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Internet Message Format | 1998-09-30 | 558KB

From: sah <[e-mail]>
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. No advertising of <any> items or services, Buffy related or not,
and no posting of non-story items such as .gifs, sound files, etc..
No attached files of <any> kind-- if your mailer makes your fiction
into attached files, you need to find another way to get it to the list.

4. If you're writing a story and including advance information on a
new episode, and you're posting your story earlier than the national
viewing time, please:

     **Mark the post as a "spoiler" in the subject header.
     **Leave about twelve lines (blank or with non-spoiler info) at
          the top of the post.

This ensures that anyone who doesn't like knowing about an episode
ahead of time is "protected."  :)   The blank space is for people whose
mailers automatically open up the next piece of mail, without giving
them a chance to see "spoiler" in the header.

Spoiler warnings are not necessary after the start of the episode's
national viewing time, which is currently set at 9 p.m. Mondays,
Eastern Standard Time.  Spoiler warnings are not necessary for reruns.

5.  This list is absolutely NOT for erotic fiction.  <Nothing> stronger
than sexually PG-13 material is to be posted to the list under any
circumstances.  A story may be R rated for violence or language, however.

If you have a question about something's suitability for posting, feel
free to ask one of the listowners.  Sending sexually explicit material
will get you immediately and permanently unsubscribed.  No exceptions.

6.  By subscribing and/or posting to this list, you acknowledge that
Buffy the Vampire slayer and all characters associated with either
the televised series or the motion picture were created by Josh Whedon
and are owned by Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions,
Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox.  All stories posted to
this list are for entertainment purposes only, are not sold for profit
of any kind, and are not intended to infringe on any copyrights.

7.  When posting stories to the list, please follow the following
formatting guidelines
--No story parts longer than 250 lines
--No lines longer than 75 characters
--Turn off your "smart quotes"-- many readers receive these as garbage
or weird symbols
--Put the title of the story in the subject header, indicate if it's a
multipart story, and if so what part this is.  Example:   Buffy Meets
Godzilla (2/65) indicates that this post is part two of a 65 part story.

8. If a story is rated "R" for language/violence, indicate this in an
introduction.  For example, "There's a really bloody fight scene at
the end of this part" or "if you don't like dismemberment, stop
reading now!"  If there's <any> chance that someone might be disturbed
by something in your story (even if it's not rated R) please include
some kind of warning up front.

9.  And last, but not least, the listowners reserve the right to deny
subscription (new, renewed, or continued) to the list for any
individual(s).

PLEASE NOTE:  not following any or all of these rules will get you
the following:

**First offense:  offender is unsubscribed for one week.
**Second offense:  offender is unsubscribed to the Buffyfic list for a
minimum of three months.
**If the offender returns and does it again, they're offlist
permanently.

As noted above, posting sexually explicit material is the exception --
you go straight to permanent unsubbing.

Again, welcome!  If  you have any questions about these rules, please
contact either one of us offlist.  If you have subscription problems or
questions, the fastest way to get help is to e-mail one of us at the
addresses below, <not> at the [e-mail] addy which is the
"official" e-mail owner of the list.

Jill Kirby ([e-mail])
 &
Sharon Himmanen ([e-mail])
Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List
[e-mail]


-







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: sah <[e-mail]>
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 <not> under any circumstances reveal this permanent e-mail address
to anyone.  This is for our reference <only.>

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
[e-mail] and [e-mail]


-





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Black Fire" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (9/?)
Date: 01 Sep 1998 16:34:38 PDT

Title: Kender Chaos
Author: Black Fire
Email:[e-mail]
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."
[e-mail]   |                -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: [e-mail] (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: [e-mail]
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 onàI 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 knowàhow 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 lipsàthose
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 meàjust for a
little while?"

He shook his head, "I'm sorry, Buffy, but I can'tàI'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 sorryàfor what
happenedàfor 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 youàXander, and it's that stupid
spell that made me lose youàI don't want to lose you."

"What are you - " he asked in a confused tone, "Buffyàwhat - 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, Buffyàyou 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 takeàno matter
what happened, she was comforted by the knowledge that Xander would
always be her friend, he was as loyal as they comeàafter 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 fallàshe 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???? :)******

_____________________________________________________________________
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (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: [e-mail]
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, "Oohàthat slayer makes me so mad."

"Oh, relax, darling," Pacey said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek,
"This is going to workàwe've got it all planned perfectly.  Their forces
are downàthat 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, "Ohàso many thingsàI'm sure you'll love your present,
Cordelia.  GrantàLarryàbring 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 eatàat 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 InterrogationàI'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, "UmàI knowàI'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.
Lindleyàhow'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 hospitalàa young woman, well loved.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"The sun's going to come up in a few hoursàwe, 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 meàI'd like to know."

She smiled and nodded, "Sure, of courseàwhat is it with you and Jen,
anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

"You two, you guys were alwaysàkinda closeàkinda really good friendsà"

Dawson shrugged, "I suppose it's because we areàI 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 didàit 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 cultureàat 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'sà"

"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, "Umàit 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 youàreasons for all the vampires.  Good luck, we are
sure you'll survive.  Don't worry about us, we can-"

"That's itàthat'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."



_____________________________________________________________________
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Charity C. T.)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: My Moira (10/?)
Date: 04 Sep 1998 00:00:17 -0700

TITLE: My Moira #10
AUTHOR: Taygeta
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
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!  Crackàcrash!  Moira winced as the wooden structure broke
on her last kick, "Sorryàlooked 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-shoeà"

"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.

"Dadàthat *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 slayeràout," 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 - "

"Heyànow I remember youà" 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, "Umàsort 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 upàmeaning, 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 guyàthat 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, "Uhàyeah, 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 mattersàtruthfully, 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 trainingàit'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
seriouslyàand I think Buffy's right.  She's going to have to patrol and a
kill a vampireàfight a vampire, really, if she's gonna survive this.  I
pray to God, that I'm going to be as lucky as you were GilesàI think that
all Watchers do.  You're the first to have a retired slayeràand 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 Buffyànot that I
wasn't lucky.  Headstrong, that girl wasàstill 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 soàperhaps 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 diedàI 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'tàI blamed
myself for that."

"But it wasn't your fault, Buffyàyou weren't readyàyou 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 foreheadàI
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 slayeràhow is
it that you were able to take charge of Moira?"  Giles asked with a
frown.

"I was actually Annie's replacement Watcheràthe 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."

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From: [e-mail] (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: [e-mail]
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 wantàthe
wrathàof 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 heràI 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!!!*******

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Reunions and Other Troubles
Date: 07 Sep 1998 12:50:39 -0500

Title:  Reunions and Other Troubles
Author:  Northlight
email:   [e-mail]
Summary:  A continuation to =91Love and Pain=92
<http://www.geocities.com/~northlight/buffy.html>. =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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (10/?)
Date: 08 Sep 1998 16:27:03 PDT

Title: Kender Chaos
Author: Black Fire
Email:[e-mail]
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!!
[e-mail] | 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)


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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: ~Ripe Wicked Plum~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Can I love again? (1/1)
Date: 10 Sep 1998 15:20:11 EDT

Title: Can I love again? (1/1)
Author: [e-mail]
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 <[e-mail]>
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  <[e-mail]>

The Invasion (2/?)

Giles enters the library to find Buffy, Xander & Willow sitting at one
end of the table they were waiting for him <God I wish just once these
Children could have a normal life> 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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (11/?)
Date: 14 Sep 1998 12:04:17 PDT

Title: Kender Chaos
Author: Black Fire
Email:[e-mail]
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!!
[e-mail] | 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)


______________________________________________________
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: sah <[e-mail]>
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 <any> items or services, Buffy related or not,
and no posting of non-story items such as .gifs, sound files, etc..
No attached files of <any> kind-- if your mailer makes your fiction
into attached files, you need to find another way to get it to the list.

4. If you're writing a story and including advance information on a
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     **Mark the post as a "spoiler" in the subject header.
     **Leave about twelve lines (blank or with non-spoiler info) at
          the top of the post.

This ensures that anyone who doesn't like knowing about an episode
ahead of time is "protected."  :)   The blank space is for people whose
mailers automatically open up the next piece of mail, without giving
them a chance to see "spoiler" in the header.

Spoiler warnings are not necessary after the start of the episode's
national viewing time, which is currently set at 9 p.m. Mondays,
Eastern Standard Time.  Spoiler warnings are not necessary for reruns.

5.  This list is absolutely NOT for erotic fiction.  <Nothing> stronger
than sexually PG-13 material is to be posted to the list under any
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If you have a question about something's suitability for posting, feel
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will get you immediately and permanently unsubscribed.  No exceptions.

6.  By subscribing and/or posting to this list, you acknowledge that
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7.  When posting stories to the list, please follow the following
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--No story parts longer than 250 lines
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--Turn off your "smart quotes"-- many readers receive these as garbage
or weird symbols
--Put the title of the story in the subject header, indicate if it's a
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8. If a story is rated "R" for language/violence, indicate this in an
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the end of this part" or "if you don't like dismemberment, stop
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9.  And last, but not least, the listowners reserve the right to deny
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PLEASE NOTE:  not following any or all of these rules will get you
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**First offense:  offender is unsubscribed for one week.
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**If the offender returns and does it again, they're offlist
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As noted above, posting sexually explicit material is the exception --
you go straight to permanent unsubbing.

Again, welcome!  If  you have any questions about these rules, please
contact either one of us offlist.  If you have subscription problems or
questions, the fastest way to get help is to e-mail one of us at the
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"official" e-mail owner of the list.

Jill Kirby ([e-mail])
 &
Sharon Himmanen ([e-mail])
Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List
[e-mail]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: sah <[e-mail]>
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 <not> under any circumstances reveal this permanent e-mail address
to anyone.  This is for our reference <only.>

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
[e-mail] and [e-mail]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Cutter Kinseeker" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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

______________________________________________________
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Cutter Kinseeker" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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
[e-mail]







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Slayer01" <[e-mail]>
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
[e-mail]
[e-mail]



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Slayer01" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Fanfic: The Good Spike
Date: 19 Sep 1998 17:59:29 -0700

TITLE: The Good Spike
AUTHOR: Misery 4
EMAIL: [e-mail]
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. <But who said life was fair>

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
[e-mail]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: NightHunter <[e-mail]>
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! <Cough> Please! <Cough> 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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Talk, (1/1)
Date: 21 Sep 1998 19:59:02 PDT

Title: The Talk
Author: Andrea
e-mail: [e-mail]
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?" JoyceÆs
voice was rising again, her fear coming to the surface.

"She can, but sometimes it's good to have back-up.ö Willow said softly,
flashes of all the close calls Buffy had running through her mind. ôDid
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




______________________________________________________
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Cutter Kinseeker" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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 clichΘd 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 clichΘd, 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 cafΘ lattΘ *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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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 <[e-mail]>
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. No advertising of <any> items or services, Buffy related or not,
and no posting of non-story items such as .gifs, sound files, etc..
No attached files of <any> kind-- if your mailer makes your fiction
into attached files, you need to find another way to get it to the list.

4. If you're writing a story and including advance information on a
new episode, and you're posting your story earlier than the national
viewing time, please:

     **Mark the post as a "spoiler" in the subject header.
     **Leave about twelve lines (blank or with non-spoiler info) at
          the top of the post.

This ensures that anyone who doesn't like knowing about an episode
ahead of time is "protected."  :)   The blank space is for people whose
mailers automatically open up the next piece of mail, without giving
them a chance to see "spoiler" in the header.

Spoiler warnings are not necessary after the start of the episode's
national viewing time, which is currently set at 9 p.m. Mondays,
Eastern Standard Time.  Spoiler warnings are not necessary for reruns.

5.  This list is absolutely NOT for erotic fiction.  <Nothing> stronger
than sexually PG-13 material is to be posted to the list under any
circumstances.  A story may be R rated for violence or language, however.

If you have a question about something's suitability for posting, feel
free to ask one of the listowners.  Sending sexually explicit material
will get you immediately and permanently unsubscribed.  No exceptions.

6.  By subscribing and/or posting to this list, you acknowledge that
Buffy the Vampire slayer and all characters associated with either
the televised series or the motion picture were created by Josh Whedon
and are owned by Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions,
Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox.  All stories posted to
this list are for entertainment purposes only, are not sold for profit
of any kind, and are not intended to infringe on any copyrights.

7.  When posting stories to the list, please follow the following
formatting guidelines
--No story parts longer than 250 lines
--No lines longer than 75 characters
--Turn off your "smart quotes"-- many readers receive these as garbage
or weird symbols
--Put the title of the story in the subject header, indicate if it's a
multipart story, and if so what part this is.  Example:   Buffy Meets
Godzilla (2/65) indicates that this post is part two of a 65 part story.

8. If a story is rated "R" for language/violence, indicate this in an
introduction.  For example, "There's a really bloody fight scene at
the end of this part" or "if you don't like dismemberment, stop
reading now!"  If there's <any> chance that someone might be disturbed
by something in your story (even if it's not rated R) please include
some kind of warning up front.

9.  And last, but not least, the listowners reserve the right to deny
subscription (new, renewed, or continued) to the list for any
individual(s).

PLEASE NOTE:  not following any or all of these rules will get you
the following:

**First offense:  offender is unsubscribed for one week.
**Second offense:  offender is unsubscribed to the Buffyfic list for a
minimum of three months.
**If the offender returns and does it again, they're offlist
permanently.

As noted above, posting sexually explicit material is the exception --
you go straight to permanent unsubbing.

Again, welcome!  If  you have any questions about these rules, please
contact either one of us offlist.  If you have subscription problems or
questions, the fastest way to get help is to e-mail one of us at the
addresses below, <not> at the [e-mail] addy which is the
"official" e-mail owner of the list.

Jill Kirby ([e-mail])
 &
sah ([e-mail])
Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List
[e-mail]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: sah <[e-mail]>
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 <not> under any circumstances reveal this permanent e-mail address
to anyone.  This is for our reference <only.>

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
[e-mail] and [e-mail]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "J. Jericho Born" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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: [e-mail]



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Jill Kirby <[e-mail]>
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 - [e-mail]
There is no good news.
     -- Madeline, "La Femme Nikita"




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC:Walls (POEM)
Date: 23 Sep 1998 22:52:54 -0400 (EDT)

 TITLE: Walls (POEM)
 AUTHOR: JadeCara
 EMAIL: [e-mail]
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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~ <[e-mail]>
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
([e-mail])
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: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Surprises" Prologue
Date: 24 Sep 1998 13:14:40 EDT

"Surprises" Prologue
by Jaclyn Link

TITLE: Surprises
AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
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. <<Wow,>> 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. <<Probably Angel=92s doing,>> 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.
<<This is where Angel lived as a human.>> She smiled to herself, thinking =
of
her love in his eighteenth century clothing and long hair. <<He was so
innocent, like I was.>>
=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. <<What the hell,>> she thought. <<He can=92t lose his soul.>> 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. <<I=92m going home,>> she thought. <<I=92m=
 finally
going home.>>
*****
End Prologue





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Surprises" 2/?
Date: 24 Sep 1998 13:19:12 EDT

"Surprises" Prologue
by Jaclyn Link

TITLE: Surprises
AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
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. <<Wow,>> 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. <<Probably Angel=92s doing,>> 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.
<<This is where Angel lived as a human.>> She smiled to herself, thinking =
of
her love in his eighteenth century clothing and long hair. <<He was so
innocent, like I was.>>
=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. <<What the hell,>> she thought. <<He can=92t lose his soul.>> 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. <<I=92m going home,>> she thought. <<I=92m=
 finally
going home.>>
*****
End Prologue

"Surprises" 1/?
by Jaclyn Link

TITLE: Surprises
AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
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=
,
<<not yet.>>
=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: [e-mail]
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: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Surprises" 1/?
Date: 24 Sep 1998 13:18:03 EDT

"Surprises" Prologue
by Jaclyn Link

TITLE: Surprises
AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
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. <<Wow,>> 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. <<Probably Angel=92s doing,>> 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.
<<This is where Angel lived as a human.>> She smiled to herself, thinking =
of
her love in his eighteenth century clothing and long hair. <<He was so
innocent, like I was.>>
=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. <<What the hell,>> she thought. <<He can=92t lose his soul.>> 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. <<I=92m going home,>> she thought. <<I=92m=
 finally
going home.>>
*****
End Prologue

"Surprises" 1/?
by Jaclyn Link

TITLE: Surprises
AUTHOR: Jaclyn Link
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
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=
,
<<not yet.>>
=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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Chosen One
Date: 24 Sep 1998 11:40:27 PDT

Title: The Chosen One (1/?)
Author: ~Toni Walker aka Bradygirl
       ([e-mail])
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

ôYou know, we could do this the easy way--ö informed Buffy Summers.
ôStake. Heart.  Dust. Or...ö

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.

ôThat really wasnÆt a nice thing to do. Now apologize. Say youÆre
sorry.ö She loved taking all her aggression out on the inhuman. SheÆd
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 couldnÆt vampires be pretty? she wondered. Buffy shrugged at
the thought. Maybe because demons werenÆt meant to appeal to the mortal
realm.

Hey, she was beginning to sound like Giles. ôThatÆs it! IÆm spending way
too much of my time in the library.ö She wasnÆt 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. ôI
have got to get a life. I even fight in the library.ö

Another vampire appeared beside the first.

ôAre we having a party, and you didnÆt invite me? IÆm crushed.ö 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 BuffyÆs
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.

ôHey,ö he yelled from above the vampire. ôWanna cookie?ö The vampire
snarled and went back to Willow.  ôTheyÆre really good. You sure? You
can have the rest. Am I a good guy or what?ö

ôXander! Stop talking to him and DO SOMETHING!ö 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.

ôRun Willow!ö

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 itÆs mark and the vamp dissolved into floating fragments.
The secondÆs aim wasnÆt 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 wasnÆt the chosen one and didnÆt have to do this night
after night. He could see that Willow hadnÆt run far and now had the
stake in her hand.

ôThrow it already,ö he said harshly, ducking again. ôIÆll give you a
cookie.. when I get a new bag.ö

ôDonÆt worry Xander. IÆve got it,ö said BuffyÆs 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.

ôRemind me *never* to be near a vampire when you do that again,ö he
complained. ôUgh! Vampire cooties! I think I need a shower.ö

ôOh, youÆll live. At least he didnÆt bite you,ö said Buffy straightening
her shirt.

ôYeah, Xander. That could have been *very bad*,ö added Willow.

ôYouÆre right. Becoming a blood sucking demon isnÆt high on my priority
list.ö

ôYou have a priority list?ö asked Willow.

ôHey, I brought the cookies didnÆt I? The cookies made the vampire slip
which saved the day. IÆm so proud of myself.ö

ôUm. Xander. Buffy saved the day and youÆre life.ö

ôYeah, that too. But the cookies were instrumental. You couldnÆt have
done it without the cookies.ö

ôShe couldnÆt have done *what* without the cookies?ö asked Giles walking
in from the hallway. He observed the disarray of the library and sighed.
ôLet me guess....ö

ôVampires.ö stated Buffy. ôI was just doing what you said. You said,
æBuffy, wait here.Æ So I waited. They found me first. It wasnÆt my
fault.ö

ôI know.ö Giles raked a hand through his hair. ôIÆm afraid I have more
bad news. Your work for tonight isnÆt over.ö

ôDo I need to fire up the computer?ö Willow asked with glee.

ôNo, Spike and Dru have created a portal.ö Giles laid down the book in
his hand and opened it to the precise spot he wanted to read. ôItÆs more
like a rip in reality. I donÆt know exactly where theyÆve 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.ö

ôROAD TRIP!ö Xander grabbed his backpack and gathered up a few uncrushed
cookies. ôIÆm ready.ö

ôYeah, me too.  I want to see what a rip in reality looks like.ö

ôYouÆre not going to make me go alone, are you?ö Buffy batted her
ædonÆt-make-me-go alone-IÆm-only-sixteenÆ eyelashes.

ôNo, of course not, I ... well, since IÆm the watcher I thought it only
appropriate that I go.ö

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.

ôIÆll tell you what... YouÆre all going.ö 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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: The Chosen One
Date: 24 Sep 1998 11:41:29 PDT

Title: The Chosen One (1/?)
Author: ~Toni Walker aka Bradygirl
       ([e-mail])
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

ôYou know, we could do this the easy way--ö informed Buffy Summers.
ôStake. Heart.  Dust. Or...ö

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.

ôThat really wasnÆt a nice thing to do. Now apologize. Say youÆre
sorry.ö She loved taking all her aggression out on the inhuman. SheÆd
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 couldnÆt vampires be pretty? she wondered. Buffy shrugged at
the thought. Maybe because demons werenÆt meant to appeal to the mortal
realm.

Hey, she was beginning to sound like Giles. ôThatÆs it! IÆm spending way
too much of my time in the library.ö She wasnÆt 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. ôI
have got to get a life. I even fight in the library.ö

Another vampire appeared beside the first.

ôAre we having a party, and you didnÆt invite me? IÆm crushed.ö 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 BuffyÆs
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.

ôHey,ö he yelled from above the vampire. ôWanna cookie?ö The vampire
snarled and went back to Willow.  ôTheyÆre really good. You sure? You
can have the rest. Am I a good guy or what?ö

ôXander! Stop talking to him and DO SOMETHING!ö 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.

ôRun Willow!ö

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 itÆs mark and the vamp dissolved into floating fragments.
The secondÆs aim wasnÆt 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 wasnÆt the chosen one and didnÆt have to do this night
after night. He could see that Willow hadnÆt run far and now had the
stake in her hand.

ôThrow it already,ö he said harshly, ducking again. ôIÆll give you a
cookie.. when I get a new bag.ö

ôDonÆt worry Xander. IÆve got it,ö said BuffyÆs 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.

ôRemind me *never* to be near a vampire when you do that again,ö he
complained. ôUgh! Vampire cooties! I think I need a shower.ö

ôOh, youÆll live. At least he didnÆt bite you,ö said Buffy straightening
her shirt.

ôYeah, Xander. That could have been *very bad*,ö added Willow.

ôYouÆre right. Becoming a blood sucking demon isnÆt high on my priority
list.ö

ôYou have a priority list?ö asked Willow.

ôHey, I brought the cookies didnÆt I? The cookies made the vampire slip
which saved the day. IÆm so proud of myself.ö

ôUm. Xander. Buffy saved the day and youÆre life.ö

ôYeah, that too. But the cookies were instrumental. You couldnÆt have
done it without the cookies.ö

ôShe couldnÆt have done *what* without the cookies?ö asked Giles walking
in from the hallway. He observed the disarray of the library and sighed.
ôLet me guess....ö

ôVampires.ö stated Buffy. ôI was just doing what you said. You said,
æBuffy, wait here.Æ So I waited. They found me first. It wasnÆt my
fault.ö

ôI know.ö Giles raked a hand through his hair. ôIÆm afraid I have more
bad news. Your work for tonight isnÆt over.ö

ôDo I need to fire up the computer?ö Willow asked with glee.

ôNo, Spike and Dru have created a portal.ö Giles laid down the book in
his hand and opened it to the precise spot he wanted to read. ôItÆs more
like a rip in reality. I donÆt know exactly where theyÆve 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.ö

ôROAD TRIP!ö Xander grabbed his backpack and gathered up a few uncrushed
cookies. ôIÆm ready.ö

ôYeah, me too.  I want to see what a rip in reality looks like.ö

ôYouÆre not going to make me go alone, are you?ö Buffy batted her
ædonÆt-make-me-go alone-IÆm-only-sixteenÆ eyelashes.

ôNo, of course not, I ... well, since IÆm the watcher I thought it only
appropriate that I go.ö

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.

ôIÆll tell you what... YouÆre all going.ö 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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (12/?)
Date: 24 Sep 1998 16:39:50 PDT

Title: Kender Chaos
Author: Black Fire
Email:[e-mail]
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!!
[e-mail] | 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: [e-mail] (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: [e-mail]
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, "Willàyou mind if I
bag?"

The redhead looked at her disappointedly, "Buffy, come on, you've hardly
had a free night sinceàwellàjust 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 seeàWhite 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
fellowày'know meàold, 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 hereàor 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 dimmerà

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"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 meàyour 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 youràumà" he glanced at the figure
on the ground, "White Knight's still aroundàor 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, butàuhàit wasn't exactly how I planned it.  He was suppose
to be on your doorstep, bruised, battered, andàwellàdead, but, um, close
enough, don't you think?"

"Damn you," she spat bitterly, "I swear to God, I'm going to kill youàI'm
going to see you dead."

"Temper, temper," he said with a laugh, "Maybe you willàmaybe you won't,
we'll just see about that."

"I will, believe me," she replied.

"Oh, I believe you, slayeràI 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, Angelàvery soon," Buffy said as he disappeared into the night and
she turned to Xander who was slowly coming out of his unconscious state.

"XanderàXanderà" 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***********


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From: "Toni Walker" <[e-mail]>
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......

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From: [e-mail] (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: [e-mail]
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 Godàoh my Godà"

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 thisà"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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 innocentàI 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 thatàeither 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 anythingàdo you?" Buffy asked worriedly,
"Y'know, like take on the ancestral act of being non-living?"

He blinked and thought, "Oh, Godàs-she must highly unstable if she
knowsàumàGo."

"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.

"Yeahàwell, 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 bitchà"

"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, "Buffyàrightà"

Buffy frowned, "Well, don't wear it outà"

"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."

___________________________________________________________________
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From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: My Past, Your Future (1/?)
Date: 27 Sep 1998 16:58:43 EDT

Title: My Past, Your Future (1/?)
Author: AnGeL X ([e-mail])
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: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Your Past, My Future (2/?)
Date: 29 Sep 1998 01:16:15 EDT

Title: My Past, Your Future (2/?)
Author: AnGeL X ([e-mail])
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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Masquerade - 1/1 by Tiffany
Date: 29 Sep 1998 00:06:38 -0700

Title: Masquerade - 1/1
Author: Tiffany Gregg
E-Mail: [e-mail]
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: [e-mail]

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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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: [e-mail]


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.  <EW, why am I getting all flustered at
Spike looking at me.  I seriously need to get some sleep or something>

Spike who was having similar thoughts himself gave a little shiver.  <She's
the bloody slayer for Christ's sake, man.  Although, there is something
about those braids...No, not going to think that...eye candy time is over.
Time to kick some butt!>

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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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: [e-mail]


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.  <Augh.  I
can't believe that I'm having fuzzy feelings all of a sudden for Spike.
He's my enemy.  Although he did help me in that fight against Angelus.  No
he didn't do that for 'me' he did that to get Dru back.>  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.

<God, he's so cute when he does that.  Stop it Summers.  He's your enemy.
He's a vampire and he has no soul...remember.  But, it could be fun.  Stop
it now.  Must not think that.> 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.  <Did I just
say that.  Spike 'ol boy, you're losing it man.  She's the Slayer remember.
She'll stake you first chance she gets>

"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" <[e-mail]>
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
[e-mail]
GASPer, Keeper of Giles' Library Phone
and Proud WPWP Member #517






-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Black Fire" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (13/14)
Date: 29 Sep 1998 16:57:40 PDT

Title: Kender Chaos
Author: Black Fire
Email:[e-mail]
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!!
[e-mail] | 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" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kender Chaos (14/14)
Date: 29 Sep 1998 17:00:20 PDT

Title: Kender Chaos
Author: Black Fire
Email:[e-mail]
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!!
[e-mail] | 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" <[e-mail]>
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" <[e-mail]>
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 [e-mail]

Thanks!

Karra


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: NightHunter <[e-mail]>
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 <[e-mail]>

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) <Example: Xander*, Buffy*, etc.>


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: [e-mail] (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

___________________________________________________________________
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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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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" <[e-mail]>
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: [e-mail]
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.

==============