Developing: The nine life Enchantress -

[MandalVandal]

Hi I have been lurking for years and finally decide to be brave and try and write my own fiction and would appreciate frank comments


B uffy was bored. Now that there was more than one slayer she had so much time on her hands. Dawn was at University in New York and loving every minute of it and acting as ‘Watcher for the ‘East Coast’. Xander was busy with projects dating and being Watcher for the West Coast. Dear Willow was busy doing her PhD learning to enjoy life again, go through girls at the rate of knots, JFK was the first of many fun light hearted no strings relationships. Which Buffy thought to begin with was fine but Willow was the type of person who deep down needed a committed relationship, she needed to feel needed, not that Buffy thought riley or she mused Riley she had many serious relationships, but she had realised it was not in her nature. Heck even Faith was busy looking after the south and running the Slayer training centre – she had matured in to a mature statesman, and in a committed relationship.
Buffy realised who she need direction from. Giles, but he was based in the Bath, UK running the new look watchers council and doing it well and thus incredibly busy
So no joy there mussed Buffy, it was never any good over the phone. Then she stopped herself. Why couldn’t she go to see him? She would not be missed in her role of trouble-shooter. She had never been to Europe let alone England. Heck she had never been out of the States. In fact the more she thought of it she thought it would be a nice holiday and it would be fun to surprise Giles. Yes she would go.

As Buffy was getting out of the cab at Paddington, she scanned the station looking for the direction she was going and then froze in shock, it couldn't be! She was dead she had been dead for over two years. She had seen her dead body. It could not be Tara it was an impossibility. She was obviously over tired and suffering from jet lag.

Though Buffy had dismissed the possibility, it still shook her. She had in the last year of Tara’s life become close to her and loved her for herself not just because she was Willow’s girlfriend. She missed her calm, stoical, sensible presence in execrably.

For the entire journey to Bath, Buffy looked out on to the lush English countryside with unseeing eyes, wrapped in memories of the past and lost loved ones.
She was so immersed in them that as she got off the train in Bath that Buffy thought she saw her again but just from behind. Buffy this time was better able to deal with the sight known that her musings would have overlaid Tara’s image onto anyone who had a similar physical presence. She also discounted the possibility that the First had some how escaped its prison and was up to its old tricks. Even if it had escaped which so incredibly unlikely, the distance sightings were way to subtle for the First – it went for in your face type of stuff. Though it did make mistakes, it hadn’t used a simulacrum of Tara that time it was trying to entice Willow to commit suicide; it possibly would have succeeded if it had done so. Buffy still could not figure out why it had done so. Then Buffy froze. ‘Hang on!’ she thought the First at that point was still calling all the shots, it was not until later it started to make mistakes. So why did it not use Tara’s image to push her over the edge. It had the power to use any one Dead or had been dead, heck it was able to use her image as she had died twice. So why use a proxy, why not Tara – unless...No! thought Buffy that would be impossible, the only reason that the First had not used Tara was the fact that she was not Dead. Buffy reeled from the shock or where thoughts had concluded.
Buffy was so glad she was going to Giles, why hadn’t he thought of that – she so needed him to get his research mojo on to find out why. This was huge.
The new council headquarters were fronted by a shop selling Organic produce and the like. Buffy was discreetly shown through to the secret area after uttering the password. Most of the complex was underground in what looked like Roman structure. Giles office was on street level but some distance from the shop – It was designed to confuse. If Buffy had not had her slayer senses she would have been confused as to the layout of the complex.
Giles’s PA, Lindsay McPherson, had not met Buffy in the flesh so to speak, but they knew each other very well from the myriad of telephone conversations they had had. Buffy liked her a lot and thought she could tell from those said conversations as to how Lindsay would be in person, so she was surprised to see quite flustered when Buffy introduced herself and kept looking anxiously towards Giles’s door

‘How lovely to finally meet you Buffy’ said an anxious sounding Lindsay McPherson ‘I am sorry, but I am afraid Mr Giles is with someone at the moment’
Buffy flashed her trademark smile and continued to the Giles’s door, ‘Don’t worry ‘she said breezily ‘He will be happy to be interrupted by me plus I have some important I have just discovered and need his input.’
By the time Lindsay realised that Buffy was not complying with the request to wait, it was too late! Buffy had rapped smartly on Giles’s door and was in his room.
‘Hi Giles, surprise! ‘
The two occupants in the room had been cosily drinking tea. They both turned to face the newcomer. Giles looked stunned and then anxious in quick succession, whipping his glasses from his face to clean them. Buffy did not notice any of this as she stared transfixed and open mouthed at Giles’s visitor.
‘Hello Buffy’ said Tara.

*****
‘But how…What…Why…How?’ stuttered and stumbled Buffy
‘Come and sit down sweetie’ said a very much alive Tara ‘I am sure I am quite a shock’
Buffy complied as Giles handed her a cup of tea. Buffy narrowed her eyes at Giles. He seemed very comfortable with Tara being here, his flustered ness was obviously due to her, which must mean he had known Tara was alive before her visit, but the question was how long had he known. The biggest question was how Tara was alive, the last time Buffy had seen her she was been taken away by the coroner in a body bag.
After she regained her wits Buffy gave the pair her stern Slayer glare.
‘Okay spill!’ she said simply
Tara looked at Giles in a very Tara way, cleared her throat and said maybe I should start from the beginning or from your point of view the end.

It was really weird and a bit fragmentary because everything happened so quickly yet so slowly. One minute I was saying to Willow ‘your shirt’. The next thing was I was waking up on a very cold table in the morgue with just a sheet over me completely bewildered and frightened, though not as frightened as the morgue attendant who poor dear fainted dead away.
My first thought was that I must be a Vampire, even though I could not being bitten but just thought in my distressed state, that I had probably lost some of my memory as I had not realised I had been shot and only discovered that a bit later as there was no marks on me what so ever – which I could easily tell in my undressed state. When my panic died down, I realised I had no desire what so ever to feed on the prone attendant, that fact that I was concerned about him, I could feel the cold and actually hear my heart thudding loudly I was very much alive but didn’t explain what I was doing there. I shuddered at the thought of waking up in a middle of an autopsy being performed on me, which was clearly slatted to be performed.
I then panicked big time and ran and ran in nothing but that sheet. Eventually the running calmed me down. I decided to go to my dorm room to get some clothes before coming to see you guys and especially Willow.
When I got there it was clear that Willow had been there before me and had been practising some pretty fearsome magic. That saddened me that she had come off the magic wagon. It also worried me, was it because of Willow I was in the morgue, I couldn’t believe that, the last memories I had before waking up were so, so happy then I paused the very last memories was suddenly after having Willow snuggles was hearing a crack of glass, seeing blood on Willows shirt, sudden pain and then darkness. I must have been shot but there was no wound on me nothing. I knew I had to get to guys to find out what was happening and more importantly put Willow’s grief to an end.

[MandalVandal]

Even though not had feed back yet thought would add the next bit I have added - please do feedback not matter how brutal you need to be.

As I was dithering as to whether to go to your house Buffy or the Magic shop, I was suddenly overwhelmed by a great deal of black magic in the air and I could tell as only other magic users can tell that it was Willow who was the source of all this magic. I knew I had to a least calm her down if at all possible so I started tracking her – it was weird in that I was able to do it far more easily than I had ever been able to do before – but with the urgency of the situation I did not have time to ponder on it.
As it was I got there too late, I was just in time to see Willow do,.. well you were there what she did to Warren. I was so revolted especially as it was done in revenge for my supposed death, there was no way I could go to her, I went into further shock and vomited for quite a while and couldn’t stop shaking and crying that terrible, terrible act done in my name, for love of me it completely tarnished everything our love had stood for. I just did not know what to do, I didn’t want to shock you guys as I could see you were busy with a damage limitation exercise with Willow and that Anya was helping you, though I was very surprised she could not sense my presence, maybe with all the magic in the air, or the fact that she was tuned into revenge. I was still a mess to be quite frank.
After I had managed to pull myself together a bit I decided to ring Mr Giles, Tara then sweetly smiled at Giles do you want to say anything at this point Mr Giles, no ,no you carry on Tara I will fill in the gaps later.
Anyway where was I said Tara, oh yes, so I explained everything to Giles as far as I knew, fortunately you guys had not had any time to tell him about my supposed death. Giles sort of knew what was going on anyway particularly with Willow as the Coven over here had picked up the movement on the magical plains. So he was on his way already. I arranged to meet him at the airport and he urged me not to reveal myself to you all at that point until we had got Willow under control.
When Giles did arrive, he had a plan formed which as you know included power from the coven – he asked for a little boost including an element of the positiveness of my Love for Willow, which had not, I realised diminished despite what she had done to Warren. I looked at him a bit apprehensively as I did not think my magic was up to it, but again it happened so easily, however Mr Giles was not very surprised and muttered something like ‘they were right’
Buffy looked at Giles expectantly but he waved Tara on to continue her narrative.
Anyway we agreed at this stage, especially how dark Willow had gone, that me appearing at that point may actually make things worse rather than better, still not sure whether that was the right thing to have done but I was so not ready to see her. We felt if you guys knew it would have been difficult for you guys to keep it a secret. It was hard especially keeping it from Dawnie. So I lurked and tried to protect you all from a distance. Again it was so strange how effortlessly I was able use magic, it was like a final click all my training and knowledge matched my ability rather than my ability coming up short and been more of a boost to Willow rather than doing things in my own right. Anyway I cast protection spells on you all, except Anya as I did not want her picking up me being around and figured her whole vengeance demon gig would protect her.
Anyway to cut a long story shot on this part of the story, I followed Xander to Willow and whilst he was trying to talk her down from ending the world I imbued his words with my magic especially my love for her, which seemed to do the trick.
By Now I was physically and emotionally exhausted and Giles recognised if I had to deal with anything else I would just breakdown big time. So He suggested I go and spend time in New England with the Coven there, just recharging my batteries etc. He spoke to the watchers council about me. They deemed it maybe best at this point to continue the charade of my death and made all the arrangements for that to continue. I think it was a bad move but I think not only was I now at breaking point, Giles was so distracted over Willow, we just agreed and go with the flow.
I stayed in New England recovering and learning about my new found abilities and why I was alive and basically all about myself. That I think was right as the discoveries were a bit of a shock to say the least. I did yearn to be with you guys, I also yearned to be with Willow at the same time as being reviled by her. Giles considered Willow’s recovery and redemption process and felt she was at too delicate a stage to cope with the knowledge of me being alive.
Then the potential slayer killing started, and with my power etc Giles felt I was the best person to try and round up as many of them as possible and protect them which ultimately meant sending them to you Buffy in Sunnydale. I have to admit to disguising myself so that no one would make the connection.
At some point I can’t think when but when it was beginning to get very dangerous with the First I realised I really needed to be with Willow, I forgave her what she had done in my name. However I discovered that perhaps I did not mean as much to Willow as she did to me. She had moved on, she had hooked up with one of the potential slayers, JFK think her name was. I had supposedly been dead a matter of months. I was devastated all over again.
Buffy opened her mouth to protest on Willow’s behalf but shut again wanting to know the rest of the story.
Giles felt anyway that you had enough people, weapons and power at Sunnydale and I was need elsewhere in the world to shore up things there, including doing some major research and filtering it back to you guys via Giles etc. and providing general back up.
When it was all over, as Willow had moved on and so had you guys, I decided that I would remain dead to you all and try move on myself, with some mixed results. I am now based here in the UK, working for the Watcher’s council and am the International coven’s committee monitoring magic in the world and liaison between the two. So I am kept pretty busy. And that is my story.
Buffy half way through the exposition had filled with tears and by the end of Tara’s tale her eyes were streaming. All Tara had been through, and though she was clearly busy, it was obvious she had thrown herself into her work and was missing Willow desperately and still loved her, Buffy could tell this from the tonal qualities of Tara’s voice when she was referring to Willow. She would address that in a moment but Tara’s tale had left many questions unanswered.
She turned to Giles and said as much and asked him to explain as he had obviously understood from the outset how Tara and come to be standing there.

Buffy silently hugged Tara and then looked to Giles. Giles returned her stare and nodded.

Okay Buffy I will explain things, Tara gets a bit too modest over a few aspects of what happened to her.

I am guessing despite it being on your Slayer training reading list you never read Professor Diana Wynne Jones Treaties on alternate worlds and Magic?

Buffy had the grace to look sheepish at this point.

Hmm I thought not otherwise you would have been able to put together what had actually happened to Tara.

Well Professor Jones's work, cleverly if I might say so is disguised as Children's bookss and is easily available, and I am not just saying that as she is a particular friend of mine, who just lives up the road in Bristol, maybe I should introduce you to her, she adores Tara and...Giles realised at the point from a glare from not only Buffy but also from Tara that he had rambled off the topic.

Yes as I was saying her work in particular her Chrestomanci series, especially 'Charmed life' and the biography the 'lives of Christopher Chant' explain that There are in the universe at least 12 known series of worlds. ( This does not include the nether worlds and dimensions.) and in each series there are nine alternates of the same world. This means heaven forfend there are 9 different versions of Buffy! Remember when we met Vampire Willow, well she was was from one of the versions.

There is however an anomely that happens, which is extremly rare that for one reason or another that in all but one version of a world the other versions of a person all die at or before birth, and thier lives or potential of the alternate people all settle in the remaining version so the infact have nine lives. They are also incidently very powerful magically, at enchanter level, the most powerful form of magic user, and a Nine life enchanter is the most powerful possible.

Buffy eyes glazed a bit at this, and couldn't work out why Giles was telling her this.

Giles sighed he had forgotten how dense Buffy could be a times, for a very bright superpowerful woman, she could be so incrediably thick at times.

Buffy put simply , Tara is a nine life enchanter which means she is incredibly powerful magically, far more than Willow, who is as you know a very powerful witch bordering on Sorcerer but Tara is at a whole other level.’
Tara blushed at that
‘Yes! she still does it’ thought Buffy, As Tara ducked under her own hair.
Buffy though still could not; Giles could see, put two and two together and make four. He sighed and said gently.
‘The night Tara was shot she did not die. Technically she lost one of her nine lives. What happens when a nine life enchanter loses a life, whilst they are waiting for the next one to kick in, they give the semblance of being dead, but they are not actually dead? Hence the First was never able to use Tara’s image if you were wondering because she has never actually died.
‘I was actually’ Buffy said ‘so now Tara is technically an eight life enchanter? Right does her power diminish with the loss of each life?’
‘No it remains the same, and technically’ with that Giles looked at Tara who nodded for him to continue,’ technically she is a seven life one, Tara had an accident when she was a child, which ordinarily would have killed anyone else but being who she is it did not, Tara never realised this at the time, Her parents did, her mother had some inkling as to what she possibly was, but we think that this was what started off her father’s obsession with Tara being a demon and assuming that she got it from her mother – the rest you know.’
‘But’ said Buffy ‘if you have always been this extraordinary strong magic user how come, well you know when your were …’ Buffy found it difficult to articulate without causing offence.
‘What you are trying to ask Buffy’, Tara interjected ‘was why I was so feeble with my magic during the Scooby gang days?’
Buffy nodded
Giles continued knowing how embarrassed Tara got talking about herself, in many ways she was still the same old Tara, lacking confidence in herself and her place in the world.
‘The irony of magic is and it maybe the world’s way of balancing things is that the more powerful the magic user you are the more likely you have an Achilles heal. Again if you read Professor Jones she goes into it in precise detail. Tara has a classic one, which is an allergy to gold. If she is wearing gold it dampens her magic ability to low level witchcraft. Pre puberty of course the magic is dormant anyway. Post puberty Tara informed me she wore gold jewellery, even when she didn’t wear it and despite he mother’s training and theory, it was kept very low key so not to arouse hers father’s suspicion. But she did do things easily. After her Mother died she always wore her mother’s gold ring, and just put down her weak magical power to having grown as far as she could, that’s correct Tara? Tara embarrassed by all the talk about herself, nodded. So continued Giles when Tara awoke in the morgue, her ring had been taken off, and so when she awoke she was able to use her full power. We discovered that this was the case because as soon as things settled down and her mother’s ring was retrieved it dampened it, as soon as she took off again her magic quadrupled and now you are completely up to speed Buffy – Tea anyone? said Giles.

[MandalVandal]

For some reason every time i write K e n n e d y - it changes it to JFK when published - v. strange

[DaddyCatALSO]

MandalVandal: It's built into the board format to switch over.

I like the system you've used to rectify things - drawback of course is fewer Alternate Taras :-)- it has the internal logic so important to these things.

However, the absence of quotation amrks and the other scnaty punctuation amkes this ahrd to read; among toher things, it's ahrd to tell who's speaking.

[MandalVandal]

Thanks

will take that on board s'cuse pun.

much appreciated

MnadalVandal