by xita » Sat Aug 04, 2001 7:48 pm
by FlyingBunny » Sat Aug 04, 2001 9:58 pm
***
Two minutes later, Willow slowly opens her eyes and sits up. She gingerly checks the back of her head, not finding any blood she picks herself up off the ground.
WILLOW: Ugh, my head. (looks around) Tara! Tara! No…
She quickly runs back to the Magic Shop, barging in causing everyone to jump.
WILLOW: Tara...attacked...oww my head.
BUFFY: (runs up to help Willow) Oh my God! Willow are you all right? Tara did this? Must've been her demon side. Did you see where she was heading?
WILLOW: No, not Tara, the cop did this. He hit me on the head and when I woke up Tara was gone. He took her. Buffy I have to... we have to get her back.
BUFFY: We'll get her back, I promise.
XANDER: I hate to be negative but how are we going to find her?
WILLOW: I know! The guiding spell. Remember the Halloween party at that fraternity house? Only this time we won't have a fear demon haunting us. (looks at Buffy) I know I can do it. [I can do this, I have to get her back so I can tell her...]
Five minutes later, Giles finish setting up the protective circle, as a precautionary measure. Willow puts down the ice pack that Anya had got for her head and goes to sit in the middle of the circle.
WILLOW: Aradia, Goddess of the lost, the path is murky, the woods are dense, darkness pervades, I beseech thee, bring the light. (a tiny speck of green light appears floating in front of her face) Find Tara.
The green speck floats out the door with the rest of the gang following close behind.
***
Inside a gray indistinct warehouse, Tara is laying on a metal table with her hands handcuffed to two of the legs. Peterson is standing above her and drawing a symbol on her forehead with some type of ash.
TARA: (pleading) Y-You've got the wrong person. I'm not the Child of Light. I can't be because I'm not pure, I have demon inside me.
PETERSON: Don't try to stall, I can smell a demon from a mile away and you (takes a sniff) are no demon. What I do smell is their scent, their energy surrounds you like electricity. It's almost euphoric and it'll soon be mine.
TARA: [I'm not a demon? Could he be telling the truth? That means my dad has been lying to me. Not that it'll mean anything now since I'm about to die.] Please d-don't do this.
PETERSON: It's time.
Peterson leans over Tara and take her head in his hand but instead of sucking her energy out, black mist flows out of his eyes and into hers. Unseen by Peterson a green speck floats through the door and towards Tara. A second later, the door is kicked off the hinges and the gang burst in. Willow is the first to spot Tara and Peterson. She raises her hand and sends an energy wave towards him. Unfortunately it's stopped short by a couple of inches from a hidden barrier.
PETERSON: Something is wrong, the link won't work. Something is missing. Argh! It doesn't matter if you won't bring me to the Powers then I will take you away from them. You own powers will have to be enough.
Between the two sets of eyes the black mist changes to white as Tara's energy is sucked out of her. Thirty seconds later he drops her head, having completely drained Tara. Then the black mist starts to flow out of Peterson's eyes, expanding and filling up the room. The Scooby’s look on in horror. Willow tries to run towards Tara but is held back by Buffy and Xander. They start backing out through the open door to avoid being engulfed by the growing mist.
***
In that white room with no boarders, the two Oracles are watching the events on the projection floating in the air. There is a third voice speaking to them but the source cannot be seen.
TPTB: Our chosen has fallen.
ORACLE2: We had made a deal to protect them all.
TPTB: You duty is to protect us. Their link to us cannot be opened. Do not interfere.
ORACLE1: The other half, she will die.
TPTB: Then we will call upon another.
***
Back at the warehouse, the black mist had already expanded to cover the entire building. Then to the amazement of every one the mist itself speaks. Its voice is like grating sandpaper inside their heads.
DARKMIST: *THE POWER!* I will have this universe and drain it dry.
WILLOW: Buffy, Tara's still in there!
BUFFY: It's too late. We can't get to her.
WILLOW: I have to try!
Willow struggles against Buffy and Xander but they have her in a strong grip.
BUFFY: Don't!
WILLOW: You don't understand Buffy, I love her. I'm sorry.
Willow sends Buffy and Xander flying back a couple of feet with an energy wave. She then turns around and runs into the black mist. As she crosses the threshold, pain explodes from every nerve center in her body. Every cell in her feels like it's being stabbed by hot pokers but Willow continues step after step, not really knowing where she's heading but believes beyond doubt that her heart will lead her to Tara. About five minutes later but what felt like a millennia of pain, Willow sees Tara's prone figure. She struggles up to the blonde and holds her head.
WILLOW: Tara. Tara, wake up!
Nothing.
WILLOW: Please come back to me!
Nothing.
WILLOW: You promised that you'll stay. Don't leave me, not now, not when I finally figured out that I love you.
Nothing.
As tears stream down her cheeks, Willow leans down and kisses Tara's still lips. As their lips meet, the two girls begin to glow white.
DARKMIST: YES! This is it, this is what was missing. The other half. I can feel your energy. Silly witch, you just gave me the door to the Powers that Be and all of your destruction.
Then from behind Willow a familiar gold figure appears and places his hand on both their heads.
ORACLE2: Remember.
In their minds memories flash through. Strange images from what seems like another time, another life.
"...Also spells going awry, friends in danger -- I'm definitely nothing special...No, you are."
"...but I just sort of like having something that's just, you know, mine...I am you know...What?...Yours."
"...You should ride with me sometime. I guarantee safety and fun...Well, if you promise to look after me."
The two girls start to grow brighter and brighter.
ORACLE2: Let your love prevail.
"...I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love...I am...You mean...I mean, okay...Oh yes."
"...You guys all just have this really tight bond. It's hard to break into that. I'm not even sure I want to...I'm sure. You're completely one of the gang now. Everyone accepts that. You're one of the good guys."
"...That's fine. I don't need to be snuggled...Vixen...You've been spell gal night and day lately...Well, I just wanna keep up with you. And I'm-I'd like to be useful. You know, to the gang. I just never feel useful...You are. You're essential."
DARKMIST: YES! THE POWER!
"...I think about what you grew up with, and then look at what you are it makes me proud. It makes me love you more...Every time I-even at my worst, you always make me feel special. How do you do that?...Magic."
"...Tara...Shhhh, darling...I can't do this...We can do this...Okay, We can be there for Buffy, and Dawn, little Dawn...We can be strong...Strong like an Amazon?...Strong like an Amazon, right."
"...Yeah, I figured, you know, life goes by fast. If you don't write it down, a lot of it just
gets lost. And I want to remember...Down to every last bagel...Down to every last everything I do with you."
The two girls are glowing so bright now, that their light starts to break through the black mist.
"...It's okay. I can do this. I'm gonna take care of her. Even if she never, She's my girl...I understand... I know you do...Hear that, baby? You're my always."
"...Tara...Willow, I got so lost...I found you, I will always find you."
DARKMIST: No, it's too strong. Can't...contain...Aaaaaah!
The bright light explodes through the mist and destroying it in the process. This light shined so bright that it was seen miles away. The rest of the gang shielded their eyes but when the light passed through their bodies it felt warm and comforting. For a moment they all truly glowed. A minute later the glow dissipates. The gang slowly walks into the warehouse and sees Willow crying while holding Tara's still body. Buffy places a comforting hand on the redhead's shoulder
BUFFY: Willow, I'm so sor...
At this moment Tara take's a swallow breath and then another and another. Her eyes slowly open.
TARA: (softly) Willow?
WILLOW: Tara? Tara! Oh baby, you came back to me! (plants fifty kisses all over her face)
TARA: (faint smile) I promised you that I’d stay... Willow, I remember everything now.
WILLOW: I know, so do I. (hugs her closer)
BUFFY: Yeah, I saw images too. Mainly of the times that me and Tara hung out.
Mutterings of the same from the rest of the group.
XANDER: So did what we saw really happen or is it like Dawn, with the whole implanted memories.
ORACLE2: No, what you saw was real.
Everyone turns around to see who had spoken. The gold figure stands a foot away from the gang.
ORACLE2: I removed them from your minds and replaced them with what you currently remember. It was part of an agreement that we made to protect you and the Powers that Be. What you saw are of your true past and now they will reintegrate themselves.
BUFFY: Who are you?
ORACLE2: That does not matter because you will never remember.
With a wave of his hand, the memories of the gold figure standing there are erased from all their minds. Momentarily confused, the gang regains their composure. Buffy help break Tara's handcuffs and then Giles carry her to the car. Another gold figure appears next to the first one, who hasn't move but went unseen by the Scooby’s.
ORACLE1: You interfered, brother. They will not be pleased
ORACLE2: You didn't stop me.
ORACLE1: I know.
***
Tara's room at Buffy's house. Everything is in boxes again as Tara starts to move her things to Willow's dorm room. Buffy picks up one of the heavier boxes filled with Tara's collection of ancient Magical textbooks and heads downstairs.
TARA: (yelling to Buffy who’s at the stairs) You need help with that?
BUFFY: Nope got Slayer strength.
WILLOW: So Tara, how are you dealing with our whole Child of Light status?
TARA: It's a little overwhelming and hard to believe but I'm not surprise that you are one though.
WILLOW: Why?
TARA: Cause you were always the brightest light in my sky.
The two girls share a loving look and then a passionate kiss. Buffy walks into the room and can't help but to smile at the love that they have for each other.
BUFFY: [I hope that one day I can find love as pure as theirs] Ahem, you guys want to save that until you get moved into Willow's place.
The two girls blush and separate themselves. Willow picks up a box of clothes and goes downstairs. Buffy follows with the stereo. Tara goes back to carefully packing the more delicate magical equipment and ingredients. Suddenly feeling a presence behind her she turns around thinking it may be Willow but finds nobody there. A little confused, she shrugs it off and picks up the box and heads toward the door. Once reaching the door she pauses, feeling that presence again she looks over her shoulder and surveys the room. Still not seeing anything she goes on downstairs. In one of the corners stand the two gold Oracles.
ORACLE1: They have no idea what lies ahead for them, where their destinies will lead them. Brother, don't you at least sometimes feel that we should let them choose. To tell our chosen the truth and let them decide if they want to follow the path we have laid out for them.
ORACLE2: You are still young and naive, brother.
ORACLE1: I am learning.
***
EPILOGUE
Sunnydale Central Hospital. Buffy, Tara, and Willow are standing in the main hall of the ICU.
BUFFY: Are you guys sure about this?
Our two girls look at each other, questions of concern is asked with this simple look. Reaching an understanding, Tara and Willow take each others hand, turns to Buffy and nods yes with confidence.
BUFFY: Okay, I'll stand watch and you guys do your thing but at the first sign of trouble we leave.
The three walk towards the rooms.
On a TV somewhere, the eleven o’clock news is playing. An attractive anchorwoman finishes a story on the latest political scandal. She flips her sheet of paper and continues on with the next story.
REPORTER: In local news, miraculous recoveries at Sunnydale Central Hospital. All of the recent coma patients have regained consciousness. Doctor's are baffled by the sudden and instantaneous recoveries. There have also been reports of three unidentified women leaving the intensive care unit where the patients were being monitored just before the nurses discovered the recovering patients.
Cut to a forty-year-old women standing with an eighty year old woman and a teenage boy.
WOMAN: We want to thank whoever it is for bringing back not only a faithful husband but also a loving father and a wonderful son.
Cut to a thirty-year-old mother who is crying and being supported by her husband.
MOTHER: These women, they are angels, they were sent down to light the way back for my little boy. (she holds up a picture of a five-year-old child) They brought him back to me. Thank you, thank you so much.
Then the TV is turned off.
The End.
-------------------
Well that’s it, it’s done. I want to thank you all for spending your time reading this. I had fun writing it and I hope you had fun reading it.
by Warduke » Sat Aug 04, 2001 10:19 pm
by Zahir » Sat Aug 04, 2001 11:47 pm
------------------
"O let my name be in the Book of Love.
If it be there, I care not of
That other book Above...
Strike it out! Or write it in anew.
But let it be in the Book of Love!"
--Omar Kyam
by xita » Sun Aug 05, 2001 12:15 am
by tommo » Sun Aug 05, 2001 2:08 am
It was beautiful. I loved the flashbacks to their times together, and how they remembered everything about one another. Sigh. It just proves that true love will conquer anything in the end.
------------------
"She looked across at Willow, whose face was filled with light. She had never felt so calm and happy, and strong..." ~ Unseen: Door To Alternity
by karenk » Sun Aug 05, 2001 7:07 pm
Great fic!
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