New Fic - Worst Nightmare

[barnabasvamp]

OMG!! And then you try to convince us you don't do cliff-hangers??



What a twist, loved it! Poor Tara She must get her Willow back!



BV

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[KiwiAlcyone]

Darkwiccan: How do you know that I wasn't writing about ya?

But seriously, thanks for enjoying...how are your fics coming along? Serious DW withdrawl here!



BV: I don't do cliffhangers...and there isn't one in the next chapter either!



Alcy

Calvin: Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?

Hobbes: I’m not sure that man needs the help.

[KiwiAlcyone]

Chapter Nineteen – “Chamber of trials.”





When Willow opened her eyes she found herself lying flat on the ground, limbs spreadeagled. She blinked and remembered falling forward after she had smashed through the mirror. Falling and falling…but she did not remember hitting the ground.



The pain of her bruises and cuts returned shortly afterwards. She let out a groan as she pushed with both hands on the floor, levering herself into a sitting position. Willow’s eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness around her, the single beam of moonlight falling from the ceiling cast an eerie glow over her surroundings.



She was in a large circular room. Against the wall were pillars rising up to the ceiling which was lost in darkness high above. Willow stood, swaying slightly as she did. The Horn sat on it’s pedestal in the centre of the room…just lying there in the shining beam of moonlight. She took a step towards it, fully expecting the floor to collapse or those little poisonous arrows to shoot from holes in the walls like they usually did whenever Harrison Ford was about to grab the ancient treasure…nothing happened…



“Huh,” Willow said thoughtfully, taking another step forward on her jelly-like legs, “Okay, grab the Horn…go back through the mirror that isn’t a mirror…”



Something poked at the back of her mind, Willow spun around to see nothing but a curve of wall and a stone pillar behind her…no mirror, no way out.



“Great,” Willow whispered, “Now I’m stuck in a room with no way out…talking to myself…how’s that for crazy?”



A chill wind whistled around her and Willow looked to realised the there were two corridors leading from the room, opposite from one another. They both lead straight into darkness, Willow shivered. Her hand reached out for the Horn…



Clank…clank…



Willow stopped, her hand still stretched out towards to the Horn. The hairs on the back of her neck pricked painfully.



Clank…



Willow spun around to see a shadow emerging from one of the corridors, light glinting off shiny metal armour, the blade of an axe…It came closer until Willow could see a fully armoured knight of old advancing on her. She could see nothing but darkness in the slit of its visor.



“You here to help?” Willow asked quietly.



It responded by raising its axe high and Willow took it as a definite no. She took a step backwards…what on earth was she supposed to do?



“You have got to be kidding me,” Willow almost laughed, she had no weapon…no magicks…and she was being chased by an axe wielding warrior intent on making her into sushi.



Willow turned and started running towards to the corridor. It was just like in a dream, she knew she had to run as fast as possible and yet the best she could manage was an awkward stumble…all played out in slow motion. No matter how hard she tried, she could not move any faster.



She left the chamber behind her, still hearing the steady sound of metal hitting stone. Willow ran straight into the darkness. Soon it was all around her, pressing against her. With a painful thud she ran straight into something solid…it rattled like…a door on is hinges! She felt desperately for a handle, her fingers closed over a heavy latch. With a cry she fell inwards.



Willow brushed her hair out of her eyes, looking around to see she had fallen into a huge study…shelves of books lined the walls…magical texts. Torches burned in brackets on the walls. More vials of potions and spell ingredients. Willow searched for a weapon but she could find nothing…there was no lock on the door…the table! Willow ran to the table and was about to push it towards the door when she saw the assortment of bottles, each one labelled very neatly. The footsteps came closer…Willow snatched up a bottle of newt eyes and opened the lid, hastily pouring them out on the ground. A task at which any other time she would have balked. To the now empty bottle she added the ingredients she needed…sulphur…petroleum…a few others, each one going into the bottle even as the door opened. Her stalker-knight advanced on the table at which Willow stood, she snatched up the last ingredient just as he grabbed the table and threw it aside, sending jars and bottles crashing to the floor.



Willow scrambled backwards, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she opened the jar of quicklime. Her back was against a wall of books when the lid finally clattered to the floor and she shook the crystalline substance into her bottle. It ignited almost instantly…burning her hand in the split second that it took for her to throw it at the knight. The bottle hit his chest armour with a dull thump and shattered, the liquid fire spreading to engulf him in just seconds. Even on fire, the knight continued to advance on Willow, she screamed and had to dodge his axe as it went smashing into the books right beside her head. The heat was intense…and Willow could just imagine going up in flames herself…how poetic, the witch being burnt alive…



Willow scrambled past the burning figure but even as she did his axe caught a glancing blow to her side. It dug into flesh, biting deep. She screamed and went crashing to the floor, Willow waited for the final blow to fall as she lay helpless on the ground. There was a crash behind her and she rolled over to see the knight was nothing more than a burning and twisted pile of metal on the floor.



“Gah!” Willow pressed her hand to her side to stop the blood flowing from the wound, it felt as though she had been torn open.



Willow snatched up a piece of cloth lying nearby and shoved it against her side to soak up the blood. The Horn! Torn and bleeding, Willow knew she still had to have the Horn. She stumbled back to the circular room in which it sat, the corridor now illuminated by the handy fire she had created. She lurched like a drunkard, holding the wall for support as she moved.



By the time Willow had managed to make her way back she was feeling incredibly light-headed. Her steps little more than awkward shuffles, each one made as though it were the last one she could manage. Once inside she crumpled to her knees, doubling over in pain.



“Damn, this getting hurt thing…it’s not much fun,” she felt that talking to herself was the only way to get through this, “On your feet kiddo!” she tried to say it brightly but it just came out as a strangled gasp.



“Guardian,” a deep voice resonated throughout the chamber.



Willow looked up through glazed eyes to see that she was not alone in the room. Standing in front of her, on the other side of the pedestal was a huge shape…man-like. Its limbs were clad in blood red leather, the clothes straining against a broad chest and massive muscles. A deep cowl was pulled up over its head but even in shadow, Willow could see what lay beneath. A plain, polished silver mask covered its face. The mask was carved in the shape of a handsome, male visage but left no openings for mouth or even eyes. Even so, Willow knew it was watching her.



“Are you here to finish me off?” Willow asked weakly, she could no longer stand let alone run or fight.



“No,” the voice replied simply.



Willow would have breathed a sigh of relief…but she could no longer manage even that. She had to fight to hold herself upright, her chin sagged against her chest. If she just closed her eyes and rested for a moment…



“They’re waiting for you…take the Horn and go to them,” it sounded so simple in theory.



“Wha…?” Willow looked up, a huge hand was extended towards the Horn, offering it to her. She shook her head slightly, “I can’t…can you please get me out of here?”



“No.”



“Fat lot of help you are,” Willow said bitterly, “Who are you anyway?”



“The creator of the Horn.”



“Janus?” Willow asked in a whisper.



“One of my many names, yes…”



“Well if you’re a god you can get me out of here!”



“No…but I can give you what you need to get yourself out.”



If there was one thing she had learnt from her time in Sunnydale, it was that powerful mystical forces never gave anything freely without expecting something in return. There was always a price…



Willow coughed, feeling warm blood flowing over her chin, “What’s the catch?”



“There is no catch…I will give you the power…”



“Magicks…you want to give me magicks?” Willow whispered, there it was… “I don’t want them.”



“It’s the only way…do you want your friends…your lover…do you want them to die?”



“I can’t,” Willow said miserably, “You don’t understand…”



He chuckled, of course a god understood, “I understand perfectly…you think that everything you have fought against, the gains you have made will all be for nothing if you give into it now.”



“Yes…and I won’t be able to come back from it again…it was hard enough the first time,” Willow coughed, a spasm that sent waves of nausea over her, “I’ll never be the same again.”



“Maybe…maybe not…” he waved his hand and a veil of light fell over Willow’s eyes,



Willow blinked…she was in a non-descript park, perhaps it was in Sunnydale but it could just have easily been anywhere on the planet where there was a blue sky, warm sun and green grass. Willow looked down at her body, she was clean and her clothes were not ragged and bloody.



She was standing barefoot on the grass, it felt delicious and cool beneath her feet. Looking back up she saw a children’s play area. The sounds of happy, laughing children filled her ears. It was a far cry from the screams of terror she had grown accustomed to in her life. A familiar shape moved over by the swing, helping a small child down from the seat. Long, blonde hair flowing in silky waves down her back. A lithe but curvaceous body moving beneath a simple t-shirt and a pair of well-worn jeans. Despite everything that had happened to her, Willow found a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. It was as though the whole nightmare had been in her past…so many years ago that the pain had faded into an uncomfortable memory.



Willow felt something sitting snugly around a finger on her left hand. Lifting her hand she saw a simple golden band engraved with an intricate Celtic design.



Willow thought with a surge of complete happiness coursing through her body.



For a split second she had an image of a glowing Tara in simple white silk, flowers woven into her hair as she said “I do…”



“Mama!” a small voice yelled excitedly.



Willow knew of no reason why the cry should have attraction her attention and yet it did. It was meant for her, she was someone’s mother. There was a small shape flying across the grass, little legs carrying them as fast as possible. A bright mop of red hair and dancing green eyes were fixed on her as though she were the centre of the universe. With a laugh of her own, Willow bent down just as the little girl reached her and swept her up into her arms. She hugged the small body against her chest as though it belonged there, small arms reaching up to wrap themselves around her neck.



Willow found her eyes watering as she ran her hands over the soft red hair. She looked up to see Tara, that gorgeous lop-sided smile fixed on her face, walking towards them. She reached Willow and planted a loving kiss on her lips, hand briefly caressing her neck.



“You’re late,” the blonde said softly.



“I was beginning to think I might not be able to make it…for a while there, it was looking as though I wouldn’t be able to at all,” Willow replied, although she had to wonder, where had she just been? Wherever it was, it was no longer important…she was with her family.



She heard a wild cry and was immediately gripped with panic. Whirling around all he saw was a dark shape hurtling at them. For a few moments she wanted to run…but then everything was alright again. A lanky young boy, blonde hair falling forward over his eyes pulled his bike into a skidding stop just a few feet from them.



“Mike!” Tara scolded, reaching forward to grab the little scoundrel in a headlock.



He laughed and fought free, “Jaime’s having a sleepover…and you know, he just got a PS3 for his birthday…”



“We know, Anya called us last night to assure us it was all legit,” Tara ruffled his hair.



“Thanks Mom!” he whooped excitedly and went biking back to where his friends were waiting for him.



“Poor Xander and Anya, all those seven year old boys together!” Willow shook her head in sympathy.



She knew her son was seven…could remember Tara giving birth to him after being in labour for almost twenty-four hours…



“Xander loves it…Anya on the other hand…” Tara smirked.



Willow grinned at Tara and then looked down at the small girl in her arms, face turned up as she gazed adoringly at her mother.



“Now we’ve just got to get rid of you for the night as well,” she teased.



Tara slipped an arm around her back, kissing Willow’s cheek, “She could spend the night at the zoo…”



“Yes!” the little girl clapped her hands excitedly.



Willow laughed and kissed the top of her daughter’s head. She felt Tara slide a warm arm around her back, pulling their hips together. She felt so complete, so perfect…



“Well, she does go to bed at seven…” Willow mused, naked-Tara images filling her mind.



Tara’s eyes sparkled, “Plenty of time.”



“For what?” their daughter piped up, her curiosity endless.



“Mommy-time,” Tara lent in and placed a small kiss on her nose.



“Oh,” the little girl smiled as though she understood everything, “Mommy-time.”



Suddenly, the nightmare came rushing back to her, slamming into her face in all it’s terrible brutality. The pain was back, renewed and increased tenfold. Willow bit down on her already bleeding lip. The sweet memories of seeing her children fading fast…only they had not been her children at all. It was a dream, nothing more than a dream to trick her into accepting the powers that he offered.



“It’s…n-not real,” Willow forced out between clenched teeth, the pain was unbearable, god I wish it was real...our children…



“Maybe…maybe not,” was all he said again.



“Shut the hell up with your goddamn maybes!” Willow hissed angrily, drawing strength from her anger, “Give me something with a simple yes or no.”



“Yes.”



“Yes what?”



“The answer to your question.”



“I didn’t ask you anything.”



“Not me directly, but you are wondering whether you are going to die.”



“I’m going to die?” Willow asked in a numb voice.



“If you refuse to allow me to help you…yes…you will die right where you’re lying now, slowly in a pool of your own blood.”



“Then so be it,” Willow whispered, “I don’t care anymore…”



“Tara…Tara will die too…maybe not today, maybe not for a long time,” there he was with his maybes again, “But what is left of her life will be like a living hell…you will make sure of that.”



“That thing is not me!”



“She is more of you than you in your present state can ever realise. While you would crawl through your existence on your belly, denying your own self, she has embraced it. All that she is…her power…that is you, the real you.”



“It’s not me! I would die before embracing that power again.”



“But you wouldn’t let her die…can you imagine what it would be like to live out the rest of your days with your lover, even though they hurt you beyond belief, torturing you for enjoyment, gaining pleasure from your screams…and yet you would come crawling back each and every time…because you still love her…”



God no…Tara would never live like that…or would she? She already has…oh god, I’ve already done that to her…



Willow felt her defences crumbling, “But I can’t trust anything you say…you made the Horn, it’s yours…why on earth would you give it to me when you know full well I want to destroy it?”



“The Horn is no longer mine…Guardian, I am not an evil god by any means and to see my creation in the hands of men who would torment others and be powerless to do anything about it…I want it ended. My connection to your world has almost been completely severed…the Horn is the last mess that I have to clean up…and I have watched as Guardian after Guardian has tried and failed to destroy it. You have more potential than any that have come before you…you, Willow Rosenberg,” she realised now that his voice was tinged with sadness…he was tired.



“There has to be some other way,” Willow pleaded, “I don’t want what you are offering me.”



“What do you want?” he asked softly.



“I want to go home…I want to go home and curl up in Tara’s arms.”



“Make love to her?”



“That’s none of your business,” Willow laughed, coughing up gobs of warm blood as she did so.



“You want to go home,” it was a quiet statement, as though he were thinking it over in his head. Trying to understand the word, home… “…only you can get yourself and your friends home…and you know what you have to do.”



Willow felt faint…the wound in her side was throbbing, blood still seeping out with each pulse. Blackness crept up, lurking first at the corners of her vision. She drew in a deep breath, her vision went completely cloudy…then gradually completely black.



When Willow regained conscious she was lying on the ground, it could have been a few seconds or a few hours later. She shivered…it was cold in here. Willow smiled…the air wasn’t cold at all…she was cold. Cold because she was dying. It didn’t even hurt anymore.



“You know what you have to do,” he said again, this time more insistently.



Willow sobbed…it hurt too much to cry, she had to stop. Shaking her head weakly Willow kept mouthing the word ‘no’ over and over again. If she went back to that place…the darkness would consume her as well. She would be the same as that cruel, heartless thing that had captured her and Tara. Willow never ever wanted to go to that place…



…yet she loved Tara more than anything…more than life itself. She was ready to die for her…but this?



“Your answer?”



“No,” Willow whispered weakly, “I can’t…”



“Your time is running out…” he warned ominously.



Willow didn’t care…



“Her time is running out.”



“Tara!” Willow sobbed.



“Your answer!” he demanded in a harsh voice.



Willow continued to sob incoherently.



“Your answer!”



“Yes,” Willow whispered, darkness encroaching her from all sides, her breath coming in painful shallow heaves.



“So mote it be,” Janus nodded and raised his hand.



Oh goddess no…I can’t…there’s no way Tara would ever want me to do this, even for her! “No!” Willow screamed desperately.



Willow hesitantly began to reach forward in a gesture for him to stop but even as she did, time seemed to fracture and slip into slow motion. She saw her hand moving forward ever so slowly while Janus still moved at a normal speed. His hands weaved intricate patterns in the air…from his lips came a spell that Willow could not understand.



Tendrils of black energy curled slowly out from his fingertips, tracing a deliberate path towards her. Willow tried to drag herself to her feet to escape but she could not move. They snaked closer, there was nothing Willow could do to stop them coiling around her limbs. All she could do was shake with terror when they picked her up from the ground.



“I don’t want this,” Willow tried one last desperate plea as she was raised face to face with Janus.



“What has been done cannot be undone…not this,” he said calmly.



Suddenly, Willow felt as though her whole body had been dunked in a vat of molten fire. Everyone inch of her skin burned with a pain more fierce and intense than anything she could ever have imagined. Willow threw back her head and screamed as it burned right to her core, searing through flesh, muscle and bone. She felt as though she were being torn apart, her molecules forced in every direction…and she continued to scream…and scream…



…until she realised that there was no more pain. She was standing with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Willow’s hand went quickly to her side to find no wound at all…her hand slipped over smooth, black leather. It was then that she looked down to see herself clad in an outfit she was already more familiar with than she would have liked. Leather pants…boots…a long leather coat that fell to her knees with a collar that sat snug just below her chin. It was exactly what her Dark twin was wearing.



“Evil always has to be skanky,” Willow said as she looked down at her outfit and grimaced, “Obviously.”



“You want a mirror?” Janus asked in an amused tone.



“No…I’ve already seen this reflection,” Willow whispered.



The outfit was not the only thing that had changed…Willow felt it surging through her. It was as though her whole body was still on fire and yet she was in no pain. Instead, there was euphoria…it was like no other magick she had ever come into contact with…even with Rack. This was so much more…there was unbelievable power, all hers to control as she saw fit. She was aware of everything around her, she looked at Janus and understood him for the first time…



Willow also felt her friends…far away. It all seemed almost pointless now…the whole rescue thing…what was worth saving? Compared to her they were all so weak and normal…they would all die because that’s what happened to the weak…



Tara wasn’t weak…was she? Tara with her honest, heartfelt values…her backwards attitude to magic that Willow just did not understand. Willow cocked her head to one side as she sought out the knot of emotions that was Tara. She was absolutely terrified…and yet hardly any of that terror was for herself.



It was mostly for Willow…



She doesn’t need to be afraid for me…not ever again, Willow held up her hand and watched the blue light dance across her own fingertips, Nor herself…that’s why you did this Willow…don’t forget it, it’s all for her…but it feels so fucking grand!



Willow grinned, her head tipping back as she closed her eyes to really feel the wonder of all that she had become.



“You like the power?” Janus asked.



“Yes,” Willow replied truthfully, this was definitely something she could get used to.



“What are you going to do with it?” he sounded almost worried.



Willow waved her hand in front of her eyes and the shattered mirror appeared in the far wall…the shards suddenly flew back into place. In just seconds, it was whole again. This time it showed the room she had come from…just as she had left it.



She walked purposefully to the pedestal that had stood silently in the middle of the room and looked at the Horn that lay there. Reaching out she picked it up, clenching it in a tight fist. Willow then turned towards the mirror, her strides quickening with each step as she walked towards it.



“I’m going to kick some arse,” Willow replied over her shoulder…and then she threw herself into the mirror for the second time.





TBC in Chapter Twenty – “The Horn Sounds.”

Calvin: Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?

Hobbes: I’m not sure that man needs the help.

[WillowPowered]

ohhhhh kick arse Willow wooohoooo



Jill

~~~~~~~~

Willow - Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs did ya?



My Home Page | Amber Powered | Alyson Powered



There is a little bit of Amber in all of us.

[4WiccanLuv]

Holy tamales, that was intense! Willow's impending slow death and internal struggle about the magicks was gut wrenching!! I'm on the edge of my seat here! So very dark, I love it! Keep it coming!

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[russ]

"it’s kinda…dark and Willow is faced with a really difficult choice."



And the winner for understatement of the year -- Alcy!



Willow starts where she left off, beaten and battered, using her wits to overcome the odds. Then, mortally wounded, she is given an impossible choice. Accept the magicks Janus offers, and become that which she most fears, or allow Tara to be slowly tortured to death. Talk about a no-win situation!



Janus claims he is not evil. Nevertheless, he will not take no for an answer. Willow's many "no's" are ignored, her one "yes", immediately withdrawn, is irrevocably acted upon.



Immediately on taking the power, Willow's fears come to pass. She looks on her friends as, "weak and normal ... they would all die because that's what happened to the weak." She's drunk on the power, and heads out to "kick some arse." Even though she tells herself she is doing this for Tara, she puts Tara down as having a "backwards attitude to magic." Okay, can you tell I'm worried? Willow knows herself, and although she may be wrong to deny the magick-wielding side of herself, her fear that she "won't be able to come back from it again" may be well-founded.



You do leave us some hope here, and it lies in the vision Willow was given of a future life with Tara. If she can find a way to overcome the lure of power, she may be able to triumph and find herself again. Janus, at least, seems to believe there is a possibility that she may succeed in this.



While we wait to see, let's just get the abbreviations straight. DMW = Dark Magick Willow. DW = Dark Wiccan. DWD = DarkWing Duck. The distinction is crucial, and we don't want one of our favourite authors getting confused.



Russ

[barnabasvamp]

I knew it! I just knew you were gonna get us again!



And after taking the chance and going through the mirror , Poor Willow is faced with such an internal struggle. You had my emotions going up and down, right along with Willow!!



BV

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[TaraWillow18]

Well...what can I say...I love all you fics...you are an amazing writer...keep going this way

Now about this chapter...you can't leave us this way..please update soon

I know I'm asking a lot but...what abot a chapter of Captain Red...ummm...I know I'm shutting up now.

Cheers

Giulia

[sam darls]

Okay..I've missed so many updates..why?!!! hehe..But wow..they were so amazing . love sam xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[Sakti]

You are am amazing writer!!! I totally love this fic--

This is an awesome idea, a face off between two DMWs

Yeah!



I don't think Janus was evil as much as he knew Willow confronting her dark self as her dark self was necessary for the destruction of the horn, and also in order for Willow to come to terms with her magic usage and Tara's love.



I look forward to the upcoming battle with Willow choosing Tara over the dark magicks despite the power.



Can't wait for the next update!!

Oh and when are you going to be updating Captain Red, cuz that's a really awesome fic as well.

[KiwiAlcyone]

WillowPowered: I love kick arse Willow…although this is dark kick arse Willow so it’s going to be interesting…stay tuned!



4WiccanLuv: *insert satisfied smile here* Things are working their way towards the climax so I guess it’s only right that the tension starts building. This has always been quite a dark fic so I have to go out that way too…although there will be happiness at the end I promise!



russ: *grins* yes well, glad to have won something! It was a no-win situation for Willow and a choice between two evils that no one should have to make. The correct course would have been for Willow to not give into the dark magicks but she would have died, and all her friends as well…talk about no way out.

Janus isn’t evil…he knew that it was either death or surrender to the dark magicks. He has his goal of destroying the Horn and so his seizing on Willow’s one, brief affirmative is merely him acting in his own interests.

So Willow becomes that which she hates and we get ready for one hell of a showdown which could destroy her in any number of ways…you’re right to be a little worried, I would be too if I didn’t know what was going to happen

And definitely no confusing one of our fave writers with cartoons or evil Willow incarnations



BV: Ha ha, yes, well, I am a bit evil and I couldn’t help it…now the internal struggle is going to be made all the more real for Willow…is she up to it?



TaraWillow18: Thanks so much, I always love hearing people enjoy my fics and I promise not to leave you hanging for too long with any of them.



sam darls: You’re forgiven for missing updates since you said such nice things! Thanks heaps!



Sakti: Not so much amazing…but I do have fun with it all. And yeah, you’re right when you say Janus isn’t evil. He knows they don’t have time to muck around while Willow agonizes over her decision so while his behaviour can be construed as cruel, it’s also necessary.



Thanks so much for reading everyone. Sorry for the slow progress but I'm in the middle of applying for new jobs because I hate my current one with a passion.



There were originally going to be two more chapters but I decided to condense them into one so the next update is it, the final chapter of Worst Nightmare. Oh my god, I’m actually going to finish a fic! Hopefully it’s not too far away!

And for those of you who inquired about Captain Red, that chapter is in progress atm…almost finished, prolly up tomorrow I think.



Alcy

Calvin: Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?

Hobbes: I’m not sure that man needs the help.

[willow fan7]

Oh dear lord!!! You have another fic going!!! How in heaven's name did I miss this? hehe...I really enjoyed Willow meeting her evil self, and her figuring out that DMW was the product of a different circumstance. Incredibly sad though, what happened to Alternate-Tara. You've hit the characters spot-on, and to write in the mind of Junkie Willow. Really harsh, her needing more than Tara. I would have never believed that to be possible, but reading your fic, I can somehow see it from a different angle. And once again I must say I love your fics and I really hope you update soon.

But here, the energy, the collective intelligence. It's like this force, t-this penetrating force, and I can just feel my mind opening up, you know, and letting this place just thrust into and -- and spurt knowledge into -- that sentence ended up in a different place than it started out in - Willow

[tmr]

now thats what i call a fanfic



you have so got me

[KiwiAlcyone]

willow fan7: Well, yes, I have to say that writing three fics at the same time is not a good idea but I didn’t want any of them to end up lonely and unfinished so I dug this up from the depths of my brain.

I really enjoyed writing Willow meeting her dark magick self, it’s really like looking into a mirror and seeing your worst nightmare (hence the title ) And now she’s become her…scary stuff.

I’m glad you’re enjoying and you’ll be happy to know that I’m working like crazy to get the next (and last) chapter up asap…prolly in a few days because being the last one it has to be…y’know…good



tmr: hee hee, thanks so much, hopefully it’s not long till the next chapter so you don’t have to stay



Alcy

Reality continues to ruin my life - Calvin and Hobbes

[KiwiAlcyone]

Chapter Twenty – “The Horn Sounds.”





The mirror did not shatter as it did the first time Willow had thrown herself through it. Instead it flowed as though it were liquid, parting to make way for a booted foot to step through. The rest of Willow emerged a split second later, a pale-skinned, black clad, veiny Willow a mirror image of the one who stood in front of Darian’s throne.



“What a lot of fuss…all over a musical instrument,” a small smile crossed her face as Willow looked at the Horn clenched in her fist.



Her identical twin let out a hoarse laugh and crossed the floor until she was barely a few meters away, “Imitation is the best form of flattery but still…you really didn’t have to.



Willow waved her hand in the direction of her friends casually and their hands slipped loose from the bonds that had them. It took merely a split second before Buffy and Spike were laying into their captors. Buffy having regained consciousness so quickly it was probable that she had been faking all along. Even as Spike grabbed one of the burning torches to make toasted marshmallows out of the guard vamps, Tara stared at the two Willows. She looked back and forth between them before her eyes came to rest on her Willow…or what had been her Willow. She was identical in every respect to the thing that she feared the most. The only way Tara could tell them apart was the Horn clenched in her fist.



She turned her emotionless black eyes in Tara’s direction and the expression on her face did not change. It was as though she were looking at Tara and seeing her in a completely different light…assessing her as an idea or an image instead of a person…a lover. Tara felt her eyes water when Willow’s gaze shifted away from her as though she did not merit a second glance.



Willow?



“Tara!” it was Xander.



Tara spun to see Xander grappling awkwardly with a vamp, his broken arm hanging uselessly at his side. The only reason the vamp had not made short work of him already was the fact that Anya had thrown herself onto its back and was pummelling away with small fists.



She heard a sound behind her and looked to see a crackling bolt of energy smashing into a shield that Willow had thrown up around herself. Tara turned back to Xander and Anya, they needed her more and she did not think that there was a single thing she could do for Willow.



“Separate!” she uttered the word and both Xander and Anya went flying away from the vamp, skidding several meters in opposite directions.



The vamp looked around, confused that he prey had escaped his grasp but as his gaze fell on Tara he saw a fireball coming straight towards him. The surprise was fixed on his face for a split second as he turned to dust.



Tara ran to help Anya to her feet, setting fire to a second vamp that was charging at the ex-demon. She felt sweat break out on her forehead and knew that it would not be long before she exhausted herself completely. Anya shook her head as though to clear it,



“Ow! You didn’t need to throw me all the way across the room!” she snapped and then her expression softened as she looked at Tara, “But thank you.”



The witch and the ex-demon ducked just as a sizzling bolt of energy flew over their heads. Both looked to see the two Willows locked in a struggle of magick. Magical energy was being thrown across the room in great abundance and yet it was having absolutely no effect. When both dark witches realised neither would be able to gain the upper hand with magic…they instead chose to use their bodies, fists and feet.



Tara winced as a fist smashed into Willow’s face and her head snapped back. Her Willow still held the Horn, making her movements a little awkward. She was knocked from her feet by a kick to the chest and went skidding across the floor. The Horn fell from her grasp and it slid to Xander’s feet. He looked panicked for a few seconds before snatching it up.



“Will?” he squeaked



“Blow it!” Willow yelled as she kicked back to her feet and sent her rival flying backwards with a spinning kick.



“I can’t play the Horn!” Xander protested, looking at the instrument in his hands with palpable dread.



“Xander you moron…just blow the goddamn Horn!” yelled Willow even as she was in the process of casting another spell.



“NO!” Darian boomed, he had been a spectator up until now, “Foolish human!”



He raised his hand, a glowing ball of yellow light forming and he made to throw it at Xander, his arm arching back. Xander put the horn to his lips and blew with all his might until he was sure his lungs were going to burst.



The Horn sounded…and absolutely nothing happened.



Suddenly Xander was shoved aside just as the yellow ball thrown by Darian flew over his head. It smashed into the wall behind them, tearing straight through stone and leaving a gaping hole in the wall. Xander’s eyes bulged as he imagined that happening to his body. Anya was already pulling him to his feet even as Darian made ready for a second.



“Ahn?”



“I guess all those times you made me sit down and watch football actually paid off,” Anya said brushing some dust from Xander’s very dusty jacket.



“Yellow ball thingee!” Xander squeaked and pushed Anya aside.



Even as Anya crashed to the ground and out of its path, it would have caught Xander full on in the chest.



“Contegol!” Tara yelled and the ball smacked into an invisible shield, its impact still enough to throw both her and Xander off their feet.



Even as they slid backwards several feet, Tara kept the shield raised. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on her face as another ball smashed against it.



“Witch!” Darian finally stepped down from his dais, continuing to hurl his deadly concoctions even as he advanced on Tara.



“Give me the Horn!” Anya snapped impatiently, seeing immediately that Tara did not have long before she crumpled under the strain of stopping Darian’s missiles.



Xander handed it to her, “What are you going to do that I couldn’t?”



“Say the incantation!” Anya snapped, “Honestly, weren’t you paying any attention when Darian created this world?”



“Ah…no, I was more thinking ‘we’re all going to die’, call me a moron but listening to what he was saying? That wasn’t on my list of things I wanted to do at that moment!”



Anya just glared at him and raised the Horn high above her head.



Upon impact of yet another glowing ball, Tara’s shield crumpled inwards, knocking the young witch to the ground unconscious. Darian fixed his gaze on Anya and raised his arm,



“As the Horn sounds, let this world be undone!

As the Horn sounds, realities blur!

As the Horn sounds, my world be made!”



The last thing Anya saw was a yellow blaze bearing directly at her…



Sunnydale cemetery came rushing back to them. It was quiet, peaceful…just like any other night. It looked just as they had left it save there were no vamps in sight…okay, so it was not like any other night.



A very groggy Tara picked herself up from the ground slowly. She felt more than a little dizzy and incredibly weak as she looked anxiously around them. Spike was helping Buffy to her feet. He pulled her right into his chest and his arms tightened around the Slayers back.



Anya was standing holding the Horn with a petrified expression on her face. Xander quickly scrambled to his feet and ran to stand in front of her.



“Are all my limbs intact? My face?” she was asking urgently.



“You’re still perfect,” Xander kissed her gently.



There was someone missing, Tara got shakily to her feet so she could scan their surroundings better. Her blue eyes welled with tears as she could see no one else.



“Where’s Willow?” she asked quietly



The other four looked to Tara. Buffy looked as though she had only just realised that Spike was holding her and she disentangled herself discreetly from his arms.



Suddenly a deafening boom sounded across the sky and the very air around them exploded, throwing all of the Scoobies to the ground. When Tara looked up again she saw a crater several meters across which had scoured clean everything within it’s circumference, grass, tombstones, trees. It was a scorched piece of black earth…at its centre were two black clad figures still locked in an immense struggle.



It was Willow, Tara’s heart leapt. It was both of them…with no way on earth for her to tell them apart. Her hand went over her heart as she watched them struggle. Both were dirty and ragged, their clothing torn, bloody gashes covering their bodies.



It all happened in a second. One of the Willow’s blocked a punch with one hand and with the other aimed a fist directly at the her opponents heart. Instead of merely connecting with the skin, it broke straight through…into her chest. With a horrible sound she ripped the still beating heart from her chest, holding the dripping organ in her bloody hand. Willow sank to her knees, blood dribbling from the corners of her mouth. With one final smile in the direction of her twin standing over her, she flopped lifeless to the ground.



Tara stared in horror, “Willow!” she had no idea which one had died.



Willow, bloody heart clenched in her fist turned to regard the ashen faced blonde and said quite calmly, “Tara, I need the Horn.”



A second boom sounded and the earth beneath their feet rumbled. Willow looked around for a moment before turning her gaze back to Tara,



“Tara, the Horn…he’s coming for it!”



Tara grabbed the Horn from Anya’s hands.



“Tara!” Anya protested, “It might not even be her!”



Tara crossed the shaking earth to Willow, fighting down the urge to vomit at the sight of the bloody heart in her hand. She looked into those obsidian eyes and searched desperately for her Willow…she could see nothing.



“Are you my Willow?” she asked quietly.



Willow’s face did not soften for a moment, instead she just held out her hand for the Horn,



“Give me the Horn Tara…now.”



“Are you my Willow?” Tara repeated stubbornly, keeping the Horn cradled to her chest.



Suddenly her hand reached out and grabbed Tara by the back of her neck, she crushed their lips together fiercely. The kiss was brutal, bruising lips and tongues as they came together. Tara felt the Horn slip from her grasp and when they broke apart Willow was holding the Horn.



“Willow?” Tara asked softly, tears slipping down her cheeks as her gaze fell on the lifeless body at their feet.



She looked back up to see a single tear slip from the corner of one of Willow’s black eyes.



“Stand back,” she raised her arm and Tara went flying backwards through the air.



She landed on Spike and Buffy, knocking them to the ground as they broke her fall.



They all looked up in time to see Willow standing with the Horn raised in one fist and the Heart in the other, blood running down her arm.



“Two-faced Janus, keeper of doors,

The guardian stands before you,

Out of space, time divided,

So the guardian possesses the power, the magicks,

The guardian speaks, let Satanus listen,

As the Horn sounds true for the last time,

The gates of Hell be summoned forth,

Let Hell consume the Horn, it’s sound forever silent,

The guardian’s will is set, the offering given,

As blood flows, life-giving,

Let the blood run, life-taking!”



Throughout the spell a deafening roar had grown progressively louder. On completion, a tiny crack in the very fabric of air opened behind Willow. Slowly it rotated, becoming larger with each revolution until it was large enough for Willow to step through. With one last look over her shoulder at Tara, Willow threw herself in as she had done with the mirror.



They could still see the witch inside, her image somewhat distorted by the strange shifts of light. She collapsed to her knees, her head thrown back and her teeth bared in a rictus of pain. Even so, she struggled to her feet, advancing further from the opening and to whatever was on the far side of the vortex.



“It’s killing her!” Buffy yelled urgently.



Tara could see that Buffy was contemplating leaping into the vortex after Willow. She knew however that it was her task…she was the only one that could bring Willow back. Gritting her teeth, Tara lurched towards the dark tear in the air and practically fell into it.



For a moment she could not see a thing, all she could feel was a terrible force drawing her further in and a howling wind that stung her ears. Tara realised that she had stopped breathing but when she tried to take a breath there was nothing there at first. Her lungs were burning when she finally took a breath, the air was hot and it burned her throat.



“Willow,” Tara could only manage a weak croak at first, “Willow!”



Willow’s head whipped over her shoulder even as she continued towards the darkness, “No Tara…I’m going to take it to Hell myself…it’s the least I can do after everything I’ve done.”



“You saved everyone’s lives Willow…there’s no need to sacrifice your own!” Tara pleaded.



“Look at me Tara!” Willow turned, the howling gale swirling around them blew her black hair over her face, each vein stood out as it pulsed with an underlying darkness, “Look at me! I’m never going to come back from this, I’m gone! Just before…I had an overwhelming urge to pull you in with me…just so you can suffer as well. Your Willow…the one you love would never do that to you!”



“I would gladly suffer an eternity to be with you Willow!” Tara yelled, the maelstrom was growing louder by the second.



“Don’t tempt me Tara…now get lost, before it’s too late! Before I make you rue the day you ever met me!”



“No! I’m pulling you out of this!” Tara lunged forward, reaching for Willow’s hand.



Willow backed away, “I’m lost Tara…it’s too late for me.”



“You’re wrong Willow…and if you think I’m going to give up on you after some half-hearted attempts to scare me off then you don’t know me at all! Throw the goddamn Horn in!”



“I can’t,” Willow looked down at the Horn clenched in her bloody fist and the her heart in the other.



Tara’s hand shot out and grabbed Willow’ wrist, even as the redhead had turned to make a last dash for Hell’s opening. She twisted and the Horn fell out of Willow’s hand and into her own. With all her might she heaved the object that had caused so much chaos straight into the centre of the darkness.



Willow watched as the Horn was swallowed with a distant rumble. For a few seconds everything went quiet…her heart thudded in her chest. Her heart felt warm and moist in her hand and without warning it began to pulse steadily, as though it were still beating. She looked back to Tara and with a barely whispered word threw her lover out of the vortex. She saw the look of panic on Tara’s face even as she fell to safety. Clenching her fist around the heart, Willow gritted her teeth and moved towards the opening. The darkness reached out to her…tendrils ensnaring her limbs so she could not run even if she wanted to.



“I love you Tara,” she whispered as the darkness wrapped itself around her body, finally covering her head completely and everything went dark…





*****



Tara had been sitting in almost complete darkness, only a weak moonlight filtered through the window. It was fitting though, the darkness…it was exactly how she felt after losing the one thing that had come to mean anything in her life. There was a knock at the door…Tara went to answer it.



Willow stood in the hall holding a glowing candle. Tara’s heart leapt and yet at the same time she felt an overwhelming urge to slam the door in her face.



“No candles? Well I brought one. It’s extra flamey.”



She held the candle out as an offering and as Tara took it she felt her residual anger fade until it was gone completely. Willow stepped through into her room, closing the door behind her ever as Tara’s heart continued to race. She was scared and yet exhilarated at the same time.



“Tara, I have to tell you…”



“No, I-I understand. You have to be with the person you l-love.”



Willow-smile, “I am.”



“You mean?”



“I mean. Okay?”



“Oh, yes.”



“I feel horrible about everything I put you through. A-and I’m going to make it up to you. Starting right now.”



“Right now?”



They made love physically for the first time. Both absolutely terrified and yet it was beautiful and perfect. Falling asleep in Tara’s arms afterwards, Willow felt as though she were in heaven.



*****



Tara sat on the corner of the bed, her half-packed boxes littered around her. Willow sat at her side, their thighs pressed together lightly, Tara held her cheek gently. Both their faces were wet with tears.



Tara sighed, “I won’t let that tear us apart, I love you and will do whatever it takes to help you. Right now…that means staying with you…even though…”



“Even though I betrayed your trust…violated you twice…” Willow whispered, her voice tinged with shame.



“Will, I love you alright, now stop it with the self-loathing already. What’s done is done and however wrong it was, I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life hating yourself for it…or trying to make it up to me. We need to step back from where we were in our relationship, start afresh. Not quite clean slate beginning, but a beginning nevertheless.”



*****



“Goddess!” Tara yelled, feeling as though she were being torn apart.



She had been in labour for almost an entire day and had long since decided that fighting demons was preferable to giving birth.



“Come on baby,” Willow was right by her side, her red hair all tucked up beneath a surgical cap, “Just one more push.”



“You said that hours ago Willow!” Tara forced out between clenched teeth.



Willow mopped her sweat soaked brow with a soft cloth and looked down to check on her poor fingers trapped in Tara’s fierce grip. She had long since lost all feeling in that hand.



“Almost there Tara,” the doctor said encouragingly.



Tara cried out so loudly Willow was sure the windows would be blown outwards. She went on for several more minutes until she was hoarse. The short silence however was shattered when her cries were replaced by that of a very loud, squalling infant cradled carefully in the doctors hands. Tara collapsed back against the support behind her, utterly exhausted.



“Tara…Willow…you have a baby boy,” the doctor smiled up at the pair of them before handing the baby to a waiting nurse.



The squalling infant was wiped tenderly and swathed in a thick white blanket before the nurse held him out for Willow to take. The redhead had been hovering just over the nurse’s shoulder, not taking her eyes off her son for a moment. Trembling a little, Willow gathered the baby boy in her arms. He hiccuped and sobbed a few more times before his cries ceased altogether. His blue eyes looked up at Willow even as she touched a gentle finger to his tiny, red cheek. He regarded her calmly as though assessing whether she was fit to be his mother.



Willow felt hot tears of happiness roll down her cheeks, “Hey little fella, you gave your Mama quite a fight.”



“Will…” Tara whispered weakly.



Willow gently passed him over to Tara who had managed to sit up slightly. She cradled him in her weary arms.



“Hey Micah,” she said using the name they had chosen in remembrance of a brave young man.



Micah looked up at her, examining Tara as he had Willow. His little lips puckered and moved, one balled up fist punching the air in front of him.



Tara grinned, “He has his Mommy’s strength…I think this little one is going to be a handful.”



Willow stood, just taking in the sight of her newborn son in the arms of her beloved…she couldn’t imagine seeing anything as beautiful.



“He’s perfect,” Tara whispered happily.



“Like his mama,” Willow choked slightly.



“That’s just what I was thinking,” Tara smiled at Willow, her eyes watered.



*****



Willow did not know where she was any longer, all she knew was that she wanted to live…to see their child…to be a family. She did not want to give in any longer.



“Tara!” she screamed, “I love you!”



The darkness was replaced by a white light, overwhelming her senses until that was all she could see.



So mote it be a deep voice sounded from all around her, Willow recognised it instantly as the god who had cursed her with the power she had craved for so long, So mote it be…



And then there was pain…



*****



Tara suddenly felt herself be thrown backwards through the air by an explosion of air. The light came rushing back at her, as did the cemetery and one very unfortunately placed tombstone which jumped out to smash her in the face. Knocked dizzy for a few moments Tara rolled over on the cool grass, staring up at stars she wasn’t entirely sure were real or not. She groaned as she tried to make her brain work…there was something she was forgetting…



“Willow!” Tara rolled over and pushed herself up from the ground with her hands to see a limp body lying a few meters away.



Xander was already running to her side even as Tara struggled to her feet. She stood, swaying slightly as she made an awkward dash across the grass to fall at Willow’s side.



“It looks bad,” Xander whispered.



“Someone get to a phone and call 911,” Tara yelled urgently but when turned to the rest of the gang, Buffy was already off running.



Tara examined the extent of Willow’s injuries. She was wearing the same tattered clothes she had worn the night they had been sucked into the Hell dimension. There was a terrible, deep gash in her side that was still seeping blood. She looked down at her own clothes, they were dirty and grimy and not at all fit to staunch an open wound. Still, Tara tore off her sweater and t-shirt until she was down to her cotton chemise which was by far the cleanest garment she had on. She pulled it off, not caring who was watching and pressed it firmly against Willow’s side.



Willow cried out, her eyes flew open. They darted around in fear for a few moments before coming to rest on Tara, kneeling beside her in her jeans and bra.



Willow groaned and Tara smoothed her dirty hair out of her face, “You’re going to be fine sweetie…I promise.”



“I mustn’t be dead,” Willow croaked weakly, “Because if this was heaven then you’d be naked.”



Tara managed a weak laugh, "Can't you ever stop thinking dirty thoughts?"



“Nope...Tara...we’re going to have a baby,” Willow whispered, trying to reach up to Tara’s hand and yet finding her arms completely unresponsive.



Tara reached down and picked it up for her, holding it against her chest even as she saw red ambulance lights in the distance.



“Yeah, we are,” Tara grinned through her tears.



“It was what brought me back…at first I wanted to die, even though I knew you were pleading with me to hold on…but then I saw our child and I knew instinctively that he was made through our love,” Willow closed her eyes for a few moments, she was tired, "I'm sorry I gave you a scare."



“You scared the living daylights out of me Willow!” Tara’s voice broke slightly as she remembered her eternity of terror.



She looked up to see the ambulance pulling into the cemetery gates, Xander and Anya were waving to attract the drivers attention. Buffy and Spike were hanging back, Tara noticed that Buffy was holding Spike’s hand and just smiled, turning back to her Willow.



“I’m a poophead,” Willow whispered quietly as a form of apology, she managed a small smile to go with it.



“Yeah well…” Tara bent down and laid a gentle, loving kiss on her forehead, “You’re my poophead.”





Epilogue





“Micah Thomas Maclay-Rosenberg…stop chasing your sister and pick your toys up!” Tara came running into the living room to find her seven year old son scrambling over the sofa after her four year old daughter.



“I was picking them up!” he protested even as he climbed onto the back of the sofa and leapt down at his sister, “But she ran off with Optimus Prime!”



Emma was laughing happily as she darted out of his reach and scrambled beneath the coffee table, still holding her brother’s toy in her small hands. Suddenly she was grabbed by the ankles and hauled out from her hiding place by her very annoyed mother. She squealed happily as she was picked up and settled on Tara’s hip. Tara plucked the toy from her hands and handed it to Micah who poked out his tongue at his little sister.



“And you miss were supposed to be in bed ten minutes ago, where on earth is your Mommy?”



“Upstairs,” Emma grinned.



Tara carried the little girl upstairs and deposited her in her room.



“Into your jammies, brush your teeth and then I’ll tell you a bedtime story,” Tara said and received an enthusiastic clap in reply as Emma moved quickly to grab her pyjamas from beneath her pillow.



Tara found Willow sitting on the edge of the bed in their room, she was holding a framed photo of the two of them taken many years ago. When she saw Tara, Willow smiled and set the photo back on the dresser before standing to embrace her wife.



“Do you remember the days when there were just the two of us?” Tara asked, nestling her head against Willow’s shoulder.



“I remember we used to have a lot more sex,” Willow grinned.



“There were also demons and vampires, apocalypses, omnipotent musical instruments….you want me to keep listing?”



“We were good at it though,” Willow remarked thoughtfully.



“We were good at sex?” Tara asked with an arch eyebrow, “Willow, if you are not happy with our sex life…”



Willow giggled, “Demon fighting…we were good at demon fighting.”



Tara smiled, “So are you saying you would trade all of this in and move back to Sunnydale and our lives as demon fighters?”



“Mommy!” Emma was yelling from her room and the sound of Micah’s laughter followed shortly afterwards.



“Not in a million years,” Willow whispered, nuzzling Tara’s forehead.



When the blonde looked up she found herself staring into Willow’s eyes, a pastime she never tired of. Willow grinned naughtily and claimed Tara’s lips in a soft tender kiss. Tara sighed as her lips parted, allowing access to Willow’s moist tongue.



“Can I watch TV until bedtime?” Micah piped up from the doorway.



The two witches broke apart, smiling ruefully at one another.



“Mommy!” Emma was still yelling from her room down the hall.



“She wants a bedtime story,” Micah informed them, and then added cheekily, “So no time for mommy-time!”



“Go watch TV you little scallywag!” Willow took a playful swipe at his head, he ducked and ran whooping down the stairs.



Tara sighed, “Mommy-time later I guess.”



Willow kissed her again, “Count on it…because if there’s anything we have gotten ever better at…it’s sex.”



Tara laughed lightly, “I think it has something to do with the fact that Moms are extra-sexy.”



Willow nuzzled Tara’s nose gently, “That’s just what I was thinking.”



“Mommy!”



THE END

Reality continues to ruin my life - Calvin and Hobbes

[Washi]

Whoa, what a great ending. I got slightly confused when the story jumped from Willow going to hell, to NMR's love declaration, but I got it. And the sight of Willow's heart being punched out? That's gonna stay with me a while. I loved the ending. The epilogue made me go all AWWW. Kudos Alcy, for a fantastic tale.

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



"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa



The course of love doesn’t always run smooth, especially for the neurotic and accident-prone. ~ LadyB



.:Dark-bliss.net :. .:Blink.Flash.Sparkle.:. .:My blog:. .:Blood and Ink:. .:Washi's 70s Site:.

[tinnakaren]

Hey Alcy,



For a story that made me "cringe" - all tummy rumblin badness - in the beginning .. and I believe I told you why .. it had a very cute and satisfying ending.



Willow facing her worst nightmare and killing it in such a gruel-some fashion was disturbing, but I think necessary, and Tara - bless her - sticking to her own guns and going for what she wants. She's my hero, as always. But in this story Willow definitely shares the pedestal.



Thank you for sharing this with us Alcy, it's been a great and bumpy ride.

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

Tinna Karen

-tölvunörd í fyrsta ættlið

[4WiccanLuv]

Alcy, what a fantastic ride. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I enjoyed it immensely, although, I am sad to see it end. Awesome that Willow conquered her greatest fear, and once and for all did away with DMW. And wonderful brave Tara never giving up on her true love...*sigh* You wrote them beautifully! Nail biting action pact ending!! Phew! Also, thanks for the glimpse into their future all with the domestic bliss and the happily ever after .....I'm left feeling very satisfied! HeeHee!!



I know you've got a couple other stories going, but I just wanted to say I will definitely read anything with your name attached to it! So don't be shy, keep em comin'!



A huge fan of your work,

Linda

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[russ]

Well, you did it! Brought our Scoobies safely through the peril, and brought Willow back to herself. I really didn't know how you were going to manage it.



So many outstanding moments in this chapter: Anya's quick thinking in remembering to recite the verse (even Willow hadn't thought of that); the tenderness between Buffy & Spike, and Xander & Anya; most especially the implacable power of Tara's love. I agree with Tinnakaren; she's my hero, too. Literally, the gates of hell couldn't stand before her.



I'm feeling a little dumb for not seeing the solution to the guardian-sacrifice problem in destroying the horn. Didn't figure it out until Willow was standing there with "her own" heart in her hand. That's why you had to bring in her evil self.



Right to the end, Willow was set on her course of self-destruction. It's only at the last moment, after her visions of the past and possible future, that she chooses life and love. Then, finally, the confession that would have saved them all so much trouble if made much earlier: "I'm a poophead." Self-knowledge, at last!



A lovely epilogue, showing us that Janus was truthful in offering Willow a future of "normal" happiness. Still some ends not tied up, and questions unanswered, but a wonderful conclusion to a great story. Thanks, Alcy.



Russ

[tmr]

marvelous great fantastic remarkable beautiful

[BurningWhiteRose]

Oh wow...that was....







It was great!! The ending was the best. Tara and Willow got their kids, the world was saved, and... "Mommy Time" was funny, as was the labor scene...



"One more push..."

"You said that hours ago"



Sincerely,

BWR

[barnabasvamp]

So sorry to see this story end, but the ending was just so wonderful!



Thanks for sharing your story with us, and I look forward to many more!



BV

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[xita]

New to the archive. You can leave feedback!

- - - - - - - - - - -
"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[behindhereyes]

Wow...and might I add Wow . I saw it all, I felt it, and am changed by it. Amazing... simply amazing.





behindhereyes

"To the world, you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world"

[TaraBaby77]

HOLY MOLY!!! I can't beleive that I missed the ending of this story. Take about an awesome ride. And, what an amazing ending to a great fic. I have been blessed to read this and enjoy all of this good and bad and scary and funny parts. Great work, Great ending... You take care and thanks again. =)

Aaron

'Tarababy77'

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"Don't buy into all the media crap. Love yourself for who you are, not what others THINK you should look like. It's DEFINITELY more important in this life to love each other despite our imperfections." - Amber Benson

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[Puff]

I actually missed this story posted (no idea how) and had a wonderful time being able to read it all in one go. I am not sure if you check the feedback on here or not but I wanted to say how great it was to read this story. It certainly had its high and low moments and in a few places it made my stomach twist to read how horrible Willow could be to Tara. But you managed to bring everything to a happy place at the end which is how it should be. Thanks Hopefully you are still around on the board...I'd love for you to update your stories I am a terrible lurker reader., but I have an appreciation for fine fiction

[willowlily]

AWWWW. Great short story. I had a fun time reading it.

[Kitty Kat DKS]

Awwww Swetest thing!!!! Thank you for such a ride!!!!! Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!