap, broken crate on the floor and dived for it. He clutched tightly to the awful-excuse for wooden-vampire weaponry; despite that, he was acquiring many-a splinter from the even sorrier-excuse for wood. Defensively, he turned around, his heart beating a mile-a-minute. "Hello," said Angelus blinkingly, "Long time no see…White Knight." "I don't have time for this, okay, Angelus?" Xander said bitterly, "Just tell me what you want and get your sorry-face out of my - " "Tsk. Tsk," the vampire replied with a chuckle, "You aren't exactly in a position to make demands, Xander. I mean, I'm a solitary kind of fellow…y'know me…old, brooding sack-of-potatoes me, but sometimes it helps to have a little company." He heard himself intake breath as Angel's counterparts unveiled themselves from the masks of shadows and gulped as he weakly dropped the wood in his hand, knowing, it was all-downhill from here…or not. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "You'd think we lived in Antarctica," muttered Buffy as she clutched her jacket tighter. Then, she paused as she looked at the coat that enclosed her and realized that it wasn't hers after all, but the one that Xander gave her on the night they broke up. Shaking her head to clear her mind of him, she continued her tread down the dark Sunnydale streets and wondered why it was that the prosperous town couldn't hold well with the city street lamps. She was about to continue on her straight path, when she heard a yelp-like noise in one of the alleys of the buildings. Pulling a stake from the coat pocket she carefully walked into the back street and wondering if there was anybody stupid enough to take the Bronze back way home. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The salty aftertaste of the first contact of blood lingered on his tongue when the ringed-wearing fist of a vampire gashed his lower lip. His arms flailed uselessly in an attempt to defend himself as the hands and the fists hammered into his face. With every blow, the world seemed to spin uncertainly around him as it grew dimmer and dimmer… *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Hey, boys, where's the party?" a voice called out from the distance. The vampires paused from their attack and looked up at the petite blonde that approached them. They all looked at each other and grinned before a majority walked slowly towards her, the few others resuming their initial attack as commanded. Her fist connected with the fanged-face of the first vampire, who taken off-guard, allowed the thrust of the stake into his heart to be quick and easy. The others backed away in slight caution as they realized this girl to be the dreaded slayer that caused their leaders constant bickering. Then as they glanced back at their adamant leader, they continued towards her. One-by-one, they began to fall, as the ashes flew in the cold night wind when each demonic-possessed heart was pierced with the sharp apex of Buffy's stake. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The hitting stopped and the pain numbed by their hits, now, resonated everywhere. The world continued its whirlwind - spinning, spinning, spinning - as the darkness loomed near. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Angel," she said softly when those that remained ran to save their immortality. His head lifted from the body that remained on the floor with his trademarked wicked grin, "Hello, lover, I hear you're up to your old tricks again." In her distance, she gasped at the unmoving body on the floor, and she breathed heavily as she looked at him with newfound anger, "I could say the same for you." "You could," he said nodding as he stood up and walked towards her, "I see that lost time hasn't changed the usual results." "Well, it pays to be consistent," she replied and she took a deep breath and continued, "What's with the games? Can't we just cut to the chase? It's just you and me…your ignorant lackeys have scurried off to coward-land or are a little bit ashy, there's no one else. Everything's strictly neutral." "Oh, I don't know, slayer, seems that your…um…" he glanced at the figure on the ground, "White Knight's still around…or near being around, anyway." Instinctively, she ran towards the body, pushed the grinning vampire aside, and kneeled down beside the motionless form, "Oh my God, Xander." She pressed her fingers against his neck and felt a faint pulse. "He's alive, but…uh…it wasn't exactly how I planned it. He was suppose to be on your doorstep, bruised, battered, and…well…dead, but, um, close enough, don't you think?" "Damn you," she spat bitterly, "I swear to God, I'm going to kill you…I'm going to see you dead." "Temper, temper," he said with a laugh, "Maybe you will…maybe you won't, we'll just see about that." "I will, believe me," she replied. "Oh, I believe you, slayer…I believe you're going to try your *darn* hardest," he mocked and then his face grew serious, "The battle will come in time, and when it's time, you'll know. Believe *me*," and with that, he sprinted away, his dark coat trailing like a cape behind him. "Soon, Angel…very soon," Buffy said as he disappeared into the night and she turned to Xander who was slowly coming out of his unconscious state. "Xander…Xander…" she whispered as she looked at his blood-streaked and bruised face with eyes of concern. He opened his lesser swollen eye and felt her hand clasp his and with a very weak squeeze, he said in a shallow breath, "I love you," and then her face faded as the world succumbed to the black. **********End of #27*********** ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Toni Walker" Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Chosen One (2/?) Date: 26 Sep 1998 15:46:53 PDT The Chosen One part 2 by Bradygirl An emerald glow penetrated every inch of the landscape above some nameless city they couldn't identify. Giles knew they had passed through the portal, but no one could really see where they were headed. They just knew they were falling toward a blip on a live map that flew at them at a break-neck speed. The group landed in awkward positions on a grassy area near an enclosure of buildings. Buffy was the first to regain consciousness. She brushed a colorful leaf from her face and gazed at the sky. It wasn't exactly blue, but it wasn't other worldly either. That was a relief, but to her dismay darkness came swiftly as twilight descended on the city. Buffy knew that twilight meant vampires. "Oh, my backside," moaned Buffy as her pain became apparent. Xander got up from behind Buffy and couldn't help but look at her assets. "And may I say, what a nice backside it is." He couldn't wipe the smile that spread across his face. "Xander!" the girls yelled in sync. "Hey, I'm just stating a fact. So sue me!" He threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "Giles, aren't there easier ways to pass through rips in reality?" Buffy really wasn't looking forward to the trip home if she had to fall that far again. It must have been over fifty feet. Who could fall fifty feet and live? "From what I've researched, yes. Angel must have wanted us to suffer." Giles groaned as he rose to his feet. "I don't think my back will ever be the same." "Thanks for sharing, watch-meister." Xander patted Giles on the back and he flinched a little. Suddenly, Xander realized something. The chorus of voices yelling at him wasn't limited to only Buffy and Willow. He could have sworn he'd heard Cordelia's voice, but that was impossible. Cordelia wasn't there when Angel zapped them to this place. The sound of twigs snapping made him turn on his heel. Cordelia was about ten feet from the rest of the group lying in a hay bale. Leaves and hay stuck this way and that out of her wet hair and clothing. She was a shambled mess. "You have some nerve Xander Harris!" she lamented brushing the dirt from her knees. "Looking at other girl's behi...well... looking at OTHER GIRLS, PERIOD! "My Cordelia, you have never looked worse. Mighty unbecoming. And may I ask-- pray tell, why is your hair wet? Did you hit a rain cloud on the way down?" "You sure know how to sweet talk a girl, dork breath!" "Are you going to tell us? Or are you going to keep us in suspense?" asked Xander nicely. "What?" Cordelia really had no idea what the lame brain was talking about. Maybe he just liked to hear himself speak. She knew so many people who were self involved like that. "Your hair?" "Oh, that. I was at the salon getting my nails and hair done." Xander watched Cordy take a deep breath and then waited for the selfish little witch to get her let-me-tell-you-what-happened-to-ME party started. "Phillip, you know Phillip, my hairdresser? Well, he wasn't there. That's just my luck, isn't it? So I had to settle for this frumpy old woman named Doris. I thought, God, what a horrid name. Couldn't her parents have picked something better? Sheesh. Anyway, she was going to cut my hair. Then I looked at her split ends and about died. Why was I letting her work on my hair when she looked like that? She had split ends from hell." "Cut to the chase Cordelia. We don't have all day," muttered Buffy. "LIKE I was saying before I was so *rudely* interrupted," Cordelia made sure to put emphasis on rudely. "I was getting my hair washed... Did you know there is still conditioner in here?" she said as she pulled at her black locks. "It better be the leave in kind." They had all gathered in a group around Cordelia once they realized she had been transported along with the rest of them. "Oh, my God!" cried Cordelia once she spied her reflection in the store window. "Why didn't you tell me I looked like this." She left them all and tromped into a place named Ballistixs. She poked her head out the door for a fraction of a second. "You don't happen to have a hair dryer, do you?" "No, sorry, not on me," mocked Xander. "Does that girl think of anyone besides herself?" asked Buffy. "Well... once. I think. But she didn't do it consciously. I think it was an accident," added Willow. "Now to the issue at hand," Giles took control since he was the only adult. Not to mention the fact that he was the watcher. "It appears Angel has vanished." "That's a *good* thing, right?" Xander and Angel had never gotten along too well, even when he was a decent vampire. Now that he was soul-less, Xander hated him even more. "No, Xander. It's not a good thing," said Giles as he cleaned his glasses. "We have to bring the vampires back to our own reality before they hurt anyone else in this place." The watcher motioned to the buildings around them. They were in the middle of some Halloween-ish display in the center of the enclosure. "Giles, it's called a mall. We have them back in our world too. You know, you *shop* there." Buffy couldn't resist the temptation to taunt her watcher. A slayer had so little fun these days. "You should try it sometime." Giles glared at Buffy, but she only smiled. He hated when she didn't take his assignments seriously. Today there were more lives at stake than her own. "Does anyone have a clue where we are?" asked Xander. "Oh, I do, I know," chimed in Willow raising her hand. She slowly brought it down self consciously. "We're in Salem." "How did you deduce that Sherlock?" said Xander in a snide tone. "It says right there on the wall, Salem Place. If this is Salem Place, then it's only logical to assume that this is Salem. Right? Or not right?" Willow's voice started out confident but the statement ended in a timid question. "Nice work, Willow," complimented Giles. "At least we know where we are. That's a start." A few minutes later Cordelia came out of Ballistixs wearing an entirely new outfit complete with new shoes and matching purse. Her hair was shining and appearance, flawless. "Well, don't you look nice. Doesn't feel good to get dressed up once in a while?" mocked Xander to Cordelia. "The shoes weren't exactly what I was looking for, but I guess they'll have to do," she said turning her foot this way and then that examining the loafer . "Cordelia, how did you pay for that," asked Giles. Out of her small purse she pulled a credit card. "I never leave home without it." "Well, that is promising. Very promising indeed. At least we know we're still in our own reality where we can use our own money." Giles took a deep breath and continued. "Now, let's find the vampires and get back to Sunnydale." "Yeah, team!" yelled Xander. "Giles, once we find Spike, Drucilla and Angel.... how do we get back home?" Buffy knew that the slaying was the easy part. The hard part would be finding the way home... if there was one. "Click your heels together three times and say..." Xander did his best impression of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. "There's no place like home. There's no place like home." Willow cast Xander a troubled expression. This was no time for fun and games. This was real life. Real life where real people could die. Real people like them. "Why don't we split up into teams," Willow suggested. "Giles and I will go this way. Xander and Cordelia will go that way...." "Hey, why do I get stuck with the ice princess? Can't I go with Buffy?" complained Xander. "...and Buffy will go this way. We'll all meet back here in an hour. How's that sound?" "Fine with me," said Buffy. "In an hour then." The three groups split off in different directions. Buffy didn't mind being alone. She slayed alone all the time. But this was a new and unfamiliar territory. She had a wiggy feeling about it already. Everything about this place was wiggy. No one was walking around. Where was everyone? Before she knew it she was down on the waterfront. "Hey, where did this pier come from?" she said to to no one. The pier had practically materialized in front of her. One minute she was in the mall and now she was on the waterfront. This was very weird. "Oh, this is definitely wiggin' me out." To her right was a small establishment called Brady's Pub. Maybe someone in there knew something. As she approached a blond man appeared at the door as if by magic. "Woah, where did he come from? This is definitely not reality. People and places just don't appear and disappear like this," whispered Buffy to herself. The blond man was about to enter the pub when a man ambushed him. It wasn't a man. That was a vampire. She'd recognize his ugly demon-like face anywhere. Buffy flew into action, literally. She performed a flying kick into the vampire's back, but he still held onto the blond man who seemed utterly shocked by the vampire's appearance. "What do you want?" he asked the vampire. "Here, take my wallet." "Buddy, I don't want your wallet. I want your blood." The vampire started to descend to the man's throat revealing his sharp razor-like teeth. "Let him go," spit out Buffy through clinched teeth. She hated seeing the innocent tormented by vampires. It really ticked her off. "Get out of here," the man yelled. "I think he's gonna kill me." "Not if I have anything to say about it, he won't." Buffy slammed her fist into a picket fence.Where it came from she didn't know, and at the moment, she didn't care either. The white wooden slats became very useful stakes. Probably not sharp enough, but they'd do in a pinch, and this was a pinch. She ran at them both, and bounded through the air piercing the vampire through the back. The stake stabbed him through the soft flesh of his back. The momentum of her falling forward pushed the wooden instrument straight into his heart. The vampire dissolved in a cloud of smoke. Buffy forward momentum hadn't stopped after killing the vamp. She ended up tackling the man and they both landed in a heap on the ground. He on his back and she on top of him. Finally she got a good look at his face. I know him, she said to herself. She stared at him with a sense of wonderment. "I know you. You're Mike, right?" "Have we met?" grunted Mike. Buffy got off him and he stood again. "I'm sure I would have remembered such a beautiful girl." "Ah, what a sweet thing to say. No wonder all the girls are crazy about you. No, we've never met." She searched her brain for a reasonable answer. "Someone... someone... pointed you out to me once." Whew! Well, at least she wasn't lying. It was sort of true. "And you remembered me? I'm flattered," said Mike as he brushed the dust off his jacket. "Are you new to Salem?" "Yeah, really new. I just... dropped in." Mike put his hand on the side of Buffy's face, and she thought she'd faint. She'd always heard that teenagers had raging hormones. Well, hers were raging right now. "That's quite a nasty cut you have there. Why don't you come over to the hospital with me and I'll patch that right up." "Sure," she said dreamily. "Anything you say. Are we going to University Hospital?" "That's right. I'm Chief of Staff there now." "I know," she said without thinking. "Can I ask you something?" Buffy nodded. "What happened to that guy?" "He ran off," she improvised. "I thought maybe he did. But for a minute, it looked like he dissolved into dust." Buffy laughed. "That's ridiculous. Your eyes must have been playing tricks on you." ***************** Carrie Reed stood a few feet away from Mike watching him and the cute blond girl talking. What was he doing with her, she wondered. Carrie hadn't been able to get Mike off her mind for weeks. Or had it been years? Why had it taken her so long to realize her feelings for him. Sometimes she felt so clueless. Like someone who knew it all was holding something back from her. She ducked back into the shadows as the two of them walked down the street and faded into the fog wafting off the pier. From behind her a hand came out from the darkness and closed over her mouth. "Hello, luv," cooed Spike. "Has Buffy stolen your boyfriend? Well, he is your boyfriend, isn't he? Even if you won't acknowledge it or accept it. I know all about you Carrie Brady Reed. I wonder what your husband would say if he knew that his Carrie-warrie was lusting after her best friend. I have an idea. Why don't we find out." Spike drug Carrie into the shadows and they both disappeared into the night. To be continued...... ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: taygeta@juno.com (C. Catherine) Subject: BUFFYFIC: Cursed #4 Date: 27 Sep 1998 01:40:27 -0700 TITLE: Cursed #4 The Hope of Possibilities AUTHOR: Taygeta E-MAIL: taygeta@juno.com FEEDBACK: Yes, whatever the complaint. DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me first. RATING: PG-13 DESCRIPTION: Someone's out to kill Angel...they're cursed...it's a whole curse concept. PRE-"Surprise" and "Innocence," so Buffy and Angel are still together. DISCLAIMER: The characters any such reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series belong to their creator, Joss Whedon, and their owners, Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions, Sanddollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. In other words, they do not belong to me. Copyright infringement not intended. ***************************** Cursed #4 The Hope of Possibilities Idea by: Slayer01 Written by: Taygeta "Can't we just uncurse her?" Xander inquired when Buffy came back into the room, Angeless, "I mean, there's gotta be a spell, right, to counter the other spell?" "Giles?" the slayer asked as they all looked at the Watcher hopefully. "I - I'll check my books, but I have to admit, I haven't heard much about the Tidier curse. I didn't even know that Angel was the vampire involved. I thought the deed to kill had occurred and the Tidiers had been set free from their hex, but I suppose my initial thoughts are wrong," he said as he pulled volumes from the shelves. Willow sat in front of the computer and typed in Tidier. Her face scrunched in thought as she scrolled down, "Oh my God…oh my God…" They turned to her and behind her, surrounded the small screen. Buffy glanced at her red-headed friend, "What? What's wrong?" "This site has excerpts from the actual diaries of some of the hexed," she replied, "Listen to this…" *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I am the first of the Tidiers to face this, I suppose, but as the first to be cursed, it is not a privileged rite. I am but human and cannot kill that which is innocent…I do not even believe I could kill that which is guilty. Soul-encumbered he is now and thus he shall remain for I cannot even begin to try to destroy that which no longer bows under the control of the heartless and cruel Angelus. Though it maybe the same body, 'tis not the same spirit inhabited. How does one live their life with the knowledge that doom is looming overhead? How does one live their life knowing destiny is falling into the world of the gone and the mad? Moreover, can that state even be considered as even the slightest portion of the living realm? I think not, although I wish not to think, as I wish not to be mad, as I wish to live and dream as others do, but sadly 'tis not my choice to make. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "William Tidier was found with a gunshot bullet to the head a few days after his last entry," sighed Xander and he shook his head, "I guess, he found the control he wanted with his life." "Yeah, the control to make that life go away. I mean, imagine the choice they had to go through. Either they killed someone that they didn't believe was at fault or go mad trying," Buffy said and she turned to Giles, "I can't let that girl do that…either or, there has to be a cure." The Watcher took a deep breath and nodded, "If there is, we shall find it. Now, you take those books over there, Willow, fiddle with that god-awful machinery if you wish, and Xander - " "Just call me Book Guy," he said sitting beside a stack of books and opened the first one on top. "All right," Giles said as he sat down and began to read the tiny print of the dusty leather-bound volume. Buffy turned the first few pages and stopped as she glanced at her Watcher, "Giles?" "Yes?" he asked looking up. "Y-you don't think she'd do anything…do you?" Buffy asked worriedly, "Y'know, like take on the ancestral act of being non-living?" He blinked and thought, "Oh, God…s-she must highly unstable if she knows…um…Go." "Consider me gone," she said as she grabbed her bag and headed out of the library like a fury. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Leifa roamed the dark streets of Sunnydale, it was still a few hours until sunup, and she could feel a certain evil atmosphere about, stronger than it had been when she come during the day. This place was obviously not your average quiet neighborhood. "Hey little girl," a voice said in the dark alley of one of the buildings. "Speak of the devil," she muttered under her breath as she walked passed the alley. "Hey, I was talking to you," the gruff voice announced as she felt her arm being grasped by a slimy, dirty hand. "Yeah…well, talk this," she replied as she elbowed his stomach and kicked him to the floor. He glared at her before he stood up and walked away muttering, "What a crazy bitch…" "I see you handled that pretty well," Buffy said coming from behind her. "Slayer," Leifa said in surprise as she saw the blonde come behind her. "I have a name, you know," she immediately prompted blinkingly. Leifa nodded and said with raised eyebrows, "Buffy…right…" Buffy frowned, "Well, don't wear it out…" "Sorry, it hasn't exactly been the best of days," she replied, "I, uh, had a mission and was about to proceed with it without much of a conscience, and that failed when I gained the necessary conscience." "So, you know?" she said looked at her softly. "Yes, your boyfriend's cursed, I'm cursed, it's a cursed world," she replied, "but as I see it, your soulidified boyfriend got the better end of the stick." "Well, I'm not here to debate who's got the better curse," Buffy said, "I'm here to tell you that whatever happens, I don't want you to go about ending anything." Leifa looked at her carefully, "You think I'm going to kill myself?" "Yeah, I think you're very capable of it," she said straighforwardly, "It's either that or killing my guy and I can't really let you do that." "You'd rather have me go mad than to see your boyfriend dead?" "No, I'd rather that *neither* happen. I'd rather have you be a normal teenager doing without the whole 'killing because of my curse' concept *and* have my boyfriend keep his soul-bearing undeadness." "I'm sorry, Buffy, but it's one or the other, there's never going to be a both," Leifa replied and began to walk away. "Hey," the slayer said as she pulled her back with a jerk, "That's it?! You're going to give up?! Kill yourself or go mad?" "What makes you think I'm not going to kill him?" "Because you would have done it already! You would have trailed us to find his apartment and probably attack him during the day!" "So I'm not going to kill him - I can't kill him - but I can't kill myself and I don't want to go mad, but it's not like I have much of an alternative, what do you expect from me?! You don't even know me!" "Maybe not, Leifa," she replied, "but I don't want you to die or go mad. I know what it's like to have death looming over your head all the time, okay? It's not pretty. As strong as you may be, as much as you are a fighter, it's still there. So, maybe I don't know you, so maybe I can't really understand what's going in your head right now, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let your nightmares become reality." ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Aglx@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: My Past, Your Future (1/?) Date: 27 Sep 1998 16:58:43 EDT Title: My Past, Your Future (1/?) Author: AnGeL X (Aglx@aol.com) Distrbution: Just Ask! Spoilers: Takes place after Becoming Rating: PG-13, language Description: I'm not giving anything away. Deal with it! Disclaimer: Catherine and some of the story ideas are mine. I own nothing that's really Buffy, never will, don't sue. Feedback: I live for it. This is a new story for me, while I wait for Love's Revival to go through the finished editing stages. ~ ~ ~ ~ Step by step, her long black hair swayed back and forth. Glistening at times in the light from the few street lamps in the area. Her short black skirt constantly riding up to a height even she knew was too short for the neighborhood she was walking in, but it was too late. Half way to her destination, and already late, she didn't have time to go back and change. Hoping no one would spot her alone on the street, she continued on, walking as fast as she could without standing out. A hand shot out of the alley on her right and wrapped itself around her mouth, pulling her into the pitch black area. He head smacked up against the brick wall and her eyes flew wide open, catching just the slightest bit of her attacker's face. The street lamps didn't hit this area any better than they did the actual street and his face was, for the most part, shadowed. "Don't you move. Just do what I say, and maybe I'll let you live." Tears streaming down her cheeks and obstructing her vision, she managed a whimper agreeing to his terms. Like she had much of a choice. A car started down the street but her back was to the direction it was coming from. The man peeked around the corner and cursed under his breath. Grabbing the woman's arm tightly and ripping her from the wall and down the alley way, the man tried to escape the police car starting down the street. The woman struggled to keep up with him as he dragged her behind him. She didn't want to think about what he'd do if she fell. The stiletto heels she was wearing weren't helping any either. Pretty sure she already twisted both ankles, she continued to struggle behind him, unable to scream behind the hand that stayed clamped around her mouth. After safely making it to another alley, at least three blocks away, the man slowed down and threw her up against another brick wall. "Now, where were we?" He said, with a smile that covered his face. "Is this the best you could do?" A tall woman with short dark hair walked over, gracefully stumbling on each step. Her face too, was shadowed by the non-existent light in the alley. Only the moon gave the effect of their silhouettes. "She's perfect. Young, beautiful, everything he wants." "Whatever. Just don't hurt her. If we bring in damaged property, we'll be dusted by dawn." The woman stayed back, leaning up against the adjacent building. "Relax. I'm just going to...break her in." "You do that, and I'll kill you myself." "Oh yeah, that's right. Your sole purpose is ruining all my fun." "A girl's gotta get her kicks somehow." The woman still pinned against the wall with the man's hand across her mouth just watched the two in their discussion. She tried to focus on their faces through the tears in her eyes. The woman with short hair looked like her face was deformed somehow but neither could make eye contact or focus on eachother's faces in the light. "Well, little lady. Looks like you get to go to the boss, brand new. It's a shame, but I'd actually like to live to at least a hundred and well, I don't think that'll happen otherwise." He grabbed her neck with his free hand and pulled her towards the street. The woman with the short brown hair took a look around the area and then threw open the sewer drain in the middle of the street. The man followed closely behind and tossed the girl down first. She was startled by it and landed face down in the disgusting water. Her captors followed in after and quickly picked her up as to avoid her escape. "Move!" The man ordered and pushed the girl forward through the ankle high water. After walking for about ten minutes, the stopped at a staircase leading up. The brunette woman went up first and lifted the grate covering the hole. The girl was pushed up after. Once at the top, the brunette caught her and dragged her towards another room. The man following after putting the grate back in it's rightful place. After a glance at the young girl's face the woman suddenly burst out laughing. "What?" The guy asked as he walked up to the two women in front of him. "Damn, Jason, what the hell is the matter with you? You caught a Slayer! And you didn't even know it!" She grabbed the arm of the girl and spun her around for him to see. Grabbing the long black hair of their capture, she pulled the wig off revealing the short blond hair of the Slayer. ~ ~ ~ ~ What will happen next? You'll just have to wait and see. But I won't send anything more until I get some feedback! -Michelle ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Aglx@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: Your Past, My Future (2/?) Date: 29 Sep 1998 01:16:15 EDT Title: My Past, Your Future (2/?) Author: AnGeL X (Aglx@aol.com) Distrbution: Just Ask! Spoilers: Takes place after Becoming Rating: PG-13, language Description: Guess what? I'm not doing a love story! Ha! This is pure and simple fun, revenge. ( : Disclaimer: Plot Mine. Characters, (well all but Trazor) Mine! I own nothing that's really Buffy, never will, don't sue. Feedback: I live for it. This is a new story for me, while I wait for Love's Revival to go through the finished editing stages. Thanks to all those that did send feedback. I knew there had to be at least one of you. "A Slayer? How the hell do you know." "We're...old friends." "Hello Sheila. Guess I should have killed you when I had the chance." "Buffy. You never had a chance to kill me. Aren't you supposed to be dead though?" "Supposed to be. But I'm not." Buffy threw a right hook at Sheila's face and hit her, but it had no effect. The male vamp tried to grab Buffy from behind but she kicked him in the knee, hard enough to almost break his leg. "Oh, crap. I can't believe I fell for a Slayer's trap," he moaned and stumbled away from her. "Don't be so surprised. I knew you didn't have the brains for it." Buffy kicked him in the stomach and he fell to his knees. She promptly kicked him in the face, throwing him to the ground. Sheila grabbed both of Buffy's arms and held them tightly behind her back. "Sorry, Buff. You're not going to win this time." Pushing her forward, she continued into the other room where she'd present her findings to her master. Buffy barely struggled against her. She was planning something, but Sheila didn't know what. "Trazor, Master, we brought you someone." "Really? It better be good." With his back to them, he motioned for them to enter with his hand as he fumbled through a book. "How about a Slayer." "Ooh, a Slayer." Turning around quickly, his demonic red eyes locked onto Buffy's. A smile curled onto his lips while he looked her over. His eyes began to glow to an even brighter red and so did Buffy's. Her body went stiff, her eyes glowing brightly with Trazor's. He had her in a trance, and held her there, frozen. "Hello, Buffy. We've never met before, but I've heard about you. I'm Trazor, your worst nightmare and your soon-to-be killer. Inside, Buffy was fighting to break his control on her. She had to fight against his hold on her, if her plan was ever going to work. Being caught by his minions was part of the plan, but she didn't expect them to live this long. They should have been killed in the alley. Now, if she didn't break free, she'd be dead. "I presume you didn't harm her? Her being a Slayer and all, right?" "Of course not Master," the man said limping into the large cathedral-like room, pushing away a glare from Sheila as he entered. "Good. I want her at her best for the change." < Change! I have go to get out of this! > Buffy focused all her energy and strength on regaining control. Moments of struggle was finally rewarded when his hold on her was broken. She struck out with her right foot and kicked Trazor across the room. Then, hitting Sheila in the face with a hard backhand as she tried to intervene. Buffy pulled a small wooden stick out from behind her back. < Like I could really fit a stake into this outfit? > It wasn't a stake, but it would do. She threw it at the male vampire starting after her now. It hit him solidly in the heart and her exploded into Buffy's favorite sight at the end of the day. Dust. Searching the room for another weapon, Buffy scrambled, kicking Sheila in the face when she tried to stand up again. Trazor stood up again and raised both his hands up into the air. "Stop!" Buffy froze, as did Sheila. Both turned their heads to him unable to move their feet or the rest of their bodies. "That's enough, Slayer. You've had your fun." Dropping one arm to point at Sheila, Trazor cast a wicked stare upon his minion. "Get her!" Sheila quickly rose to her feet and grabbed Buffy by the back of the neck with one hand and holding both her arms behind her back with the other. Buffy still had very little control over her body as Sheila tossed her to Trazor's feet. "There you are Master." "Good. Now, let's see what damage a Slayer can do as a demon. Shall we?" He reached down and lifted Buffy up into the air by her hair She whimpered and tried to reach up to him, but her hands were held at her side by some unknown force. "Yes, lets." Trazor pulled Buffy's neck up to his mouth and slowly bit in. Savoring every drop, he drank from her slowly, trying not to take too much. Buffy fought with all her might, but it was useless. She had no control over her body, but she still felt the pain. Every bit of it as Trazor's sharp fangs penetrated her neck. Too many horrible memories flooded back to her as her life was slowly taken away by yet another vampire Master. When she thought she couldn't last much longer, that her life had already been taken from her, and all her love sucked into Hell with Angel, she still went on with her duties. She was the Slayer and she wasn't about to let the world go to hell because of her problems. With Angel as the replacement for all the people in the world in Hell, and her Watcher in Sunnydale, Buffy was forced to accept the help of yet another demon: Whistler. He told her this kill wouldn't be easy. That these vampires weren't in any way ordinary. The strengths they possessed were far too great for one to handle. But Buffy, being stubborn as usual, refused to take that and promised him that she'd take care of it. < Me and my pride. > That night, she'd get picked up by a couple of minions and slay all but one and use the survivor to take her to Trazor. That was the original plan. Now, she was falling to the ground after Trazor took away just enough blood to keep her on the very edge of consciousness. He bend down and cut open his wrist with a long sharp black nail. Then, smothering Buffy's mouth and nose with the blood until she had no choice but to drink. She choked on the blood that she inhaled. No, this definitely was not how the plan was supposed to work out. Just when she began to drink for her own pleasure, Trazor pulled back his hand and left her lying on the ground. She was dead, but she was alive. A new life had filled her, but there was something wrong. Being the Slayer left her different from most when they went through the change. ~~~ Feedback is the key to more parts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Ian and Tiff" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Masquerade - 1/1 by Tiffany Date: 29 Sep 1998 00:06:38 -0700 Title: Masquerade - 1/1 Author: Tiffany Gregg E-Mail: iangr@msn.com Distribution: If you like; just let me know, please. Rating: PG-13 Spoiler Warning: Thru B2 Feedback: Would be most appreciated Summary: Buffy goes to a Halloween party at the Bronze and meets a stranger, or is he? Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, FOX and Mutant Enemy. I am making no money in writing this and mean no copyright infringement is intended. Authors note: This is a Fluff/Song-Fic piece. Also, the song quoted in this piece is "I can love you like that" by 'All-4-One'. ========== Masquerade By: Tiffany E-Mail me at: iangr@msn.com Several days before Halloween - The Bronze "I don't know, Willow." the Slayer was saying "I'm just not in 'date-mode' right now." "I understand, having your boyfriend return from Hell, then leave town can have that effect on someone. Gee, did I just say that." Willow replied a little meekly. "Sorry, Buffy." "No prob, Will. Don't worry about it. But just so you know, it was a 'mutual' dump sort of thing." "So, you still haven't answered my question. Are you going to meet us at the Bronze for the big Halloween party Saturday night?" the net girl asked trying to get the conversation back on track. "Sure, why the heck not. Unless of course there isn't some sort of prophecy or something that I have to avert first." the Slayer responded half joking, but yet half serious. "Good, I'm glad" Willow responded "What you need is to have fun. Who knows, maybe you'll meet some mysterious stranger and he'll sweep you off your feet." "This is Sunnyhell, Will. Fat chance of that happening. And besides....." Buffy and Willow were unaware that they were being watched by someone lurking in the shadows across the room. His preternatural hearing had allowed him to divine on their conversation without being noticed. He had heard enough and smiled as he took one last look at the Slayer before drifting off into the night. He needed to get busy, he had plans to make. ============ Halloween Night - The Bronze The Bronze was bustling with activity when Buffy arrived. She blushed a little at the look that the bouncer at the door gave her as she went by. Maybe dressing of Seven-of-Nine from Star Trek, Voyager wasn't such a good idea. She wondered how she let Xander talk her into it. But he did have a few good points, if she had to fight any vamps she could move easily in it and if they were all turned into their Halloween costumes again, she could still kick some serious booty! She made her way through the crowd and over to the table when the Scooby-Gang was sitting. Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordellia were already there. "Hey, Buffy" Willow said cheerily "I'm so glad that you came. Great costume." Buffy was feeling a little uncomfortable being the odd man at the table. As if he could sense her feelings, Xander instinctively said "Okay Summers, lets go boogie down." Buffy and Xander had been dancing for about 10 minutes when a hand tapped Xander shoulder. He stopped dancing and turned around to see who had tapped him. The stranger who stood before him held his hand out to Buffy and said "May I have this dance?" Buffy stared for a minute at the site before her. The man asking her to dance was dressed as Zorro. He was dressed all in black from his leather boots and pants to his silk shirt and cape save for his red silk cummerbund. He wore a black mask over his eyes and he had a wide brimmed black had pulled down low on his forehead. When her breath returned to her, Buffy said "Yes." The man bowed to her and led her further into the dance floor. As if on que, the dance floor thinned out and a slow song started playing. They read you Cinderella You hoped it would come true That one day your prince charming would come rescue you You like romantic movies And you never will forget the way you felt when Romeo kissed Juliet And all this time that you've been waiting You don't have to wait no more 'Zorro' took Buffy in his arms and started dancing, never once removing his eyes from hers. Buffy was mesmerized by the man who was holding her. His touch was electric and her heart raced at the feelings it was provoking in her. I can love like that I would make you my world Move heaven and earth if you were my girl I would give you my heart Be all that you need Show you your everything that's precious to me If you give me a chance I can love you like that Buffy's mind was swimming with the sensations that were coursing through her. Unknown to her, the man who held her was having similar feelings. He should have never come back here, but the urge to see her again was overwhelming. He didn't understand it, nor did he try. When he'd seen her and heard that she would be here on this night, the desire to hold her in his arms had been too much. I'd never make a promise I don't intend to keep So when I say forever, forever's what I mean I aint no Casanova but I swear this much is true I'll be holding nothin back when it comes to you You dream of love that's ever lasting Well baby open up your eyes The eyes that held her captivated were like fathomless black pools. Buffy wanted to sink into them, let them drowned out her world. Here in his arms, this 'strangers' arms she felt at peace as she gazed longingly into those eyes. At the back of her mind, she felt the slightest sense of dejavu, of recognition. But those thoughts were quickly quelled. I can love like that I would make you my world Move heaven and earth if you were my girl I would give you my heart Be all that you need Show you your everything that's precious to me If you give me a chance I can love you like that The arms that held her tightened slightly and pulled her in closer. She felt her knees weaken a little at the nearness of him. The cool silk of his clothes were a sharp contrast to the fire of his touch. His scent was unique, but yet oddly familiar. It was a very male musk with a hint of what she could only describe as earth and damp grass. Her senses were on overload. If you want tenderness, I got tenderness And see through to the heart of you If you want a man who will understand You don't have to look very far Just then, he pulled her even closer and nuzzling her neck and caressing her back with a lovers touch. All other sounds and sights faded from Buffy's senses. It was if they were the only two people in the room. He brushed little kisses all along her neck and jawline. Her stomach clenched as desire flooded through her whole being. She had never felt like this before, so out of control, so swept along with her emotions. I can love like that I would make you my world Move heaven and earth if you were my girl I would give you my heart Be all that you need Show you your everything that's precious to me I can love you like that Oh yes I can love you Make you my world, always kiss and hug you Move heaven and earth I can love you like that As the final strains of the song played his mouth captured hers in a deep kiss. His tongue sweeping past her lips and caressing hers. Buffy returned the kiss with all the passion and longing that she was feeling. As the music stopped he pulled back from the embrace and held out one long stemmed red rose. When she took the rose, he grasped her hand and kissed it. Then turned on his heels and disappeared into the crowd leaving a bewildered Buffy staring after him. When Buffy made her way back to the table, they all asked "Who was that?" She sighed and replied "I have no idea..." ======== In the alley outside the Bronze he stopped and leaned against the wall, looking up towards the heavens. "What the bloody hell was I thinking! She's the damn Slayer." he muttered to himself. He could still smell her scent on his clothing, still almost feel her in his arms. He knew that he shouldn't have come here, knew that he should have never seen her again. But the opportunity to see her and hold her in his arms was too much. There was no denying it now, Slayer or not, he had fallen in love with her and he would move heaven and earth to be with her if he could. If only she felt the same way and if only he weren't a vampire.... ======== The End (or is it...?) Tiffany Gregg GASPer, Keeper of Giles' Library Phone and Proud WPWP Member #517 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Ian and Tiff" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Tricks-N-Treats - 1/3 by Tiffany Date: 29 Sep 1998 12:06:34 -0700 Title: Tricks-N-Treats - 1/3 Author: Tiffany Gregg E-Mail: iangr@msn.com Distribution: If you like; just let me know, please. Rating: PG-13 (violence and some language) Spoiler Warning: Thru B2 Feedback: Would be most appreciated Summary: Buffy and the gang go to a Halloween party at the Bronze. After the party, Buffy makes a quick patrol sweep, runs into Spike and things get interesting. Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, FOX and Mutant Enemy. I am making no money in writing this and mean no copyright infringement is intended. Authors note: I sent this to the BBETA list last week. This story is completely unrelated to my latest piece "Masquerade". ========== Tricks-N-Treats By: Tiffany E-Mail me at: iangr@msn.com Buffy strolled though the doors of the Bronze silently wondering how Willow had talked them all into 'theme' dressing for the Halloween party at the Bronze. ------------ "Aw, come on guys it'll be fun." the pretty red head had told them all. "Please?" Buffy, Xander, Giles, Oz and Jenny looked back and forth at one another and then gave in. Buffy was the first to reply and spoke for all of them "Okay, Will, we'll do it. But who gets to be who?" "Oh Goodie!" she exclaimed happily. "I've got it all figured out. Giles will be the Wizard. Xander you get to be the Lion, I'll be the Tin Man, Cordy can be the Scarecrow, Jenny can be Glenda the Good Witch, Buffy you get to be Dorothy and Oz can be one of the Flying Monkeys." "Don't you think that the Wicked Witch would be more appropriate for Cordy?" Xander asked grinning "What about me?" the May Queen asked as she strolled though the library doors "We were just discussing who would be who for the Halloween party at the Bronze." Willow replied innocently. "We're all going as characters from the Wizard Of Oz and you can be the Scarecrow." "No way. I am allergic to hay and it makes my eyes puffy." she retorted "Okay then, how about..." Willow hesitated for a second "the Wicked Witch?" "ARE YOU KIDDING?!" Cordellia shrieked "Aw, come on honey" Xander coaxed "witch or 'scare-ho'? You wouldn't even have to dress up. You're a natural for either" Cordellia shot him one of her trademark glares, smacked him in the arm and stormed out of the library. ----------- Buffy spotted the Giles and Willow over at a table in the corner by the band and headed in that direction. Willow looked really cute with her face all painted silver and a funnel on her head. Giles, well he looked pretty much the same as always. Buffy supposed that the tweed and the Wizard pretty much went together. "Where are Xander and Ms. Calendar?" Buffy inquired when she reached the table Willow and Giles both motioned to the dance floor. Buffy grinned as soon as she recognized the flailing arms of Xanders unique dance style. He looked great in his lion mane and tail. Jenny looked beautiful in her iridescent ball gown and wand. On stage, Oz was playing with his band 'Dingoes ate my baby'. "Oz looks great as a flying Money, Will." Buffy commented to her friend. "Yeah" was her dreamy reply. When Jenny and Xander made their way back to the table, Buffy asked Xander "Where's Cordy?" Xander grinned and pointed across the Bronze over to the table where Harmony and her cronies were sitting. "What exactly is she suppose to be?" Buffy inquired "Is that the same black catsuit that she wore last year?" "No, the ears are different." Xander replied grinning "Ah, I see the difference now...or not" ------------- It was about 11pm by the time the gang left the party. "Ah, Buffy, uh, do you think that you could make a quick, ah sweep tonight before you call it a night?" Giles asked. "I would, ah, er, come with you, but, ah...Ms. Calendar and I, ah, um have uh some...." "Work. School work, official school work, business stuff to do." Jenny finished for him "Sure, no problem. I can do a quick patrol." Buffy managed to get out through the giant smile on her face. "You guys go, get your 'stuff' taken care of. I can handle things." "Are you sure you'll be okay?" Giles went on "I'll be fine. Cordy is going to drive Xander home. I'm going to walk Willow home since Oz will be playing for a few more hours, then I'll make a quick sweep though the usual spots. Go, Giles. Everything will be fine." After Jenny and Giles drove off, the rest of the Scooby-Gang looked at each other and busted out laughing. "G-Man's gonna score himself some smoochies tonight!" Xander exclaimed. Buffy and Willow said goodbye to Xander and Cordy. Linked arm in arm the two Slayerettes skipped down the street singing "We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz..." -------- Buffy had just made her final sweep of the graveyard. "Thank goodness I didn't run into anything" she chided herself "like I'd be able to kick vampire butt in my ruby red slippers. What was I thinking?" "Aw C'Mon luv" a voice leered behind her. Buffy jumped from shock and turned to face the threat. "SPIKE!" she shrilled then regaining her composure she added "didn't your mother ever tell you that's a good way to get yourself staked?" "Not exactly what I had planned pet, but I was hoping we could maybe go a round or two. It's been a slow evening, this being All Hallows Eve an all." "I think that could be arranged." she stated flatly assuming her fighting stance. "Now, now luv. Let me get a look at you before I wreck that pretty little frock you've got on." Buffy felt herself start to blush as Spike's eyes roamed over her body and finally came to rest on her face. Spike who was having similar thoughts himself gave a little shiver. The quick punch he landed on her jaw caught her completely off guard and knocked Buffy off balance. The next kick to her chest landed her flat on her back. With a quick little leg move Buffy was back on her feet in seconds. She caught Spike across the face with a high roundhouse kick and it was his turn to loose balance. The kicks and punches went on for several minutes, each circling the other among the various tombstones. Spike charged at Buffy, knocking the two of them to the ground in the process. Spike landed on top of Buffy and before either of them knew what was happening, he kissed her. At first Buffy was shocked, then to her own surprise she found herself kissing him back. She parted her lips and his tongue found hers. It was a hot, hungry kiss. Full of passion and longing that neither of them understood. Then as suddenly as the kiss started, Buffy shoved Spike off of her and took off running with a slayers speed. Spike didn't follow. He just sat on the ground and stared after her. He was as perplexed and befuddled as she was at what had just happened. Although he wouldn't mind doing it again... ----------------- End of part 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Ian and Tiff" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Tricks-N-Treats - 2/3 by Tiffany Date: 29 Sep 1998 12:08:16 -0700 Title: Tricks-N-Treats - 2/3 Author: Tiffany Gregg E-Mail: iangr@msn.com Distribution: If you like; just let me know, please. Rating: PG-13 (violence and some language) Spoiler Warning: Thru B2 Feedback: Would be most appreciated Summary: In the previous part, The Scooby Gang goes to a Halloween party at the Bronze. They've all dressed as characters from The Wizard Of Oz. After the party Buffy makes a patrol sweep and run into Spike. They fight, they kiss and Buffy runs away leaving a bewildered Spike staring after her. Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, FOX and Mutant Enemy. I am making no money in writing this and mean no copyright infringement is intended. Authors note: I sent this to the BBETA list last week. This story is completely unrelated to my latest piece "Masquerade". ========== Tricks-N-Treats By: Tiffany E-Mail me at: iangr@msn.com Buffy was three quarters of the way across the cemetery by the time she slowed down enough to look behind her and see that Spike wasn't following her. "Good." she thought to herself as she dropped onto the nearest headstone. Her 'ruby slippers' were not exactly the sort of thing you sprinted in and she'd turned her left ankle in the process. "Damn" she said aloud as she rubbed her ankle. Her thoughts returned to the kiss that she had shared with Spike and a smile lit her face. Buffy shook her head. She didn't want to think about it. Although she figured that the kiss could have just been a rebound sort of thing. That must have been it because it certainly couldn't be the fact that Spike was handsome and had a cute butt. And that accent of his that always made her stomach flutter when she heard it. No it couldn't be any of that....she was just crazy in the head and on the rebound from her break-up with Angel. Her thoughts turned to Angel as she continued to nurse her ankle. Her Angel. After she had come to her senses a few months ago and returned home they had freed him from Hell. Buffy had known in her heart that there was no way to go back to the way things were. They were star crossed lovers from the start. It was never suppose to be. He could never have a relationship and he certainly wouldn't let himself feel love again for fear of releasing the demon. So, he had said goodbye to everyone and moved to Los Angeles. The city of Angels. It was fitting that he would move there. Buffy was shaken from her reverie by a low moaning sound coming from beneath her feet. As she looked down the earth and grass seemed to move and pulsate. She jumped back just as a hand came up through the soft earth. She examined the headstone while she was waiting for 'it' to pull itself the rest of the way out. That's when she noticed that her new friend 'Joseph' had been dead for almost eight years. "Gee, Joe. Lazy much?" then she thought about it. It never takes a vamp this long to rise...so Joe must not be a vamp. "Shit. Zombie. Just what I needed tonight!" That's when Buffy really started to listen. The whole cemetery seemed to be moaning. The noise was getting louder and hands were popping out of the ground all over the place. Buffy her a noise behind her and spun to see that her new found friend Joe was out and heading right for her. Buffy got into her fighting stance and kicked him in the stomach. Her foot went right though him and she lost her shoe when she pulled her foot back out. "Eeeewwww, gross I've got Joe-goo all over my foot. I think I'm gonna puke." There was nothing that Buffy hated more then fighting Zombies. They were disgusting. Skin falling off bones, shredded clothes and that smell. What the hell was that smell! "Ya' know, Joe" Buffy said as she round house kicked him across the face "I have much better things that I could be doing right now!" the end of her sentence was punctuated by a punch to his face that took his jaw off. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have a body odor problem? Musta forgotten your 'shower to shower' this morning huh?" Buffy saw a tree branch a few feet away and a series of flips later had it in hand and knocked Joe's head off. His long dead body slumping to the ground lifelessly once again. "Was it something I said?" Buffy quipped sarcastically to the corpse. As she was turning to leave Buffy found that she was surrounded by Zombies. There must have been twenty plus all closing in on her. Some with missing limbs, some with half their faces gone but all of them were moaning and it was getting louder and louder as they approached her. "Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit! Okay Summers, think. THINK. Twenty plus zombies, one Slayer. Oh yeah those are great odds." she muttered to herself, assuming her fight stance once again. Buffy kicked the nearest Zombie, a really gross looking blond girl. The blond went sailing backwards and landed on two others. Buffy continued her kicking and punching as the moaning stinking horde closed in on her. She heard a growl behind her and caught a glimpse of a black figure tossing Zombies left and right before it stopped right next to her and joined the fight. "Hello, Luv. Looked like you could use a hand." Spike commented as he kicked off the head of a Zombie to his right. "Spike, I never thought that I'd say this" she started "but I am SO happy to see you". "That's what all the lasses say, pet" Spike sneered as he continued fighting. Buffy just glared at him for a second and then kept fighting. Her witty comebacks were all pushed to the back of her head as she concentrated on the task at hand. Kicking some Zombie butt and not letting her brain go to waste. Spike saw a small break in the mob, grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her towards it. Buffy saw it then too and they started running. The Zombies started after them, but Spike's preternatural speed and Buffy's Slayer speed was too much for them. The two enemies lost the Zombie mob at the edge of the cemetery. Spike and Buffy headed for an abandoned house they could see up ahead. They ran around to the back of the house and Spike kicked in the boarded up door. Buffy ran to the front of the house and peered out through the boards on the window to see if the Zombies were following or not. To her relief, they were not. "Looks like we lost them" she hollered to Spike. "For Christ's sake, you don't have to yell, Slayer" Spike replied from right behind her. Buffy jumped a little, she hadn't heard him come into the room. Spike laughed "That's twice in one night that I've snuck up on you, luv. Must be a record." "Shut up, Spike" was her only reply. "So, any ideas why the 'moldy-oldies' decided to get up and dance tonight, Spike?" Buffy asked pointedly "Slayer, I'm hurt. You think that I'm behind every nefarious thing that happens in this town?" he replied mockingly "That pretty much sums it up. Now what gives? I'm betting you know something and we need to go see Giles about it." Buffy was starting to lose patience. She didn't want to play games and knew there would be human casualties if they didn't stop the Zombie mob before they left the cemetery. "Nothing to worry about, pet. In another five minutes or so, they'll all drop dead again." Spike replied quite matter-of-factly. "And how can you be so sure?" "A little Halloween hijinks one of the boys conjured up to wake the dead. The spell only lasts 'till midnight though." "Well, isn't that just swell. You guys are just a barrel of laughs." "Yeah, well you know, we try." he stated flashing her one of his melt your insides grins. Buffy thought to herself Off in the distance, they both heard the town clock strike Midnight. "Well, guess Halloween's over so, as Dorothy says, 'there's no place like home' and I need to wash the Zombie goo off me." Buffy said as casually as possible. "Sounds fun to me. Need any help?" Spike replied seductively. "Ah, um, well" Buffy stammered "I gotta run" as she started to walk past Spike, headed for the door. Spike grabbed her arm before she could make it past him and pulled her back to look at him. The lust that she saw in his eyes made her breath catch in her throat and her insides quiver. Then he dropped his hand to his side and took a step back. ------------------------ End of part 2. The next part will be NC-17, so anyone under age, sorry you'll just have to decide for yourself how it ends. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Ian and Tiff" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Tricks-N-Treats 3/3 by Tiffany Date: 29 Sep 1998 12:16:55 -0700 Sorry, I almost blew it. I completely forgot about the R rating cap for this list. So, if you'd like the last part you'll have to e-mail me privately. Sorry for the inconvenience. It won't happen again (scouts honor). Thanks! Tiffany Gregg iangr@msn.com GASPer, Keeper of Giles' Library Phone and Proud WPWP Member #517 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Black Fire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (13/14) Date: 29 Sep 1998 16:57:40 PDT Title: Kender Chaos Author: Black Fire Email:Blackfire42@hotmail.com Feedback: Yes, please. Rating: PG Spoilers: Buffy: Anything before WML1 Dragonlance: Chronicles and Legends Trilogies. Disclaimers: I own neither sets of characters and I can't afford to either. Summary: Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Fizban the Fabulous have found their way to Sunnydale. Kender Chaos Chapter 13 As fate (or luck) would have it, Buffy and the rest passing the cemetery when Spike's car sped by. And who should be hanging out the window, watching the tires spin, but Tasslehoff Burrfoot. "Great, come on," Buffy started after the vehicle with the others close behind her. She lost the car after about a block but, for some reason, Buffy had a feeling she knew where they were going. Heading in the direction of her instincts, she didn't stop running until she got to the bushes around the park. By the time the others had caught up to her, Buffy was watching Spike drag Tas and an old man out of the car. Tas was complaining about Spike's rudeness while the old man just stood there, looking up at the moon. Staying out of sight, Buffy and the others made their way through the bushes for a closer look. Spike was speaking harshly to the old man, but he wasn't paying attention. As the others got closer, they could hear what Spike was saying, "Come on, old man," he ordered, "we haven't got all night." "You know, it's not a good idea to rush a mage," Tas said. "You never know what might happen. Like this one time, Raistlin was..." "Shut up!" Spike yelled. "Or I'll have you for a late-night snack." "Really," Tas gasped. "That might be interesting." Spike growled and ordered Fizban to get on with it. Fizban walked over to Drusilla and examined her. He then stood back and started to speak in the language of magic, his hands moving in a precise pattern of gestures. With the vampires all distracted by this display, Buffy took the opportunity to spring a surprise attack. Stake in hand, she leaped out of the bushes and slew the first vampire she came in contact with. The death cry of the vampire caused everyone else to turn around, including Fizban, who found himself pointing at a tree when lightning sprang from his fingers. The flash left everyone momentarily blind. The confusion allowed the others to spring from the bushes unnoticed and quickly take down three of the remaining vampires. Tas got free of the one who was holding him. Deciding that this woman was not a very nice person, he drew a tiny dagger from his belt and began half fighting, half taunting (a skill for which Kenders are famous for) her. The vampire finally got mad enough that, in her rage she reached down and made a grab for the Kender. Remembering what Xander had done earlier, Tasslehoff found a stake in his vest and plunged it into the girl's heart as she reached for him. By this time, Buffy and the others had finished off the rest of the vampires, save Spike and Drusilla. Spike was about to attack when he heard a faint whimper from behind him. He turned just in time to catch Dru as she collapsed. Buffy found herself staring at the bewildered old man. He wasn't paying attention. He was looking at the charred remains of a tree and mumbling to himself. "Are you Fizban?" she asked. "Hmmm? What?" he sputtered, as he looked at the slayer. "You're Fizban, right," she asked again. "I am?" he looked surprised. "You. Kender, what did you say my name was?" "It's Fizban," Tas winked. "Say, Fizban, did you see what I did? I made that girl turn to dust!!" "Yes, I saw, Tasslehoff," the wizard smiled. "Can we go home now?" the Kender asked, yawning. "Yes, I think our time is done here," Fizban answered and the confusion melted away from his face. "WAIT!!" Spike yelled. "We had a deal, old man." "We did?" Fizban frowned. "Oh yes, you wanted me to cure that girl there..." "WHAT?!?!" Buffy and Angel gasped almost at the same time. "You can't really think of healing h...." Giles started to ask. "But I'm afraid it's impossible," Fizban interrupted. "My powers will not work on her." "You sneaky little bugger!" Spike exclaimed. "I should have killed you the minute I saw you." "Aaahhhh..." the old man laughed. "But you couldn't have done that either. Am I right, Burrfoot?" Tas said nothing. He only nodded his head violently. Fizban walked over to where Spike was standing with Dru in his arms, "Oh, don't worry, my boy," he said. "You'll find what you're looking for sooner than you think. But, you won't like what you get once you find it." "Spike..." Dru stirred. "Take princess home?" "We're going Dru," Spike said, not taking his eyes off the wizard. With that, Spike turned and carried Drusilla back to the car. Buffy started after them, but Fizban held up a hand and she stopped. They all watched as Spike's car sped away. * * * * * The Black Fire | Vote for me in the Site Fights!! Blackfire42@hotmail.com | http://www.thesitefights.com/sarina/nest2.htm http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4203 "But if they all forget me I will be here anyway, like an artifact of some lost civilization" -Vlad Dracula _The Dracula Tape_ "Don't worry. I'm not here to eat." -- Angel (IG) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Black Fire" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (14/14) Date: 29 Sep 1998 17:00:20 PDT Title: Kender Chaos Author: Black Fire Email:Blackfire42@hotmail.com Feedback: Yes, please. Rating: PG Spoilers: Buffy: Anything before WML1 Dragonlance: Chronicles and Legends Trilogies. Disclaimers: I own neither sets of characters and I can't afford to either. Summary: Tasslehoff Burrfoot and Fizban the Fabulous have found their way to Sunnydale. Author's Note: This is it! It is done! It is finished! The moment of insanity that started several months ago has finally left me!! Kender Chaos Chapter 14 "What did you say to him?" Angel asked after Spike had left. "Something he probably won't remember until it's too late," Fizban sighed. "Are you ready to go home to Kyrnn, Tasslehoff?" Tas started to nod yes, then looked puzzled, "But how will we get there? Is your magic strong enough? I mean, I know you're Paladine and all, but are you sure you'll be able to do it." Fizban started to laugh, "Ah, my boy!" he chuckled. "It will be no problem at all. But I *will* need someone's help." "Mine?" Tas got excited. "You mean I'll get to do magic again?" "No, Kenderkin," the wizard shook his head, "I think you've done enough magic for a while. Now, Tas, you *do* know who I'm referring to, don't you? I'm sure he's in there somewhere." "Oooooohhhhh...." Tas's eyes widened. He started fishing through his pouches until he pulled out a little gold object with a cheer. "I found him!" "What is it?" Buffy asked moving in for a closer look. "Wow!" Cordelia said as she too got a better look. "Is that real gold?" "It is!" Tas exclaimed. "It was an engagement ring that my friend Tanis threw away." Everyone looked at the Kender's hand and saw that it was a gold ring, made for someone with very delicate fingers. The ring was inlayed with tiny leaf patterns that caused it to sparkle in the moonlight. But there was something odd about the ring. Part of it seemed to be badly formed. "What happened to the one side?" Willow asked. "Oh him?" Fizban pointed to the small mass of gold that was wrapped around part of the ring. "He's our ticket back to Kyrnn. Come on, you. Wake up." Fizban nudged the mass and it slowly uncurled itself from the ring. Everyone gasped in amazement as Fizban removed the figure of a tiny gold dragon from the ring and set it in the grass. "Now everyone stand back!" Fizban called. "Come on, you old thing! Nap time's over." As everyone backed away, the gold sculpture started to grow slowly. After about a minute, the figurine had turned into a well aged golden dragon. He yawned and stretched it's aged, leathery wings. "What did you wake me up for?" he asked. "Because you were needed," Fizban replied. "Huh?" the dragon asked, he was half blind and hard of hearing. "What did you say?" "Oh never mind!" Fizban snapped. "Come along Tas!" "Good bye everyone!" Tas said, giving everyone a hug. Everyone returned the Kender's good-bye, even Cordelia. As Tas got to Buffy, she fished several things out of his vest that didn't belong there. This was met with a cheerful, "Oh are those yours? Good thing I found them for you." Buffy shook her head and gave him a big hug. Fizban also made his round of good-byes, shaking hands with everyone. This time, when it came to Buffy's turn, the old man stopped and looked at the young girl. "It was you who sent me that dream, wasn't it?" Buffy asked. "Yes, it was, my girl," Fizban nodded. "Why?" "Why is not important," he said. "However, I know many a girl your age where I come from, but few so brave as you, and many a great warrior who, were you there, would gladly fight at your side." Buffy smiled, "Thank you." "Remember where your strength is," Fizban said. "For it will help you when nothing else can." Fizban the Fabulous kissed Buffy on the forehead and turned away. He and Tasslehoff Burrfoot mounted the great, old dragon and, with one commanding word from the wizard, he leapt into the air. Tasslehoff waved as the dragon climbed higher and higher. Those on the ground waved back and continued to wave until the creature disappeared into the stratosphere. "What do you think he meant by that?" Angel asked, pulling Buffy into his arms. "I don't know," she said, confused. "Maybe I'll find out someday." "Hey guys, what's that?" Willow asked, pointing into the sky. "It looks like snow," Cordelia said. "In California?" Xander asked. "Even I'm not that dumb... am I?" Everyone looked up as millions of white things came floating out of the sky. They landed on and around everyone. Angel plucked one out of Buffy's hair, "Chicken feathers?" The group looked all around them and suddenly, burst out laughing as the tiny white feathers continued to rain down on them. The girls started running through them, as if they were snow, the guys watching them, laughing more. And, all the while, the stars over Sunnydale changed, as the outline of a platinum dragon flew across the heavens and disappeared into another world. The Black Fire | Vote for me in the Site Fights!! Blackfire42@hotmail.com | http://www.thesitefights.com/sarina/nest2.htm http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4203 "But if they all forget me I will be here anyway, like an artifact of some lost civilization" -Vlad Dracula _The Dracula Tape_ "Don't worry. I'm not here to eat." -- Angel (IG) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: "Flies to Honey" sequel to "The Necromancer" Date: 30 Sep 1998 00:07:11 -0700 *SPOILER WARNING* I'm currently working on a work of fanfic entitled "Flies to Honey". I have a question for those of you that read my previous fanfic entitled "The Necromancer". Abel the villain is comatose at the end of the story and during the sequel. So if you are Buffy and the gang where do you put the unconscious body of a villain if it attracts vampires? So far I've had a couple ideas: 1. In someone's house. Bad idea since you'd have vampires peeking into your windows all the time. 2. At school. Pity the poor janitor. 3. In a crypt\mausoleum with one of those nice big iron gates. A secure out of the way place in the graveyard that Buffy can check every now and again for a loitering vampire. 4. In a safe deposit box. One big enough would cost so much money though. Any ideas? I'd be grateful. . . -J. Jericho Born ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "The Mistress" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Buffyfic: Assistance Needed Date: 30 Sep 1998 17:57:27 EDT If anyone can help me in figuring out some sort of spell that can bind one person to another, I would be extremely grateful. Email me at mattacks@hotmail.com Thanks! Karra ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: NightHunter Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Invasion (4/5) Date: 30 Sep 1998 19:43:31 -0400 Sorry it has been so long between parts. And it may be a while till part 5 the final part But I have just get that evil creation of the Hellmouth Wrighters Block. Any Feedback The Invasion (4/?) Special Note: (From here on to avoid confession the Buffy and Group from the other dimension will have a *after their names) Buffy turned around when she heard the door to the library open. Her face registered surprise at what she seen. It was like looking in a mirror. "So, this is the other me!" Said Buffy* as she walked over to Buffy. Grabbing her by the hair and slamming her head into the library table causing her to fall to the floor unconscious. "Well! that was no challenge. Spike she's all yours drain her dry." Said Buffy* But just as Spike started to sink his fangs into Buffy's throat. He exploded into dust. Buffy* & Xander* turned to see Xander standing beside Willow And Giles Holding a crossbow. Their bofy Language showed that they were ready to fight. "Xander, lets go. Well deal with these rejects later." Said Buffy* kicking the other Buffy before she and Xander* walked out the door. Xander ran across the room using his vampire speed. Then slowly, he lifted Buffy up and lay her down on one of the tables. Giles walked over to check her head as Willow brought out the first aid kit. "Will she be OK?" Xander asked Giles "I think so. The wound is not that deep. Her Slayer strength should speed up the healing process." Replied Giles wrapping a bandage around Buffy's head wound. "Who was that? She looked just like Buffy. Not to mention that her company was the image of Xander. Minus the vamp out." Said Willow who looked over to see that Xander still had on his game face. When Xander heard what Willow had said his face slowly returned to normal. His hand was still holding Buffy's as she started to wake up. "Hey beautiful." Said Xander looking deep into her eyes. "What happened?" Exclaimed Buffy trying to jump up. She was lightheaded and started to fall. Xander quickly grabed her helping her back to the table. Feeling her hand tighten on his. Xander looked into her face to see her smile back at him. She was glad that he was here for her. Meanwhile in another part of town. Willow* pulls the leaver that actives her machine. She sends out a quantum field that intercepts the one from her other machine. This causes the two to exploded with a quantum plasma flash. The two doorways stabilizes and the army of the Slayer begins to march from their world. Hundreds and hundreds poured from the gateway, the invasion of our world had begun. As Buffy* watched she started to laugh. "Soon, this world shall fall and from its ashes I shall create a new order and rule supreme!" Next the conclusion Of THE INVASION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: blue_moose@juno.com (Jaina Solo) Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: "Flies to Honey" sequel to "The Necromancer" Date: 30 Sep 1998 20:28:56 -0400 Hmm...this is an interesting question. Wherever it is, I'd absolutely *bathe* his body in holy water. What about a greenhouse or something? Something with a lot of windows and skylights? It can't be dark all the time, but this way the vamps couldn't sneak through the sewer systems and retrieve the body without getting burned. -Ania ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Flies to Honey" (01/?) sequel to "The Necromancer" Date: 30 Sep 1998 22:55:08 -0700 TITLE: "Flies to Honey" (Part 01/?) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: Please let me know what you think of my fanfic with some feedback. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence. SPOILERS: Spoilers to previous fanfic. DESCRIPTION: The sequel to "The Necromancer". Abel is now unconcious, but attracting vampires like flies to honey. Buffy is caught between protecting her enemy and helping her friend Willow find her beloved Oz. Meanwhile, Willow gets deeper into magic and the occult in order to find a way to restore Oz to human form. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. ============== Opening "In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." Willow Rosenburg sat alone at a bench in front of Sunnydale High. The brightness of the cloudless sky and cheery teenagers didn't bleed into her overcast world. Her beloved Oz had been taken from her. That thought haunted her wherever she went no matter who she was with. As if being separated from her boyfriend wasn't bad enough she had to deal with the fact that Oz was now a werewolf on a permanent basis. She couldn't imagine what he could be doing unwittingly and how it would her tear him up if he knew. "Hey," greeted Buffy as she joined her friend at the bench. Buffy examined Willow's gloomy expression with distaste. "Still thinking about Oz?" Buffy inquired softly. Willow nodded and frowned in acknowledgment. "You don't know what's it's like to lose the one you love under such horrible circumstances. . . oh. . . uh. . . oh, yeah, you do," Willow said, ending apologetically. "Don't worry, we can brood together," Buffy comforted with a dab of humor and an unhealthy dose of sobriety. "Have you figured out a place to store. . . him?" asked Willow. She still couldn't say the name of the person who had caused this terrible situation to come about. The others had developed a curious sort of pet rock affinity to the body of their fallen foe, but she was still apathetic. "Not yet," Buffy answered. Willow looked up and scoured the horizon then quickly she returned to hanging her head. Buffy had noticed Willow do this several times a day. "Are you looking for him?" Buffy queried. "Every now and again I get the sensation he's standing there," Willow explained. "We'll find him and bring him back," assured Buffy. Willow gazed out once more and said, "I just can't believe what he might be doing out there as a werewolf." Many beastly shaped footprints away in another town a group of elementary school children had decided to play hooky that day. They scampered around a couple boxes to arrive at their destination: an abandoned warehouse. "It's in there," one declared. "It's probably just a stray dog," one of his cynical friends replied. "It's not just a dog. I've seen it, it's a huge mother-" a foul mouthed companion affirmed, but his statement was cut short. "Shut your mouth!" the disbeliever interrupted. The group of kids stood there each waiting for someone else to say or do something. "Well," the cynic said. "Well, what?" the one who had led them there asked. "Go inside," said the child with a skeptic heart as he gestured toward a rickety door. "You go inside," replied the lead kid. "You're the one who brought us here. You go in first," bartered the cynic. "Ok," agreed the leader. He took brave hearted step after brave hearted step until his Nikes were within one pace of the warehouse. The hand of the boy reached out and he strained to push the door aside. With a gulp he stepped forward into the run down building. "Is there anything in there?" a cautious friend called out. His bold companion had no chance to reply. A growl and sudden movement brought about his disappearance into the darkness of the wearhouse. The assembled adolescents scattered in hysteria as they all let out terrified screams of horror. No one looked back as they ran with all their speed. ============== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Flies to Honey" (02/?) sequel to "The Necromancer" Date: 30 Sep 1998 22:56:32 -0700 TITLE: "Flies to Honey" (Part 02/?) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: Please let me know what you think of my fanfic with some feedback. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence. SPOILERS: Spoilers to previous fanfic. DESCRIPTION: The sequel to "The Necromancer". Abel is now unconcious, but attracting vampires like flies to honey. Buffy is caught between protecting her enemy and helping her friend Willow find her beloved Oz. Meanwhile, Willow gets deeper into magic and the occult in order to find a way to restore Oz to human form. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. ============== Scene 1 Giles looked quite dapper and orderly while he worked away in the Sunnydale High library. His mundane world job would be interrupted once again by the supernatural, however, as Xander peeked his head through the duo of doors that gave entry to the library. "Do you have. . . er. . . Abel?" questioned Giles. Xander nodded quickly before his head disappeared behind the double doors. He reentered backwards with a duffle bag in tow. Giles rubbed his hands together in anticipation as Xander brought his baggage to bear. With a squat and a hefty lift the duffle bag lay on a table. "Hey," Buffy greeted. She, Willow, and Cordelia entered the library together. Willow left the trio in favor of a solitary corner when she saw the item that was on display. "Did anyone see you dragging a body through school?" asked Cordelia. "Just a freshman named Chris," answered Xander. "The kid with the posters of aliens in his locker who thinks the CIA is flying black helicopters over his house?" inquired Buffy. "That's the one. I don't think anyone will be too quick to call the cops when they hear his story," replied Xander. "So you've found a place to store him then?" asked Buffy. "Yes, there's a mausoleum in the graveyard that's missing it's occupant thanks to Abel himself," Giles explained. "Oh, yeah, the one with big iron gate on the south side?" Buffy blurted out. "Ok, I spend way too much time in the graveyard," she added. "As I was saying, the occupant doesn't have any relatives locally so I don't think anyone will mind if we borrow it. It's sort of fitting anyway," Giles continued. He openend the duffle bag to find Abel with a pair of joke glasses proudly seated on his face. All eyes immediately went to Xander. "Hey! I've been looking for those," Xander declared as he quickly retrieved his gag. He inadvertently knocked Abel's head back opening his jaw. "Oops, sorry about that, big guy," apologized Xander. He went about rectifying his mistake by placing a hand top and bottom on Abel's head and performing an exagerrated clamping motion. "His hair is all messed up," observed Cordelia. Now she was the one who began to attend to their comatose enemy. She bumped Xander out of the way and went about fixing Abel's hair. "Cordy, stop grooming the evil arch villian!" facetiously chastised Xander with a laugh. Buffy noticed Willow escape quietly into a side room and went to follow her friend. "They're just coping with the awkward situation. It's not every day you have to handle an unconcious necromancer," offered Buffy. "I know," said Willow, facing the far wall, "It's just. . . I'd rather not be around him even if he is practically dead." Buffy understood and rejoined the conversation in the main room. "I don't get it," Cordelia said, "Why do we need to put him under lock and key anyway?" "It seems that vampires are attracted to his body because of the dark energies it channels, rather like how flies are attracted to honey," explained Giles. "This way we can keep him in a place where vampires tend to hang anyway and where Buffy can check up on him when she's making her rounds," added Xander. ============== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "J. Jericho Born" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Flies to Honey" (03/?) sequel to "The Necromancer" Date: 30 Sep 1998 22:57:34 -0700 TITLE: "Flies to Honey" (Part 03/?) AUTHOR: J. Jericho Born E-MAIL: traction@sirius.com FEEDBACK: Please let me know what you think of my fanfic with some feedback. DISTRIBUTION: The author reserves rights on this story. Please do not distribute without expressed permission. RATING: PG-13 Contains violence. SPOILERS: Spoilers to previous fanfic. DESCRIPTION: The sequel to "The Necromancer". Abel is now unconcious, but attracting vampires like flies to honey. Buffy is caught between protecting her enemy and helping her friend Willow find her beloved Oz. Meanwhile, Willow gets deeper into magic and the occult in order to find a way to restore Oz to human form. DISCLAIMER: The writer of this unauthorized fan fiction is not affiliated with any of the parties involved in the making of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The characters are the property of Joss Whedon and whomever else the lawyers may deem fit, they are used without permission. Technically that is not legal, but I'm not anticipating any law suits. This work, the plot line, and the characters introduced that are not already featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the work of Joshua Jericho Born, Copyright 1998. ============== Scene 2 Buffy was just slightly glazed over as she patrolled a chilly Sunnydale night with stake in hand. The graveyard was such a lonely place this time in the evening. The vampire that popped up every now and again wouldn't be very much company, well not for long anyway. She came upon two such vampires that snooped and clawed around the crypt that Abel had been stashed in. Stealthily, Buffy snuck up behind the two vampires with ease. It was kind of amusing the way they were drawn to the mausoleum without knowing what they were looking for. One rattled the iron gate on the crypt. He gestured and grunted to the other one to help him pry it open. It was time for the Slayer to make her move. "Didn't you read the sign? No loitering after seven p.m.," sarcastically quipped Buffy. The two turned and snarled simultanously. To her surprise one actually spoke before the melee ensued. "We want to know what's in there," demanded an ugly vampire. "Oh, of course. That's where they keep the Beanie Babies. Which one's your favorite?" replied Buffy. The two vampires looked at each other in mutual disbelief then pounced. Unfortunately for them, one of them pounced right into Buffy's waiting stake and dissolved into ashes. The other one managed to get a claw at Buffy's other arm, ripping a chunk of her jacket off. "Do you know how much this jacket cost me?" questioned an annoyed Slayer. She attacked the remaining vampire with a fierce kick to the stomach. Winded, the vampire couldn't return blows. Buffy followed with a backhand to the head. With her victim on the ground she plunged her stake into his chest. This vampire didn't turn to ashes so quickly, however. Surprised, Buffy soon caught a glimpse of a flailing foot and then a close up of the neatly trimmed grass. The resilient vampire jumped onto Buffy making sure to place his knee painfully into her back. She managed to roll over and put her opponent in the prone position as a counter. This time Buffy made sure to hold the stake in place as she thrusted the new weapon into the vampire's chest. A brief struggle later she was sitting on a pile of ashes instead of a kicking and growling vampire. "You and your new and improved vampires," Buffy yelled toward the crypt as she got up. Abel had a way of being annoying even when unconcious. ==============