The Cathedral And The Bazaar
- Author: Justin
- Email address: msparshatt@yahoo.co.uk
- Summary: This is an alternate version of S6 in which the scoobies don't resurrect Buffy and instead have Faith released from prison.
- Feedback: Any comments or constructive criticism will be greatly appreciated.
- Distribution: Anyone can take it, just let me know.
- Spoilers: Up to and including 'The Gift'
- Rating: R
- Pairing: W/T, X/A, F/C
- Disclaimer: Willow And Tara and most of the other characters in this story belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Three cheers for creating two such wonderful characters. Three jeers for the way you treated them. Caitlin is from the comic Wanna Blessed Be by Amber Benson and Chris Golden
Chapter 40
As they stepped through the portal Willow said, "There's no place like home."
"You're back," Emma said, "Nothing has changed here."
“We need to research something,” Willow said. She and Tara hurried upstairs.
“Okay then.” Giles turned to Emma and asked, "Should it have?"
"Well I assumed that when you beat the Shakdra there would be some sign of it here."
"But we haven't yet."
"That explains it. I don't to tell you how to do your job but don't you think you should hurry? It is getting rather to keep things from blowing up."
"You mean you didn't know? It turns out we didn't go to fight this thing but to find out how to."
Emma nodded, "That sounds like the powers, rather than tell you the truth they tell you what will get you to do what you need to do, or at least what they think you need to do. So did you find out what you need?"
"Yes, now we need to work out what to do with the knowledge."
"There is something else you should know. Caitlin was captured by the Shakdra."
"Is she?"
"It hasn't overwhelmed her yet."
"Then we need to get her," Faith said.
"That is most likely what it wants, why it took her. It knew you were up to something and wanted to distract you."
"And your point is?" Dawn asked, “Where did Willow and Tara go?”
“They said something about research,” Giles answered, “We'd better get some weapons.”
Emma watched them a moment then said, “I'll keep an eye on her.”
***
“Where is it?” Willow asked, going through some boxes.
“Willow what are you looking for?”
“Here it is,” Willow pulled a leather bound book out of one of the boxes, “We found it with Claudia's things.” She began flipping through the pages, “Here.” She showed it to Tara.
“This is the ritual she was going to use isn't it?” Tara asked as she skimmed over the ritual.
“Yes, once she'd become a god, she would have used this to draw all the hatred from the world.”
“We're not gods.”
“No but we don't want to absorb all the hatred in the world...”
“Just from this creature.” Tara finished. They both read over the ritual a couple of times, then went downstairs, where they found everyone was ready.
“Good, we're just about to get going,” Giles said and they set off.
***
"This is where she's being held." Emma said.
"This is the caves where it held me," Faith added. As they approached a group of demons came out of the caves. "Oh great."
As the others went to attack the demons Emma stopped Willow and Tara, "You need to come this way." She led them through a doorway into the library. "Do you know how to stop it?"
"Don't worry we've got a plan."
They went through another door, into the caves. Amy and Caitlin were there, along with a group of people. "You deal with the Shakdra," Emma said, "I'll help Caitlin."
"Hey Amy," Willow shouted.
"How did you get here? Not that it matters, it just means you can watch us win."
"Suddenly I'm reminded of a saying about chickens and eggs."
"You think you can stop us? No one knows how."
"Someone does, you do."
"Is that supposed to make sense?"
Willow took Tara's hand as the group of demons surrounded them. "I'm sorry Amy," Willow said.
Amy tilted her head, not seeming to understand.
"I'm sorry I couldn't turn you back from a rat. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from this thing and most of all I'm sorry for this."
She turned to Tara who gave a slight nod. They both turned to a branch which was lying to one side. It rose off the floor and flew at Amy. Amy had just enough time to turn towards it, before it went through her chest. She gasped and then fell to the floor.
"you killed her," One of the demons said.
"We couldn't leave her under your control," Willow explained.
"I wonder who will do the same for you, once we have taken you over?"
"Are you ready?" Willow asked.
"Yes," Tara answered.
Still holding hands they began to perform the ritual.
“What are you doing?” The demon demanded. They started to move forwards wanting to put a stop to whatever Willow and Tara were doing. However something stopped them. As the ritual continued the black liquid began to flow out of them and into Willow and Tara. As the force which had been keeping them animated all the people who were being controlled began to dissolve.
When the last of them had gone Willow groaned, “I didn't think it'd burn this much.”
Tara tightened her grip on Willow's hand, “It's okay, we'll...” Tara stopped realizing that they hadn't decided on what to do next.
“How long can you keep it contained?” Emma asked.
“Not long,” Tara answered, feeling a spasm of pain.
“Quickly, take my hands.” Emma took Willow and Tara's free hands and the pain lessened as the hatred flowed out of them.
“Now what?” Willow asked.
“Now you need to get the others.”
As Willow came back with the others Faith said, “What happened? We were fighting the monsters and they all just collapsed.”
“Willow and Tara absorbed all the hatred from the Shakdra, they then transferred it into me.”
“That doesn't seem to be very safe,” Giles said.
“No, it isn't. Dawn I need you to open another portal.”
“You do? Where.”
“Here.” Emma sent an image into Dawn's mind.
“There's nothing there.”
“There is. It's the only way we'll be able to contain this.”
“How can we trust you?”
“You don't have much time.”
Dawn got the needle out of her pocket and pricked her finger. As before the drops of blood began to form into a portal.
“I suggest that you all stand back,” Emma said.
“There's nothing there,” Giles said.
“There is,” Willow answered, “It's a black hole.”
“Very observant.”
“You'll die.”
“Yes, I will,” Emma responded. She walked to the portal and stopped. Turning she pulled her necklace off and threw it to Willow, “Please take good care of it. It'll only stay around for twenty five years, so you'll have to save as much of the knowledge as you can.” Turning to Dawn she motioned her over and whispered something in her ear before turning and stepping through the portal. The moment after it closed up.
“What did she say to you?” Tara asked Dawn.
“She told me not to trust anyone over thirty. So she's dead?”
“I believe it is what she wanted.”
While they had been talking Faith had run over to Caitlin and managed to wake her up. “Where am I?” Looking round she went on, “Don't answer that. What about the monster?”
“We beat it.”
“I knew you would.”
***
Once they had ascertained that everyone was okay, everyone went to their respective homes. Dawn went straight up to bed, but Willow and Tara stayed downstairs. Willow sat on the sofa, while Tara lay on it, her head resting on Willow's lap.
"That was pretty..." Willow struggled to find the right word, "Intense."
"You can say that again."
"That was pretty intense."
Tara groaned, "That is such an old joke."
"The old jokes are the best."
"That's debatable."
"Oh it is, is it?" Willow stopped a moment, "What were we talking about?"
"Intense."
"Oh yeah, well it's not surprising, as we were fighting hatred personified," Willow considered this, "I wonder if there'll be less hatred in the world now."
"There might be a little," Tara sounded rather doubtful. "We should head up to bed."
"I just want to check the news." Willow turned, "See what's been going on while we were away."
"The police reported that the rioting that had swept the town seems to have died down." The newscaster said, "However they urge people to remain vigilante and to be indoors after dark, just in case things start up again."
"Well it seems things are back to normal," Willow said.
"Well as normal as is possible for Sunnydale," Tara added.
"The pope gave a speech today condemning countries who allowed gay couples to adopt children," The newscaster went on, "He said that such children were irreparably harmed by the action.”
"Willow?" Tara said. When she didn't get a response she took the remote out of her hand and turned the TV off.
Willow turned to Tara, a sad smile on her lips, "Nothing changes."
***
"And what are you all still doing here?" Willow said as she approached the group. "You do know that this place is going to cease to exist soon?" Dawn and Jennifer both hesitated as they tried to come up with an answer.
"We were waiting for you," Tara said as she got up and went over to hug Willow.
"Aww, that's sweet. We'd better get out of here soon, most of the library has vanished." She summoned a doorway.
Opening it Dawn said, "Age before beauty." She indicated they should go through first.
Tara gave her a crooked smile. As she and Willow went through she said, "Pearls before swine."
"Hey," Dawn and Jennifer said at the same time.
The mood evaporated as they saw who was outside.
"Whistler," Willow said, "You've got a lot of nerve."
"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't wear this outfit." Growing serious he went on, "Emma was my friend a long time before she met you, she'd want me to be here."
Willow shrugged, "Fine you can stay."
A moment later a spot of light appeared in front of them. It flared a moment, then disappeared.
“Is that it?” Dawn asked, looking disappointed, “I was expecting something a bit more.”
“Just think of all that knowledge,” Willow said, “Lost.”
Tara took her hand, “We saved as much as we could.”
Willow nodded. She jerked round, “Where are Faith and Caitlin?”
“Huh?”
“I know it was a bit of a jump. I just remembered they said they'd be coming.”
“Caitlin called to say they'd been delayed, They'll be here tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Come on Jennifer, we'd better get home.” After saying their goodbyes they started away.
Willow turned to Whistler who said, “I probably should get going as well.”
“Yes,” Was all Willow said. Once he'd gone Willow turned to Tara, “We should probably get home as well.” As they walked home Willow said, “It's been quite an eventful twenty five years.”
“You can say that again,” Tara said in an absent voice.
“It's been quite...”
Spinning her round Tara pulled Willow forwards and kissed her. As they parted Willow said, “What was I saying?”
“You were telling me how you're going to ravage me when we get home.”
“Oh, you bet I am,” Willow said, with an evil gleam in her eye.
“Should I be nervous?”
“Oh definitely.” They both laughed, as, arm in arm, they walked home.
The End
