Fic: Alternatives

[foreverpiper]

FIFTY YEARS??? Poor Tara! Can't wait for the next update!!! It's gonna be soon right? *hopeful look*

It's better to be pissed off than to be pissed on. - My mantra on a bad day.


And never let it be said that I left a Tara craving unsatisfied. - Willow in Wilderness

[NewRuthRising]

Okay, for those of you who can't wait to get Tara out of hell...tough. Here's part seven b



Alternatives



Chapter 7 part b

Rating: R for violence

Spoilers: All eps are now fair game.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but that which I create. All else belongs to people who can sue/excommunicate/execute me if I don’t write this.

Disclaimer #2: I am going to mess about with the ideas of religion in this fic, this is not intended to offend anyone, or contradict anyone’s beliefs, but it’s necessary for the story. I apologise in advance for any offence taken.

Summary: Tara and Kel in Hell

Feedback: Send all constructive comments to rmmik@hotmail.com (please put something like “Re: your fic” in the subject, otherwise I’ll bin it). Send all abuse to someone else.

Authors note: I don’t like Season Six’s ending (obviously), so here’s my way of making things better. Eventually. After much angst. But hopefully you’ll like the W/T bits. The happy ones I mean. Hold on tight!







Kel looked over at Tara’s prone and bloodied form, wishing she would wake up. She finished the healing spell she was putting on herself and the blond. As with Buffy, the fight had lasted for over an hour, Kel had been reluctant to harm the blond at all, and to her surprise, Tara had kept Kel on the complete defensive for over half of it. Towards the end of the fight Kel had run Tara through with her sword, because of which she had collapsed, exhausted from blood loss, and lost consciousness. Kel had dragged her over to a cave, and after cleaning out it’s previous owners; twelve foot fire demons, and gleaning their corpses of all edible meat, she set about the painful task of healing her numerous wounds. If Tara managed to get free when she woke, Kel would be in no state for another round. Apart from the severed hand, she was burnt from head to foot and had broken her leg in three places. She suspected she had a concussion. All in all, not her worst encounter in this dimension, but worth a rest. She stripped off her clothes, dampened them in a dingy puddle, and lay down on them to rest, hoping no passing demons would take her nudity as an invitation for some impromptu wooing. She didn’t want to EVER have to deal with another hellspawn, especially not her own. Her last thoughts in the seconds before she lost consciousness were of hoping it actually was a concussion, at least then she wouldn't be cursed with remembering the nightmares when she woke.

She said a quick prayer in her sleep, and around her the air started to hiss in disgust. This was Hell, after all.



Tara listened to her captor move around. Finally she muttered something and lay down. Tara waited for the sounds of even breathing, but none came.



Demon. Bad. To her knowledge, the only things that didn’t need to breathe were evil. She tested her ropes, they held. She squirmed against them, ignoring the chafing and finally bleeding from rubbing her wrists against them. She was used to pain. As she worked, her broken mind brought up fragments of a memory long buried in the chaos. The first clear image was of Willow. Standing with three tall men, two of which looked oddly alike, and assorted other young women. Willow smiled, and a moment of clarity broke through the walls around her heart. She remembered these people, they were good. Though she no longer knew the word friend, she knew the concept. A small blond stepped forward, said something she could barely comprehend to the tallest of the three men. She heard the word father.



Father? Tara thought, her shattered consciousness struggling to comprehend, silently screaming in frustration at the familiar barrier her mind had put up around itself, blocking her, and the place she was in, out. No bad? How?



These people didn’t treat this man like a father, not like the demon princes in the places where she was their serving girl, and light entertainment. They looked at their fathers with fear and jealousy, sometimes, when an assassination plot was underway, triumph.

This girl looked at him with respect, and that was something a prince only gave to a warrior, or torturer, or palace dungeon keeper. Not fathers. Puzzled, she tried to remember more. The face of her captor kept appearing. She knew her, from the dream. The happy dream where Willow was. But if the owner of the bonds she was struggling against was truly real, to which the healing wound going through her midsection, courtesy of the strangers’ weapon was testament, then maybe Willow was too. Maybe it wasn’t a dream.

Tara thought about it, as well as she could with only a fragment of reasoning at her disposal, but the weight of several decades of unbearable torture drove that idea from her warped mind.

She twisted her binds. Eventually, the leather would wear through or her hand would come off. She would survive, and escape. Again. To go on and be captured. Again. She wasn’t sure what this thought meant. Of course she would. That was how it always was. Her mind screamed at her, but it’s meaning was beyond Tara’s limited capacity for rational thought. Finally, her mind showed her something she could understand. The memory of the dream, of Willow. Though she heard no words, and wouldn’t have understood them if she had, Tara got the message. This was how it was. That was how it was meant to be.

The rope woman had some of Willow’s hair. It had been a long time, she knew that. She knew people like her didn’t live long. She had seen hundreds, thousands of them, each dying within a year, and the part of her that held on desperately to her knowledge of her previous life told her where Willow was you only lived once. No coming back for more pain, over and over. You live, you die. Unlike Tara. It sounded good, so she knew it wasn’t for her. But it was for Willow. Which meant, if she had been gone so long, and she had; as long as she could remember, Willow was dead. The dream was gone. For all she had known it wasn’t real, for all she knew she would never have anything but his, Tara wept. She understood now. It was clear, plain. Her father’s grinning face loomed in her mind. They had won, like they always said they would. Her dream was dead. This truly was Hell.



Kel woke three days later, to find Tara being ravaged by a young K’smalk demon, probably out on her first real hunt alone. She was only five foot nine, and still only had three sets of teeth. It should have been an easy kill for Tara, but she just took the beating. The demon swung her round by her arm, twisting as she went. Her elbow crunched, Tara didn’t even cry out, just looked blank as she was shoved head first into the wall of the cave, then spun and shoved again so she fell. She stared blankly at the dagger protruding from her chest as the demon advanced. Kel uttered a growl, grasping her sword in her one hand and leaping at the beast. She cut her down with three slashes to the throat, then picked Tara up bodily, not bothering to avoid her injuries because she was hurt everywhere. She set her down against the wall and pulled the dagger out. The curved tip caused a large chunk of flesh to come with it, but Tara didn’t even blink. Kel continued to check her for injuries, healing them as she went. After a few minutes Tara spoke.



“She’s dead.”



“No thanks to you.” Kel replied angrily. “What were you thinking, if you even were?”



“You’ve won. I understand again. She’s gone.”



“Yeah, thankfully. Talk about annoying. So you’ve regained your sanity? What did it?” Kel asked



“Willow.” She replied simply.



“Oh, my little token.” Kel smiled, and Tara’s suspicions were confirmed. This woman was here to take her back to a palace. She worked for a demonic Prince, possibly Lucifer himself. No wonder she was gloating. “I thought you might like a reminder of why you’re doing this.” Kel continued, oblivious to the effect her words were having.



“You win. Where will you take me?”



“Home.”



“Which prince do you serve?”



“I don’t”



Kel was puzzled. She had tracked Tara through the regions owned by several princes, each obscenely violent towards all beings not of this dimension, but had never managed to get there before Tara escaped. One effort had led to being thrown in a dungeon, then a further escape attempt had been punished by a stint as the princes’ chambermaid. She had seen dozens of brutal attacks in his bedroom, been the victim of a few. It had taken her nine weeks to escape, but even with this quick exit, Tara’s trail had turned cold. It had been hard finding her again. Was it possible Tara thought she was an instrument of one of the palaces where she was kept?



Tara smiled, and it made her look a hundred years older.



“You don’t have to pretend. I won’t fight anymore. She’s gone, so I have nothing to fight for. You can have me.”



“You weren’t talking about the demon? Oh my God, you think I… oh Tara.”



She took the broken young woman in her arms and held her. No tears came, but she expected none. Tears soon dried up in this place.



“I’m not here to hurt you. Willow isn’t gone. I’m here to take you back to her.”



Tara knew this was just another lie build her hopes up so she would come quietly. She was too tired to fight, so she played along.



“Really?” Her face brightened, but Kel saw through her act.



“Yes. It isn’t a trick. Look,” she began an incantation in Latin, but finished in English.



“I give that which I bring to all; truth.”



Tara, when she had regained her sanity, had not regained her memories, and she was glad. Fifty years of torture and a false dream were memories best left broken. Now, however, she remembered it all. She knew the truth; it had been real. There was hope. It was worth the years of pain just to know that. She beamed, but her smile faltered after a second.



“What?” Kel asked.



“Kel,” Tara seemed resigned, just as she had moments ago.



“I’ve been down here fifty years. Willow will have moved on. She probably thinks I’m dead. She won’t want to see me.” A million different situations played themselves out in her mind, all ending with Willow having grown old without her, being a different person. To her surprise, Kel smirked, just as she had all those years ago in the shop. She hadn’t done anything resembling a smile in years, so working the muscles was a little painful, but she managed.



“Tara, you live on the Hellmouth.” Tara cleared her throat and looked around her.



“Okay, so currently you live in Hell, but didn’t you learn anything? Anything is possible.”



“Y-you mean she might still take me back?”



“I mean, she’s sitting in the magic shop right now waiting for you, along with the rest of them.”



“Wha… but… how?”



“To them, we’ve only been gone two days. Time moves differently here.”



Tara raised an eyebrow, then the rest of her body caught up. She leapt up, pulling Kel in to a fierce hug, and laughed and cried for joy. All the demons in the area ran for their lives; they had never heard a sound so frighteningly good.



“Come on,” Kel said, “Let’s get you home.”



She made for the entrance, but Tara held back, staring intently at the pool of dark blue blood forming under the dead demon.



“I need something.”



“What?” Kel asked. Personally she could think of thousands, the first being Willow, the second being a counsellor.



“Something to remind me that there is hope. Something to keep me going if I start to doubt. Give me your dagger.”



Kel chucked her the weapon. She dipped the end in the bluish black ooze and looked at it intently.



“This will do.”







Several minutes later, Kel bandaged up Tara’s shoulder.



“Right then, come on.” Tara said merrily. “I’ve got to go see my girlfriend.”



“ Ex-girlfriend.” Kel corrected.



“You think I’m going to ‘just stay friends’ when I get out of here? You must be crazy.”



“So they tell me.”



They both grinned, and walked out of the cave.







Ruth.

Do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty; it raises the dead! Americans! Aaah! - Giles, Dead Man's Party

[shootingstar]

I've just found this story and gotten all caught up I can't believe I missed it before!



Yay she's outta hell I'm interested to see how you play this out it's a great idea. Looking forward to the next update...



Luv Star x

***
No it was the frogs! Take them! They stole the pie...
-Sleeping Willow in Loco2's >insert imaginative title here<

[willntlover]

This fic is just so cool! I love how you added your own characters, they really fit in with the scoobs. Can't wait for them to get back to SD.



-Will

"Hear that baby? You're my always."

"well, you know, when you play a lesbian witch you've gotta get killed in this fun kind of exciting way, so the heart was the way to go..."

"we have the most amazing fans though they LOVE us."

[MissQuirky]

YAY, Now i'm all w/ the Happy! Soooo Glad shes outta Hell! I soo can't wait 4 W/T to get all make upy w/ the smoochies and other stuff !! Can't 4 more!!

"W-well, I-I was wondering, maybe, you would wanna go out sometime? For coffee ... food ... kisses and gay love?" - Willow (Normal Again)

[NewRuthRising]

ermm... actually, they're still in Hell. Sorry. Tara just got sane again and their on their way to find a way out. They won't get out for a while. Come on, did you really think they could just walk out? Where's the angst?I have to make them suffer a bit first. But don't worry, they will get out. Eventually.

I can't help feeling like a fool, since I lost that place inside, where my heart knew it's way, and my soul was ever wise.-Alison Kraus

[NewRuthRising]

working on the next update now. We find out a little more about Kel, although not all of it is true. Poor girls. Oops, I'm not supposed to give anything away.



Ruth

I can't help feeling like a fool, since I lost that place inside, where my heart knew it's way, and my soul was ever wise.-Alison Kraus

[NewRuthRising]

*Pout* Okay, I'm ust sent 7c off to beta, but as mo-one seems to want to reply to anything I may just have to wait and see! Seriously though, This is an interactive board. Feel free to comment. I know the rules 'bout bumping but come on! Talk to me people! I'm running out of ideas her, and if I'm the only one doing the talking it's gonna go downhill VERY quickly. So pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease give me some feedback. Or I may just keep Tara in Hell for good.

I can't help feeling like a fool, since I lost that place inside, where my heart knew it's way, and my soul was ever wise.-Alison Kraus

[Chance]

I just caught up with this. And I like it. So do me a favor -- let's get Tara out of hell, bring her back to Willow, who's obviously going to take care of her girlfriend... And move on to Phase Two or whatever...



Seriously? Please continue. It'll give me something to do.



M.



BTW, you can mess around with religion whenever you feel like it. This is pretty cool for me.

[NewRuthRising]

Hmm... it's been what, two days? Fifty years? Oooh, I dunno, you might have to ask nicely.

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[shootingstar]

Hm...just popped in to check for an update, can we have one soon?



How about if we offer tummy rubs, chocolate and se...(ahem) seconds on chocolate? *g*

***
No it was the frogs! Take them! They stole the pie...
-Sleeping Willow in Loco2's >insert imaginative title here<

[NewRuthRising]

Oooooh! Promise? Cuz, I mean, have you seen the kinds of things the woncubines, smittens, smuttens etc will do for their ringleader? But hey, I can never get enough chocolate!!

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[NewRuthRising]

Edited coz my computer is stupid.

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

Edited by: NewRuthRising at: 8/2/02 12:59:55 am

[the vamp nurd]

Damn, it was getting intersting........................ .

Ho hum, back to the dark crypt where I live out my exsitance...

The vamp nurd.

[NewRuthRising]

Okay, okay, I give in. Here's the update.



Alternatives



Chapter 7 part c

Rating: R for violence and disturbing imagery.

Spoilers: All eps are now fair game.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but that which I create. All else belongs to people who can sue/excommunicate/execute me if I don’t write this.

Disclaimer #2: I am going to mess about with the ideas of religion in this fic, this is not intended to offend anyone, or contradict anyone’s beliefs, but it’s necessary for the story. I apologise in advance for any offence taken.

Summary: Tara and Kel in Hell

Feedback: Send all constructive comments to rmmik@hotmail.com (please put something like “Re: your fic” in the subject, otherwise I’ll bin it). Send all abuse to someone else.

Authors note: I don’t like Season Six’s ending (obviously), so here’s my way of making things better. Eventually. After much angst. But hopefully you’ll like the W/T bits. The happy ones I mean. Hold on tight!







“That does it. I’m going on patrol.”



Buffy had been pacing the floor of the magic shop for at least three hours. Willow was sitting at a research table, staring into space. She didn’t even notice Buffy speak until she crouched down in front of her, placing her hands over Willow’s on her knees.



“Will you be ok?”



“No. I can feel her, Buffy.” Her voice shook



Buffy’s brow crinkled in confusion.



“Huh?”



“I can feel her emotions. It’s like, when she’s upset, and I look at her, I can tell what she’s feeling.”



“Telepathy? I didn’t know you two were-“ Giles sounded anxious. If Willow was experiencing that place…



“No, nothing like that. Even if I could, her thoughts would move to fast for me to hear. A week’s worth every second. It’s more, I can feel her essence. She’s alone, Buffy. She’s so scared. They keep hurting her. She’s…crazy, like when Glory… oh God, my baby…”



Willow burst into tears. Buffy held her gently and rocked her, though she knew nothing would calm the sobbing redhead. Suddenly, Willow stopped and sat up straight abruptly, making Buffy jerk backwards and land ungracefully on her butt. She looked up and glared, until she saw the tiniest hint of a smile kiss Willow’s lips.



“She’s back. Kel’s with her, it has to be. So much hope.”



“Giles, work on this.” Buffy indicated Willow. She knew Giles was desperate to find out about the link Willow and Tara apparently shared. You can take the Watcher out of the council… she thought with a smirk.



“I’m gonna patrol.”



She headed towards the door, then literally froze in her tracks. She turned to face Anya.



“Ahn, did Kel leave that tape?”



“Yep,” she held it up, stroking the top softly. Her voce was soft, the way the Scoobs sounded after a near death mission when contemplating their lives. I guess she misses her. Buffy had recently seen a new side to the former demon. Demon, I mean. She’s back to being a demon now. Whoever she was, Buffy considered her a friend. She worried about all her friends.



“Can you put it on again?”



All the Scoobs gaped at her. Anya was the first to speak.



“You want us to watch that again? Are you nuts? Willow’s sitting crying her eyes out and you want to watch Tara being murdered again. You’re sick.”



The Scoobs nodded their agreement.



“Not that bit, jeez. You think I want to see that? Tara’s my friend too. I want to find those orbs, before Warren. That way he won’t come after me and shoot Tara.”



“And Willow won’t go crazy and kill us all. Good plan, I like it. Though I think we should watch it in the back.”



What d’ya know, I guess Anya has been working on tact. Now we just gotta get her onto subtlety. Buffy was actually quite proud.



“We?”



“Yes, we. I’m not going to let those bastards kill Tara. I like Tara. She’s friendly and pretty and she always helps. And since Spike is useless, what with being lunchtime, Giles is gonna bug Willow about her witchy-Tara-link, and Xander’s on hug duty, I’m coming with you.”



“Ok, cool. But don’t get hurt.”



Anya just waved her amulet at Buffy.



“I can teleport if any of them attack me. Besides, I can get you in. I can get through the shield thingy.”



“Damn, I forgot about that.”



“Exactly, you need my help. Let’s go”



They headed into the back and ran the tape, stopping it as soon as they could. Neither of them wanted to see gun-toting Warren, and they felt watching a video of Willow and Tara’s reconciliation was very invasive to their friends’ privacy.



Buffy yelled “We’re heading out,” and received a chorus of ‘be careful’s and ‘good luck’s in return.



They walked out of the back door and headed to the woods.













“Tara listen to me because we don’t have much time. My brother designed this so I can try to prepare you.”



Tara and Kel were in a large grey room, with no doors or windows. The only entrance had sealed behind them a second ago when they were thrown in. They had been captured by the agents of a demon prince, in the K’nashmnar region, one of the most brutal areas out of sight of Lucifer’s palace.



“My brother is having one of these installed in every province. It’s a psychological torture. They take your worst memories, nightmares, experiences, and twist them. They make you live through them again, but they twist it so you end up a gibbering wreck. This is very important. It is not real. They will tell you otherwise, but it is NOT real. They’ll do us separately, me first probably. They will make you watch as they break me. They are trying to get you to lose hope. DON’T. I may be strong, but no-one can beat this. I’ve been in before. Don’t bother fighting. Just remember, it will end. They aren’t particularly patient, so-“



The walls started to hum. They were starting up the circuits. Kel sat down and started breathing deeply, trying to prepare herself. It was no use. After a second wires snaked out and placed tiny conductors on her temples. They looked like miniature versions of oil rigs. Suddenly, each side shot tiny wires through her temple, into her head and out the other side. Now she had wires sticking out of her temples which were winding round her head like a turban. When they were done the oil rig devices retracted into the wall, and Kel gritted her teeth. The steel threads running through her brain were tying themselves into her memory banks and sensory junctures. It hurt, but they pain was nothing compared to what was to come, so she continued her meditation. Suddenly a burst of white hot pain ravaged her synapses, and through the pain came an image.



Here we go, she thought grimly.



Tara watched as the wires glowed a bright orange, then white. Kel whimpered. That was odd. In the last province she was sliced into six different pieces and barely flinched. Like Tara, Kel was invincible here, and healed easily.



“Mama?”



Kel’s voice was small, like a child. She curled herself into a ball, her eyes dull and misted over, and rocked.



“Jo?”



She was crying. Tara had never seen Kel cry. It was frightening.



“They made me…no. No! NO! Mama, no, don’t… I’m sorry.”



Tears were streaming down Kel’s face as she faced demons that were long buried in her past. Through the sobbing she muttered incoherently. Tara wondered what was so horrific to have this effect on her usually unruffled friend.









Anya and Buffy tramped through the forest, making lots of noise on purpose. They wanted the demons to know they were coming.



“Here it is,” Anya said, no sign of trepidation in her voice. She walked up to the cave entrance.



“HEY! DEMONS!” She yelled.



One of them lumbered over to the two women.



“What, puny mortals?”



Anya smiled viciously. “Is that any way to treat inspectors from the Great Council? We’re here to inspect. Let us in.”



“On who’s authority?”



“D’Hoffryn. K’Choonk is too busy to send his agents, let us in.”



“And the reason you brought the Slayer is?”



“Protection. I’m Anyanka, she’s on my side.”



“You’re on hers, you mean. Anyanka’s gone soft, that’s what I heard.” The demon sneered. Before he could say anything else, he gripped his throat and started to gag. Anya raised an eyebrow.



“Soft, am I? Let us in, we’re inspecting.”



The demon collapsed on the floor, wheezing. Buffy carefully kept her face disdainfully impassive, but she fought the urge to laugh.



“Fine,” the demon grumbled.



A line shimmered on the wall, and Buffy and Anya stepped through.



“Leave it open.” Anya instructed.



“But someone could get in!”



“Exactly. This review covers all aspects of your…society.”



She said the last word with another sneer. In fact the force-field was left off to give them an escape route. They wound through several passages, when Buffy whispered to Anya



“I’ve just thought, there are still cameras in the shop.”



“We’ll get them later.”



“Ok, on the count of three. One,”



“Two,”



“Three.”



They whacked the demon on the back of the neck, and it went down.



“Here they are,” Anya said, lifting a cloth to expose the orbs. They quickly replaced them with Buffy’s Chinese iron balls and made their way out. The force-field closed behind them. They ran back the shop and immediately destroyed the balls. After that the Scoobs sought out all the cameras and took them offline, with a little help from Willow, who seemed to have perked up. As soon as Buffy asked her about it she simply said



“They’re coming home.”











Kel walked through the mist to come out on a hill overlooking the village she grew up in. she took in the scenery; the pub, the park where she played as a child, the town hall, all of it. Walking towards her over the brow of the hill were her mother and sister.



“Mama? Jo?”



“Kel. We’ve been waiting for you.”



“This isn’t real. You’re dead.”



“Why is that, Kel? Why are we dead?”



“They made me-“



“Did they?” Her younger sister asked. She seemed around fourteen, just as she was when she died.



“Let’s review, shall we?”



“No…”



Suddenly she was bound and led through her village. The people were in mourning, dressed in drab colours. They made their way into the Church, where two elaborate coffins stood just below the altar. Her mother sat her down on the pew right at the end, so she had a view of the entire congregation. The priest began to speak.



“We come here to witness the passing of the patron of our village, the Lady Keshmashmir O’Cianon. Before we begin the ceremony, our noble Mr. Giles would like to say a few words.”



Kel watched in horror as her father rose, looking much younger than he did now, but tired, as if his life force were being drained. He walked slowly and with effort to the altar, knelt respectfully, stood again with effort and went to the pulpit.



“My loyal subjects,” He began. “In my time as ruler of this region, I have dealt with many losses. As you know, everyone in this town is considered a dear friend to my family. Now we come to mourn the loss of two people who many considered to be the life and soul of this whole town. To be cut down so young, to be defiled by a person she trusted implicitly, to be murdered in cold blood by their own kin. Kelashmir, eldest daughter of my family, sought to better herself by murdering her mother and sister as she plotted to murder her brother. I am as convinced as you that she was behind his death also.”



Kel watched the funeral she had never attended play out exactly the way it did in every nightmare she had.



“No,” she whimpered through the sobs, her voice as small as it had been when her mother died. She sat, paralysed, as her father continued his speech.



“That girl is no longer welcome here, she is stained forever with the blood of innocents. She has been banished from the Kingdom, and so shall she be banished from her home. Thus I decree it. Thus it shall be.”



In one movement the congregation turned to look at her, and suddenly she saw herself as they saw her; angry, unstable, bloodstained.



“NO!” She screamed. “That isn’t how it happened. I didn’t… they…she…”



The congregation just looked at her. Behind them, the coffins opened, and the bloodied and mangled forms of her mother and sister began to drag their corpses towards her. Kel sat, paralysed. Her sister reached out and took her hands, holding them up for all to see. They were stained with blood. She pulled them back into her lap, and her sister turned towards her. Giles walked down to join them, and Lucifer appeared from nowhere, forming a ring around her.



“Why?” They asked.



The word echoed throughout the church, booming in her ears. She looked into the hollow, unforgiving eyes of those she once called family and sighed in defeat.



“Because I’m evil.”



They smiled reassuringly.



“We know.”





Ruth.

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[NewRuthRising]

By the way, I'm going to Scotland for a week or so and wont have access to a computer so I'll read your feedback when I get back.



Ruth

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[shootingstar]

Great update I think it deserves many tummy-rubs and chocolate...



Poor Kel though, having to live through those nightmares...Tara's is gonna be easier right? (Hey, I can be in denile if I want, lol) And I love Anya (well tech Anyanka) in this fic she's such a dude!



Luv Star x

***
No it was the frogs! Take them! They stole the pie...
-Sleeping Willow in Loco2's >insert imaginative title here<

[Centauri2002]

As you already know, I like the update. You're coming to Scotland? You are sooo gonna enjoy the weather! Two words for you: Flash floods. Anyway, hope you have a nice time in our lovely country. Hope you get to write the next parts soon.



Caz

Tara: I got so lost
Willow: I found you... I will always find you

[NewRuthRising]

Oh, no it gets bette. I'm going on an 2adventure holiday2, which basically means a week covered in mud falling off various pieces of equipment. Sounds like fun!



Ruth.

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[NewRuthRising]

Ok, I'm back, relatively no worse for wear, apart from midge bites, and working on the next chapter: Tara's experience in that place. Also possibly an insight into their apparant link. Or maybe not.

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[willntlover]

Cool. it's geat that you're doing all right. i can;t wait for the next bit



-Will

"Hear that baby? You're my always."

"well, you know, when you play a lesbian witch you've gotta get killed in this fun kind of exciting way, so the heart was the way to go..."

"we have the most amazing fans though they LOVE us."

[NewRuthRising]

Okay, sorry to take off without warning, but I wasn't going to pass up two weeks in a country club, even for the kittens. Update soon, I promise.



Ruth

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[NewRuthRising]

Okay, here you go.



WARNING: Violence!!!!!!!



Alternatives



Chapter 7 part d

Rating: R for violence and disturbing imagery.

Spoilers: All eps are now fair game.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but that which I create. All else belongs to people who can sue/excommunicate/execute me if I don’t write this.

Disclaimer #2: I am going to mess about with the ideas of religion in this fic, this is not intended to offend anyone, or contradict anyone’s beliefs, but it’s necessary for the story. I apologise in advance for any offence taken.

Summary: Tara and Kel in Hell

Feedback: Send all constructive comments to rmmik@hotmail.com (please put something like “Re: your fic” in the subject, otherwise I’ll bin it). Send all abuse to someone else.

Authors note: I don’t like Season Six’s ending (obviously), so here’s my way of making things better. Eventually. After much angst. But hopefully you’ll like the W/T bits. The happy ones I mean. Hold on tight!







“Willow, I know this is difficult but I need you to concentrate.”



They were seated at the table in the Magic Box, books spread around the entire area, testament to Giles’ futile search to explain the way Willow and Tara were linked. Giles had been thinking out loud, trying to make sense of it, when Willow interrupted. He continued.



“It can’t be magical, because not even the power we know you have,” he flushed, remembering the power she showed in that tape, and the way she used it against her friends, against him.



“Not even that amount could sustain a link between you two in that place. So it must be something else. You say you feel her emotions, how do you mean?”



Willow sighed. They had been over this.



“I told you, it’s like, I know what she’s feeling, but I don’t feel it. Like watching a movie or something. Like, right now, she isn’t in any real pain, but she’s frightened and worried, the way she is when someone she cares about is in danger.”



“That would be Kel.” Anya said. Everyone looked at her.



“What,” she said, putting down her pen and turning to look at the group in front of her.



“They’ve been there a while, you don’t think they haven’t bonded? Fighting side by side tends to do that, as you all know. So Kel is probably being horribly tortured and Tara’s watching, or Tara doesn’t know what’s happening to her and is panicking. That would probably indicate mental torment. As for the link they have, it’s fairly obvious. When your soul has met another every lifetime since Adam and Eve, which they were, you get to know them pretty well. They start to merge together. When they touch, they link. A soul without it’s mate despairs, so if they weren’t linked, every time Tara went to the shop, Willow would become suicidally depressed. They take a little part of each other with them wherever they go, like having a photo in your wallet, so they can be together even when their bodies are apart. Being witches, those two probably have a stronger link than most, and with Tara being the incredibly nice person she is-“



Willow searched for sarcasm in her statement and found none, however, knowing Anya, it could be a compliment or an insult anyway.



“She probably unknowingly developed it to the point where her soul’s unconscious monitoring of Willow became conscious, and, due to the mirror nature of the link, so did Willow’s.”



The Scoobies gaped.



“What?” Anya asked.



Honestly, she thought, they act surprised I know these things. I’m 1123 years old, I’ve learned a few things. Phht. Mortals.



Throughout her mental scorn of humanity, Giles expression had grown steadily more frustrated.



“Anya,” he said, clearly fighting to keep his voice calm.



“Why didn’t you tell us this three hours ago when we started?”



Anya shrugged, as though the answer was obvious.



“You never asked.”



Apparently it was. There was no time for further rebuttal though, as Willow gasped, sank to the floor and started mumbling.



“No, never, I wouldn’t”



“Giles, what’s going on?” Buffy sounded panicked. She was.



“I have no idea.” Giles replied. Anya studied Willow intently. The redhead was staring at a point just beyond sight, mouth open, tears streaming freely down her face, shaking her head in denial of what she was seeing.



“Oh crap. Move, you idiot Watcher.”



Giles let Anya past, shocked by her blunter than usual attitude. His shock increased however, as he witnessed what Anya did next. The woman he knew as his friend shed her human form, her innocent features replaced by the veiny, purple visage of Anyanka. The demoness strode over to Willow, picked her up bodily, and literally gave her a good shake. When this had no effect, she started shouting, her voice grating on his ears in a way he had never heard, but was somehow familiar.



“Break the link, Tara!” she yelled. As one the gang frowned in confusion.



“Tara,” Anya yelled, ignoring them. “Tara, you have to stop! You’re hurting Willow!”



Instantly Willow slumped in Anya’s arms, unconscious. Xander hurried forward to take his friend’s prone form, his eyes never leaving Anya’s face. As soon as Willow was safely on the table, her face shifted again, her features reforming to show the soft, smiling mouth and warm eyes he had become used to, but the imprint of Anyanka’s murderous gaze remained, as if burned into his retinas. Oddly, he was not repulsed. On instinct, he reached out, but dropped his hand. He turned to his friends, who were apparently disturbed by what they saw.



“I’m sorry,” Anya said. “It was the only way I could get through.”



Buffy was the first to recover from her semi-catatonic stare. Her voice was hard.



“Explain.”







Tara watched in disgust as the wires slid finally out from her friends’ temples. It had been months, by Tara’s reckoning. Whatever they showed her, they took their time. As she expected, the wires had been designed to cause as much pain as possible; in this case tiny backwards facing hooks had been placed on the wires, so they scraped tissue out with them during their slow withdrawal. The grey slime being pulled from Kel’s head dropped to the floor as the cables extended towards Tara, who recoiled in horror. Kel stirred, saying something that sounded like ‘slow time’. She dragged her barely conscious body over to her companion, forced it upright and braced herself, effectively putting a shied between Tara and the wires. It made no difference. The wires kept going, forcing their way through Kel’s abdominal flesh. She passed out, just in time to say “It’ll be slow.”.



The wires reappeared at the base of Kel’s bowed neck, making her head loll to one side, the tendons on her neck straining against the skin, which bruised before her eyes. Dark crimson blood flowed in small rivulets from the steel protrusions, like a kind of reverse vampire bite. The snakelike cables wound up to Tara’s temples, and she offered no protest, saving her energies, as Kel had, for the onslaught to come.



And come it did. The pain from their entry into her skull doubled, tripled, multiplied beyond measure, till all she could feel was the white hot haze of agony, like a cloud around her mind and senses. Through the blinding whiteness, a vague blurring of colour came. She shook her head, trying in vain to get her eyes to focus, but the skull-splitting pain she was experiencing had almost deadened her senses.



Suddenly, instantly, the pain was gone. Tara shook her head again, and found herself woozy, but able to see. She was on her knees, hands pressed to her temples, head bowed to the floor, which had somehow mutated from the dull metal of her and Kel’s enclosure to scuffed, dirty black linoleum. Her eyes instantly absorbing all the details of her surroundings, she noticed the shadow on the floor beside her. Rising swiftly, she spun into fighting stance, facing her opponent. Studying the features, her jaw dropped.



“Willow?”



It was definitely Willow. There were the soft lips, the pools of emerald and shapely nose framed by a mass of hair the colour of fire and the texture of silk. There stood the slight frame, the womanly curves she loved to trace with hands as well as eyes. But as Tara studied her lover, she realised something was desperately wrong. Willow had not made a move towards her, nor had she spoken a word. Also, there was something about her stance, one hip jutting slightly to the side, weight slightly tilted to the left. Long seconds passed, and Willow stood, watching. Tara didn’t move; the sense of wrongness coming off this being filled her with fear. This ‘Willow’ oozed danger and confidence, not just through her posture, but the cold look she fixed Tara in place with.



Suddenly Willow’s demeanour changed completely. She looked at Tara, astonished. Her astonishment carried through into her voice as she spoke.



“Tara? Is it really you?”



Her voice was full of hope and fear, music to Tara’s ears.



“It’s me, love.”



Tara heard her voice come out a little less cautious than she would have liked, but her ears, and voice, and every part of her were rejoicing at being reunited with Willow. Every part, that was, except the small voice at the back of her mind urging caution. It was overruled, however, by her instinctive need to be with Willow, who was running at her, face a picture of joy, arms outspread.



Tara rushed into her embrace, holding on as tight as was possible without breaking Willow’s ribs. After long minutes, during which Tara smoothed Willow’s hair as she sobbed onto her shoulder, Willow pulled her head back and met Tara in a fierce and passionate kiss, silently demanding proof that Tara was in fact real. Tara met Willow’s lips with equal desperation, years of separation falling away as she reclaimed her place with her love, at her side.



Too soon, they pulled away, foreheads touching, neither willing to part more than was absolutely necessary. Panting from their long break from breathing, both women remained silent for a second, until Willow finally broke the reverie.



“How?” She asked. “How did you get out?”



“I don’t know,” Tara replied, voice low with passion. “I was about to be tortured, I think. I must be out, because there’s no way this is hell. I don’t remember that well. Kel was… I’m not sure. She must have come out somewhere else. The Hellmouth, maybe. I should…”



Tara trailed off, unsure of what to do. Kel could take of herself, she decided. Tara had more pressing matters to attend to.



“Maybe we shouldn’t worry about it.” She said to Willow. “All that stuff about a gift horse, right?”



Willow smiled, and Tara was powerless to resist tasting her lips once more.



Several minutes later, they broke apart, and Tara finally took stock of her surroundings. She was in the Magic Box, standing just at the steps leading to the shop floor. Tara savoured the sights around her, the counter, the register, the research table. Inhaling deeply, she caught the faint aroma of various candles and incense.



It’s good to be home, Tara thought.



The bell over the door jingled merrily, as if sharing in the jubilation, to admit the Slayer.



“Why are there never any vamps around when you want them? Sorry Will, I had to patrol, I was going crazy-“



Buffy looked up and stopped dead in her tracks. She blinked a couple of times, then rubbed her eyes. Finally she shook her head to clear it, but the apparition in front of her remained.



“Tara? You’re…not in hell. How come?”



Buffy thought about this statement for a while, then decided it wouldn’t do. That was no way to greet a friend.



“Tara!” She yelped happily, pulling Tara and Willow in to a Slayer-sized embrace. Whilst Tara was sure she could take it, Willow’s bones weren’t up to that kind of punishment, so she eased Buffy away, just as the rest of the gang entered. Their reaction was very similar to Buffy’s. When the hug fest was over, and Tara was sure her ribs were still intact, she finally spoke.



“It’s good be home guys,” she snuck a glance at Willow.



“Really good.”









Ruth

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[willntlover]

Hee hee! You going to start us out slow with Tara's tourtue aren't you??



Loved the update, especially Anya!

-Will

"Hear that baby? You're my always."

"well, you know, when you play a lesbian witch you've gotta get killed in this fun kind of exciting way, so the heart was the way to go..."

"we have the most amazing fans though they LOVE us."

[4evaWill]

Wow, I am so loving this fic!



Wondering what happened to Kel, is she really out? Please continue! Like I said, loving it!



4evawill



Will: What's with the sudden calisthenics? Aren't you sort of naturally buff, Buff? (smiles and giggles) Buff buff.

[NewRuthRising]

*Snicker snicker* next update soon. Hopefully. As soon as I do my 6-page drama portfolio. So, sometime next month. Bye. *Snicker snicker*



Ruth



I am evil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[NewRuthRising]

Ok, here you go. The itsy bitsi teenie weenie one-pice wearing finale to C. 7





Alternatives



Chapter 7 part e

Rating: R for violence and disturbing imagery.

Spoilers: All eps are now fair game.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but that which I create. All else belongs to people who can sue/excommunicate/execute me if I don’t write this.

Disclaimer #2: I am going to mess about with the ideas of religion in this fic, this is not intended to offend anyone, or contradict anyone’s beliefs, but it’s necessary for the story. I apologise in advance for any offence taken.

Summary: Tara and Kel in Hell

Feedback: Send all constructive comments to rmmik@hotmail.com (please put something like “Re: your fic” in the subject, otherwise I’ll bin it). Send all abuse to someone else.

Authors note: I don’t like Season Six’s ending (obviously), so here’s my way of making things better. Eventually. After much angst. But hopefully you’ll like the W/T bits. The happy ones I mean. Hold on tight!







Tara walked through the streets of Sunnydale in a daze. It was like a miracle, hell, it was a miracle. No poison in the air, no screaming, no corpses being brought back to life for round two…million. She watched in fascination as a dog ran to greet it’s master, both of them happy, energetic, peaceful. She never took her hand out of Willow’s, and stayed close to the Scoobs. The feeling was mutual. None of them seemed to want to be further away from her than was absolutely necessary.



They arrived at the Summers house, and Tara stopped dead.



“Sweetie?” Willow said, sounding confused.



“It’s just,” Tara said, the small boulder in her throat making her voice a little hoarse.



“I never thought…for so long, I thought this place, all of it, was a dream. I was…I lost control. That place , it…it drove me crazy. I was there for decades, killing anything that got in my way. Kel found me just as I found…Glory. I wasn’t too pleased to see her. Kel….dragged me off to a cave, after she knocked me out. I attacked her. I thought she had killed Willow…she had a locket with hair in, they kept trophies…sometimes.”



Tara’s speech was broken by long sighs as she gathered the strength to continue speaking. The gang, sensing her need to get this out, stayed silent, although both Willow and Xander looked desperate to speak. Tara ignored them and kept talking.



“Kel, she did something…a spell maybe. She showed me…put knowledge in my mind…it’s hard to describe. It was like, I saw what she knew, that Willow wasn’t dead, and there was a chance, so we fought to get back…for so long. And now I’m here…I’m home. It just doesn’t seem real.”



Buffy gave Tara a wry smile.



“Oh, it’s real Tara. Every last bit. Unfortunately.”



She said, grinning at Dawn.



“Hey!” Dawn said, glaring at her sister and swatting her lightly.



“I resemble that remark!”



Tara’s mind eased at the friendly banter, and they continued up the drive and into the house. Or that was the plan. As Tara reached the threshold, she hit an invisible barrier. Staggering backwards, she rubbed her aching forehead where it had struck the wall of air. Experimentally, she reached out again, her fingers met firm resistance which caused a slight tingle to run throughout her whole frame. Looking to her friends for assistance, she met a stony-faced Slayer and her sister, a puzzled Xander, but her attention was focussed solely on Willow. She was horrified.



“Tara? You’re…you can’t be. It’s sunny. But you…bounced.”



Once more Tara reached for the barrier. Apparently it was offended that she hadn’t listened to it’s first rebuttal, because this time she was flung backwards, back into the driveway. Controlling her fall, she rolled and rose immediately, her movements unnaturally fluid. Spinning on her heel, she turned to see Buffy advancing on her, Mr. Pointy at the ready.



“I’m sorry, Tara.” Was all she said before the attack came.



Ruth

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

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[Miss1234Kitty]

OMG! Cliffhanger much? Tara can't be a vamp! Buffy can't stake her! I can't stop using exclamation marks! Update soon! PLEASE?! Me like but, hey, cliffhanger!

Tara: There's just so much to work through... and can you just be kissing me now?

[willntlover]

Yay!!!!! Update of my fav fic!!!!!



Okay, loving how you have written this out. I really like how one of Tara's biggest fears is Buffy slaying her coz she's a demon. Need another update!!!!! I can't stand the not knowing!



-Will

"Hear that baby? You're my always."

"well, you know, when you play a lesbian witch you've gotta get killed in this fun kind of exciting way, so the heart was the way to go..."

"we have the most amazing fans though they LOVE us."

[Grimlock72]

Heh, of course Buffy wont stake her. That would end the illusion waaaay to quick. Besides I doubt that Willow would just stand bye and watch Tara getting staked



Lotsa interesting disaster-scenario's to create from here... Willow killing or hurting Buffy or such. I suspect her link with Willow will help Tara at least somewhat. (I'm not entirely sure if the previous part in the Magic Shop with Anya in VD-make-up is supposed to somewhat overlap with the part of Tara being tortured, time-wise)



I'll try to wait patiently



Oh yes, before I forget.. can Willow kill Luci please ? I don't give a shit about why he did what he did really. Even if it was a test of some idiotic sort, kill him anyway. (and the ones that have such sick minds to order such a test)



I'm not a violent person, really I'm not



Grimmy

"Why w-w-would anyone leave Willow?" It was a concept Tara just could not grasp. -- I Dream of Thee by Jomarch