As Time Goes By

[russ]

Our heroines are not coming over too heroic here. Their only concern is preventing Kyra from growing up to be a Guardian (dreadful fate), with the need to protect innocent lives as an afterthought. The only real information on fighting the villain that they garnered from the Anadeis is that those once attacked are safe from further attacks. Otherwise, they still have no idea how to protect others or directly attack their enemy. I was relieved when Tara voiced this; Willow's constant refrain of "We'll figure it out" was sounding rather hollow. I can see where she's coming from, though; admitting her helplessness is just too hard.

I can't really understand this "Our daughter will not fight" obsession. The logical extension of that is: "Our daughter will grow up to be helpless against the evil that exists in the world." Seems to me that destiny or no destiny they'd want Kyra to be a)able to protect herself, and b)able to protect others. If her destiny is derailed, does that mean the women she is to protect go unprotected? And if so, does this not make the world a worse place for everyone, including Kyra? Or does it mean someone else's baby gets to grow up to be the Guardian? Our girls need to think this through, which they seem incapable of doing. The only real moral reason for trying to derail the prophecy is to protect the remaining three innocents. Which brings us back to not having any idea how to go about it.

Buffy & Faith, on the other hand, are bringing out the best in each other & in W/T. Buffy's support gets W/T from paralyzed terror to joke-making. Go, Bub!

Faith's mixture of real pride, faux humility, and mock condescension is perfectly done. The laugh out loud moment of this chapter: "No need for a huff, Buff." This line has been laying there for years, waiting for someone to notice. So glad you decided to pick it up and use it.

Willow mentally asks a good question: what is Buffy feeling for Faith? Doubt if Bub herself could answer that question. But Faith is right; any of them, Buffy, Faith, Dawn, etc. would die to save Kyra. It's what you do when a child is in danger. The difference is that Slayers have a better chance of succeeding at the safe-keeping. Once again I cheer for a Buffy who is able to put her own hurt feelings aside and volunteer to be Faith's "lovable sidekick."

Xander and Anya's arrival reminds us that this isn't just about the gang. People are dying, others are suffering, and that's the real reason to condemn the "powers that wanna be." As an aside, I agree with Paul's interpretation of why the PTB don't get directly involved. Although, one can't discount the REMF factor. (the first two letters stand for "rear echelon", yes?)

And now we're down to two left to save...

Russ

[tal]

Mary,

Ok, confession time. I'm a sucker for sub-plots. Hey, everybody needs to have a hobby. I also believe that sub-plots usually make the difference between a good writer and a great one. The way a writer takes care of the secondary characters can sometimes make or break a story.

Guess where you're at…

Now, granted, I'm not a professional. Not even close. But I do know words, that's sorta what I do, and I do know when something works, and yours really does for me… the attention you give both Faith and Buffy. The subtle currents are just beautifully painted.

Case in point -

"Did these invisible Gorgons say that Faith has to work alone? Or does she get to have a lovable sidekick whose wacky hijinks lend some much-needed levity to the drama?"

Now Buffy, she's a lot of things but modest she ain't – yet look how naturally she assumed the 'sidekick' role. She could have phrased the same notion in a million different ways. She didn't. And I don't believe it's just so as not to steal Faith's thunder. Buffy will play second to no one… unless. Well… unless something. I like that something. Not sure what it's gonna be – but I like it already.

Oh and Faith. True, I'm a bit biased when in comes to her character, but still, I love that you let her revel in her role despite the circumstances. And that even though she's repenting now, it doesn't mean she has to turn into some whipped self-loathing character.

This is some serious talent you have there, Mary. I mean it.

Tal.

[JustSkipIt]

Hey Mary,
Again a update driven by good and powerful dialog. My favorite, believe it or not, is Buffy's advice to Kyra. She can't possibly know the importance of her advice yet there she is doling it out. And Tara & Willow are standing there thinking about how much they don't want Kyra to need the advice.

Faith rocks. Oh, did I mention Faith rocks?

"Hi, I'm Willow, this is Tara, this is our daughter Kyra and this is her nanny Faith. She'll kill you if you look sideways at her." lol.

Too bad about #8.

I haven't read the entire lot of feedback but I'm going to go off track a bit here. Now first off, I don't want anyone to die. That said, Mr. Big Bad has 8/10. They have no idea who or what BB is and no potential way to stop him. Yes, they want to stop the BB but if they don't? The downside is that Kyra becomes a superhero? Yes we don't want our children in danger but you know what? You child can be a superhero and save women and lead them to the light or whatever? I mean aren't Willow & Tara all with the woman power and the saving people? So let's put our children (our money) where our mouth is.

My point: they try to stop BB but if they fail and Kyra becomes a LIGHT, yay for Kyra and the women of the world. Plus which: it's a PROPHECY!

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello all. Yes, things are about to get even more complicated for our girls. They're dealing with the initial shock of this revelation, plus the Big Bad is one person closer to achieving his nefarious aims. Zounds! Thanks to all of you following this story and letting me know about it.

Rose: Hey, Yellow Jersey girl! Things are indeed tense, but tell your tummy not to worry: our girls always come together (pun intended) when it counts. Thanks!

Car: Let's try to watch our language, Car, shall we? I think what you want to say is, "F**king hellfire and damnation!" Thank you.

Come on back whenever you're ready!

Patches: Whoa...If I'm making this decision look rational, I'm going about it all wrong! Yikes! OK, go take good care of your wife's hand, and let said hand do likewise for you.

Paul: Greetings to Down Under from...Up Over? Hmm...

Indeed, they have this awful sense of impending doom and a desperate need to do something about it--but what? That's the obstacle they keep hitting. They'll hit another obstacle in the next update. (Really? You wanna know? OK: They need to go to the store, and they can't find their keys. I told you, Paul--this story might get hard to read at times.)

You know, I enjoy writing Buffy much more as a supporting character; specifically, I love her supporting Willow and Tara and now Kyra. Scenes b/w Buffy and Kyra are just fun to write.

And ah, the boy turns (even more) philosophical...I loved your ruminations on the issue of TPTB fighting their own battles. The case for the defense:

But what I consider more likely is that there is an unspoken agreement with their respective counterparts on the other end of the moral spectrum. If they suddenly start taking part in the battle between good and evil, you can be sure as hell that even more powerful bad guys are going to do the same thing. From there, everything will just escalate until BAM ... you've got the supernatural equivalent of a thermo-nuclear war.

I'm always intrigued by the notion that good and evil (to the extent that they're dichotomous entities, and that's a whole 'nother deal) sometimes have a pact, even an unspoken one. And again, there's the whole topic of choice: to what extent are humans truly puppets, esp. if they know of a given prophecy? I love reading the ideas about that subject.

Faith is just a delight to write. People have a wide spectrum of opinions on her (which is different from having a wide speculum in her, and far less intrusive) and so she always pulls such a myriad of reactions. I think that even more than Buffy, Faith has always expected to die young. She doesn't actually want to; she just expects it at a pretty fundamental level. So to do so in service to a child she adores, fighting beside a woman she loves? She'll take that over any of the other alternatives she's believed available in the last few years.

REMF? I think I figured out that last 2 letters, and Russ supplied the first 2. My oh my...Such nasty language...

Thanks for your incredibly kind words and ongoing support, Paul. You always leave great feedback that makes me think. Take good care of you!

Russ! How's it going, Tomato Man? (Sing us a song, you're the Tomato Man...) My garden's about kaput, though my raspberries are practically flipping the bird to the cooling weather.

Ah, our heroines...Yes, they're looking a mite self-concerned right now. Give 'em time, though: they just learned about this, even if they both suspected something from the beginning. Their first inclination is going to be to protect their child, and everything else is secondary. I promise, though, that their reactions will grow more nuanced and complicated very soon. Oh my God--it's happening right now! I need to go talk to them!

OK, I'm back. Anyway, they won't disappoint you, Russ, although their path is a complex one.

Oh, the "huff" moment--it popped into my head, and I needed to do a quick scan to see if it had been done on the show. Imagine my ridiculous delight...As I mentioned to Paul, I really enjoy writing both Faith and Buffy, esp. when the latter is in a supporting role. On the one hand, her self-absorption on the show was understandable and let's face it--if someone really did live that life, she'd have many of the same reactions; at least, that's my belief. Over the course of 7 years, though, it got very old, very quickly.

Thanks for following this, Russ, and taking the time out of a hectic schedule to leave feedback. Enjoy the sauce!

Tal: Ah, 'tis she of the wise sayings...and isn't she an astute reader? You know, I really spent time with Buffy's exact words, for the reasons you give: there are lots of ways she could say that she's in this, she's on board however she's needed. And she most definitely is not modest, at least not falsely so. She's a Slayer, and a damn good one. So why make it so clear that she acknowledges Faith as the star of this vehicle? I think she was certainly tweaked by the prophecy, but far outstripping that is her love for Kyra. When she learns that Faith is expected to sacrifice her life (which she would have realized upon further consideration: she would certainly have expected it for herself), she feels an even greater urge to act. But she'll do that carefully, thoughtfully--and in ways that she wouldn't automatically do for anyone else.

Thank you for your warm thoughts, Tal. It really does mean a lot to hear that you're enjoying this story. I hope that the court life is treating you fairly well.

Debra: Hey girl--how's it going? OK, I cracked up when I read this:

"Hi, I'm Willow, this is Tara, this is our daughter Kyra and this is her nanny Faith. She'll kill you if you look sideways at her."

God, just the idea of Faith as a nanny took me over the edge...I'm glad you're enjoying Faith! I know she's not always a favorite of yours. It's always intriguing to me to read various fics b/c different characters take on such different aspects.

It was fascinating to read your thoughts on Kyra and the prophecy, knowing that you're a parent. See, I'm not, so writing about the parental instinct to protect is dicey. It's interesting to read ideas about supporting Kyra's role--or at the very least, not screaming in abject dread at the prospect--from someone who has a child. There's also a certain pragmatic concern here, as you point out: everyone's saying that they have to stop this guy, but what's the actual likelihood that they can? So where do they best invest their energy?

As always, Debra, I love reading your reactions. Thanks for the kind words, and give Asher a hug for me. ("Sweetie, this is from a lesbian in Pennsylvania. She seems sane enough.")

OK. More to come. That's what I do.
Mary

[JustSkipIt]

I'm glad you're enjoying Faith! I know she's not always a favorite of yours.

Really? There was a fic where I didn't think she rocked? I don't like the Fluffy pairing but not liking Faith? I'd have been happy to see the Faith the Vampire Slayer show and drop Buffy all together. Hmmm...

[UnderTheirSpell]

Well shit- finished reading just in time to have to go back to work. I'll be back later with more words. How literate or thought-provoking they'll be, I make no guarantees.

But i just HAD to give props to this...

Tara's voice wrapped itself around Willow's breaking heart like a velvet cord, binding it gently back together.

*Gets all verklempt* Loved that line.

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hey Debra--My bad! I misunderstood the Fluffy disinclination. Yeah, Faith rocks in about seven languages and three dress sizes. (Not sure where that last part came from.) Thanks for the clarification!

Mary

[russ]

Hi Mary, she whose raspberries give meaning to the word "everbearing."

The feedback is a bit spotty these days, but I look forward to your updates, and read them with great pleasure.

My garden is slowing down some, but still churning out respectable amounts of almost everything, including tomatoes. I just planted the garlic for next year's crop. And now, by request,

ahem,

I'll sing you a song, I'm the tomato man,
yes I'll sing you a song tonight,
For we're all in the mood for a pasta dish,
and I've got the sauce that tastes right.

thank you, thank you very much.

Russ

[watty]

All parents want to protect their children, it's a fact of nature. But sometimes they get overprotective. Why is it that some children fall ill as soon as they start nursery school? They've lived in a sanitized glass bubble that's why, and as soon as they come into contact with a teeny germ their coddled little bodies don't have the immune system to fight it.

I understand about the witches' reluctance to allow Kyra to join the fight. But is that a wise decision, versus an irrational over-reaction? Like I said last update, there is no better group of people to nurture and guide the Guardian.

All parents also want their child to be special. They stand proudly at the side of the stage when 4-year old Johnny plays Mozart's Violin Concerto at Carnegie Hall ... heck they'll be as proud with him playing Chopsticks at the school Christmas party. My point is to the witches is, if Kyra is destined to have special talents, don't hold her back, she'll hate you for it when she grows up. Heh, now I have a vision of teenage rebellion Kyra in goth make-up and saying "It's cool, Moms."

I love how Buffy is playing with her. And how Faith's chest must have puffed up ( ) when she learnt that she had been tasked with protecting the protector.

As for the eight victim. Am I a cold-hearted bitch if I say I'm neither surprised nor taken aback. I was going to say particularly sad, but I don't know if it's someone relating to the Scoobies yet, so I'll reserve judgement. The whole scenario is so inevitable anyway, the BB would get its 10 victims eventually. The only obstacle is if it's under a timetable.
[br]

[spells42]

Mary
Your writing is sooooo good. The result appears so effortless, but whenever I read any of your fics the .... hush ? .. that descends on me tells me that this is a carefully crafted and finely tuned piece of work.

So, Kyra's the Guardian and W & T are faced with the strong possibility that she will assume her role before she's even learned to talk properly. No wonder they're angry and protective. I thought Willow was a bit hasty cutting off the Anadeis when she did .... there's no knowing what W & T may have learned if she'd let them go on talking. It was hard for them to think they had a way to prevent the prophecy only to realise they were no further ahead 'cos they had no clue how to stop the BB. (Who now only needs two more victims.) The way Willow and Tara took turn about in being strong for each other was touching.
I liked Buffy's response to the apparent hopelessness of their goal ...

Willow's earlier helplessness returned with a vengeance. "How, Buffy? We have no idea how to stop this thing."

Buffy tossed her head. "Yeah, yeah...A few years ago we had no idea how to stop the Mayor, who turned into a giant snake that snapped up people like Triscuits. We had no idea how to stop Adam, who squashed everything we threw at him. How were we ever going to stop Glory? She was a god, for Peter, Paul, and Mary's sake. And out of all of them, who now walks the earth in stylish yet tasteful apparel?"

(I have to question if Buffy would've ever heard of Peter, Paul & Mary? Probably one of her Mum's favourites mmmm?)

The moments of humour, graveyard or otherwise, which you intersperse through the drama are cleverly done, and provide an appreciated leavening of the anxious tone of the story. Like the following...

The Slayer flashed a defiant smile. "You mean we have the chance to piss off a Big Bad and a trio of wannabe puppeteers? If I weren't wearing silk, I'd drool."

Buffy pulled back and groaned. "It's Buh-fee," she said emphatically, and turned to Willow. "You teach her to do this, don't you?"
"If I say yes, is the proposal off?"

"What--I'm not in charge of etiquette?" Faith asked. "I'm shocked, and a little hurt, I gotta say."

Finally the repeated use of Willow's thoughts following the revelations by the Anadeis up to and during the Scooby meeting add another dimension to the scenes. The dual POV is an effect I find almost creepy - I'm not sure why - but it certainly helps to build atmosphere.

Thanks again for a great story Mary.
Anne
p.s. Sadly my Pippin was killed by a car end August. I put up the avatar as a little memorium for him. Give your brood a cuddle for me, esp. RK, may his good luck continue.

[Safuega]

Hi Mary:

The mosquito bites have healed and all that remains are some unbecoming dark spots that are slowly fading away. My best friend is doing okay and has her good and bad days but mostly she is just holding on. So very kind of you to ask, I appreciate that.

I will concede that for Willow and Tara the revelation that their daughter is destined to be in peril is motive for them to go crazy. I am not a parent and while I believe that I may not be likely to go crazy, I respect the right of every other parent to go crazy at the thought of his or her tyke being in danger. In the end, as you point out, neither you nor I have kids and right now our discussion of 'what would I do' is pretty much philosophical conceit, isn't it?

As for this update, I liked these two lines:

She was a god, for Peter, Paul, and Mary's sake.

I had to smile at this line both because it made me nostalgic and because I could not picture Buffy knowing who Peter, Paul, and Mary were but it sounded like something that her character would say.

"Hello, my name is Faith. I play a vital role in an ancient prophecy."

And this line I found endearing and almost innocent in the way that I pictured Faith saying it. It made me think of her as a shy but proud little girl introducing herself to grown ups at a party.

For a second when Willow retold what she and Tara found out I almost thought that Faith would take the news as her being expendable and that's why she was chosen as the protector. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see her accept the role with pride and with full awareness that not only is she needed, but also she is vital to the enterprise. For someone who is on a quest for redemption, this mission could not have come at a better time. This is what Faith has been looking for whether she knew it or not: someone to need her and love her unconditionally. It makes perfect sense for Faith to be connected to Kyra. Kyra is a new life, and in a way Kyra is Faith's blank slate where Faith gets to write a brand new version of herself because Faith and Kyra have no bad history together. Kyra is Faith's second chance. It is poetic really to have Kyra be the teeny but powerful new light that has to be protected by the Dark Slayer. How unlikely, yet how utterly right for both of them because I see Faith having all these good feelings that she is dying to express and share and finally here is a little bundle of joy who is more than happy to accept them without second-guessing.

Lovely update Mary. As usual, I’ll be for the continuation of this lovely tale of yours. Have a lovely week.

Safuega

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, all. Hope everyone had a good weekend. I'll be updating on Wednesday. Thanks as ever for following this story.

UnderTheirSpell: Be careful on the verklempting. That'll make you go blind, you know...Glad you're enjoying it; thanks!

Russ! I have but one question for you, sir: When's the CD coming out? The video? Hey, he'll be here all week...Try the prime rib...

Actually, I'm glad you mentioned the garlic--gotta get that planted! I'm still getting a few tomatoes, but our weather has cooled recently so the peppers are just looking at me in this kind of petulant, "What do you want from us?" kinda way. The raspberries? Still cranking! As is your feedback, good man. Leave what you can, when you can!

Watson: Watty, you could never be a cold-hearted bitch, and--What's that? You can? And you'll break my shit off if I dis you like that again? OK--point taken. Anyway, the struggle that emerges here for me is the one b/w the desire to protect and the realization that some things are beyond their protection. I suspect all parents struggle w/ that; how much more so if you learned that this wouldn't "just" be about pains of the scraped knee, nicked heart variety--but frequent, mortal danger? The element of choice comes into it as well: each of these (relative) adults chose more or less explicitly to join and stay in this fight. Give 'em some time--they just learned this a few hours ago.

I have to disagree with one point you made, though:

heck they'll be as proud with him playing Chopsticks at the school Christmas party.

Not me. My love for and pride in my child would be absolutely conditional. If there weren't clear signs of some cognitive or athletic superiority at a very young age, I would probably trade him/her for a first-round draft pick. But maybe that's just me.

Thanks for the fb, Watson. Hope you like where this goes.

Anne: Oh, sweetie...I'm so sorry about your little one. What a wonderful remembrance--a beloved kitty on the Kitten Board! I hope your heart's healing as well as it can. RK (and God, I'm sorry if her name is anything but amusing to you) is doing well, but I just learned that my oldest one (Hap--short for Happenstance, which is entirely how he came into my life) has severe diabetes. So I'm giving him 2 shots/insulin a day.

Thank you for your kind words. You capture quite well the goal: I want it to flow, to look easy. But it really isn't...Thanks for catching that!

Nice catch, too, on Willow's premature ejection of the Anadeis. She's so pissed, and now she feels she has something to work with. But did/do they have more information? Will they return if summoned again? ("Um, yeah, listen...About our last conversation...") Everything's in such a spin for them right now: they've just escaped their own mortal dangers, and now they learn that Kyra will be in danger--constantly. So yeah, they're kinda fried right now.

You know, I gotta admit: if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't use the P,P,&M reference. I wanted something different involving Peter (?!?) but you're right: Buffy probably wouldn't know them!

Gallows humor is some of my favorite to write. I think humor is one of our greatest coping skills; there's something I find both endearing and defiant in our use thereof. And Willow's thought? Yeah, I love going into her mind. I'm doing it a lot these updates b/c so much is going on, so there's this balance b/w exposition/plot and an ongoing emotional review thereof. (Which is not to say, of course, that all external action is devoid of emotional furtherance.)

Thanks for the great feedback, Anne. You rock! (And as I write this, Roadie is sleeping behind my monitor, stretched out in the sun.)

Safuega: Hey you--glad to hear the bites are abating. I have a bunch of raspberry cane pricklies, only some of which I've managed to excise. I've been intrigued to read the thoughts on Kyra's role and the parenal urge to protect, and trying to discern if there are differences b/w parent Kittens and non-parent Kittens. You'll see some interesting (or so I hope) developments on that front in the next update.

Nice pick-up on Faith's reaction: she is, indeed, a proud girl who just learned that she has a starring role in the Christmas play when she sort of assumed she'd be the innkeeper's wife: no lines, very little time onstage, there only to further the action b/w the folks who really count.

Kyra is Faith's blank slate where Faith gets to write a brand new version of herself because Faith and Kyra have no bad history together. Kyra is Faith's second chance. It is poetic really to have Kyra be the teeny but powerful new light that has to be protected by the Dark Slayer. How unlikely, yet how utterly right for both of them because I see Faith having all these good feelings that she is dying to express and share and finally here is a little bundle of joy who is more than happy to accept them without second-guessing.

This was just wonderful. Yes! I really wanted to highlight the utter contrast b/w these two beings and yet have it be good and right that they are joined as they are. I'm glad that works for you; nice pick-up.
Thanks for the great feedback, Safuega. Hope all's well in your world.
More later,
Mary

[justin]

I know I'm late leaving feedback but it's all Watson's fault. I mean I was just about to reply to the last update when I read her feedback and ever since then I've been distracted by the thought of Faith puffing her chest out

I liked the way Willow and Tara both supported each other and the way the ohter scoobies rallied around them.

I laughed at how Happy Faith was at being part of the prophecy. I guess her being an integral part of the prophecy validates her role as one of the good guys in the same way that Anya being attacked by the monster did.

I think there are a few points that they're missing in their analysis.

Several times they reffered to the Anaides putting the burden on a baby/ However they seem to be ignoring the fact that Kyra won't take on her role as a guardian until she's grown up, or at least that's my understanding.

Also even if Kyra does gain her super powers that doesn't mean she's predestined to become this guardian. When the time comes she'll still be able to refuse the role, in the same way that Buffy could say, "Sod this for a game ofd soldiers" and stop being the Slayer.

As someone else said, if my parents told me that there had been a prophecy that I should get super powers but it's okay because they thwarted it, I would be totally pissed off at them.

When Kyra grows up Kyra may decide she still wants to become the guardian, in which case by stopping her from gaining her powers they'll put in more danger rather than less.

The anaides (I just know I'm spelling it wrong ) said Kyra would become a normal child if the prophecy wasn't completed but is that true. I mean given the fact they created Kyra to become the guardian are they going to let Willow and Tara keep her if they ruin their plans. What the Anaides give they can just as easily take away.

So while they should try to save the last two people it should be for the sake of those people, rather than stopping the prophecy. At least that's my take on it.

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-

I'd just like to add my thoughts this story has invoked.

I hear so many echoes of Willow's desire that her child will not fight. How many people down through the ages have said 'I will do this so my children will never have to' while they did something dangerous or just grinding and hard. It probably started with a bunch of skins-clad shivering people huddled around a fire with nothing but sticks and rocks looking at caves where the giant cave bears lived. It echoes in the dark skinned men of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment marching into the guns of Fort Wagner, the men and women who worked through the Depression at any job at all, and the waitress who's a single mom with two jobs to keep her child in clothes and school. It truly resonates with me when I think of Willow and Tara as veterans of a war that has filled their days for years. No one who has seen real war would want their child anywhere near it.

Perhaps without wanting to they even know that now matter what there will always be a struggle in the world between good and evil, and one day Kyra will probably choose to join it in some way. But it will be their child's choice, something this very individualistic bunch believes in to its core.

Then there's the loss of what they are fighting for. Two more will yet die unless they can beat this thing. While it is rarely said the Scoobies know that they have chosen sides. The cause may be nebulous enough, 'good' covering much ground. But they know the casualties now, and how it feels to be in this particular enemy's sights. The now, the future, and let's be honest, the past expressed as a chance to get in a vengeful kick in the head against something that's killed good people are on the line. As for their chances, I just offer this:

We seem to be out of cave bears.

In addition I add the usual gushings about the beautiful word crafting, the humor, the pathos, the love expressed in so many ways and the resounding Scooby-ness you give us Mary.

Thank you,


Jixer

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, all. Turns out my muse worked with heightened dispatch for reasons known only to her, and she ain't talkin'. The upshot is: I'll have an update early this evening (EST). Thanks again for poppin' in and sittin' a spell. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to study my gerunds.

Justin: Hey, puffy-chested Faith set me back a couple of days' writing, too; no sweat! (Actually, lots of sweat, but that's not the point.)

You know, it's a real delight to write this more child-like version of Faith...not that she'll ever be truly free of her cares and psychological mileage, but yeah--I think this prophecy really means a lot more to her than the others might realize.

It was interesting to read your feedback, in light of the upcoming installment, b/c many of those topics are finally broached. Remember, our girls just learned that their girl really does have some mystical baggage, which Willow had long feared and Tara refused to discuss. It's setting in, though, and now they'll have to figure some things out.

Thanks for being such a great reader, Justin; I hope you like where this goes.

Jixer: Ever the philosopher, yes? ("Yes, Mary.") I loved your observations of all those parents, across all those ages, who strove for one thing above all else: "Make my child's life a good one, better than mine." Of course they're terrified. They didn't just learn that Kyra might have a mild learning disability. They learned that she is ostensibly destined for battle and danger. And yes, there are all sorts of implications for Kyra's role and these women of the future, but that does obviate their duty in the present? Let's find out, shall we?

Thanks as always, Jixer, for your observations and kind words.

OK--update soon tonight.
Mary

[LeatherQueen]

Wow. Can I just say again that I just love your Faith. I love your Faith.

Hm... as if she's actually YOUR Faith. That would be fun!

But no, I love the way you write Faith in this story. She's edgy without being scarily sarcastic and mean. She's vulnerable without getting sappy. And she's hot. Can't forget that.

But ah, they're running out of time if they're bound and determined to stop this prophecy. Little time and fewer ideas of what to do to stop this. Very exciting! Looking forward to the next update.

ETA: Wow. I posted this at the same time you posted that you're updating tonight. Oh the anticipation!!

[AntigoneUnbound]

Leather Queen: Oh, I'll never forget the hotness! Like, ever.

But as you point out...Tick tock, indeed...

Thanks for the kind words, LQ. Hope you enjoy this next part!

Mary

[AntigoneUnbound]

AS TIME GOES BY

Part 25

Synopsis: Xander's cooties have taken a turn for the worse. Can the Scoobies help him get relief before it's too late? Oh, and Kyra's supposed to be a Guardian, too. Willow and Tara are not thrilled.

Pairings: Willow and Tara; Time and Time Again. (Time is something of a narcissist.)

Disclaimer: My worldly possessions do not include any of these characters; they do, however, include two ball gloves, seven cats, and eleven knee surgery scars. (Just counted 'em right now!)

Distribution: Like taxation, distribution without titular representation is not of the cool and yes, I'm thinking of so many bad jokes right now.

********

Why do I ever let myself think that things can't get any more desperate?

Xander's revelation stunned them all into silence. That silence, though, was remarkably brief.

"Are you sure?"

"How'd you hear?"

"Any chance it's not our guy?"

"Are you sure?"

The need for certainty quickly eclipsed all other questions.

"We're not a hundred percent certain it's our Big Bad, but the story sure sounds way too familiar," Xander said, obviously not pleased at having to share this news. "Her name was Lydia Thompson. She was the priest at the Episcopalian church on Pacula. We heard about it on the news. She was married; had been for eighteen years. Had three kids: 15, 12, and 7. They talked to three parishioners who said she'd been in great spirits just the day before. News said nobody knew of any depression or suicide attempts in the past. I figured we'd better head over here and get cracking with the hacking, see what we could find out."

"You're right to be alarmed," Giles admitted, "but it's possible this is an unrelated death. The suicide rate among clergy is regrettably high."

"As opposed to the other kinds of suicide rate?" Buffy asked as Willow sprinted upstairs to grab her laptop.

"Point taken," came the Watcher's reply.

Moments later, they were clustered tightly about the small screen, jostling to see any scrap of information.

Please don't let it be him. That would mean only two more...

In Sunnydale, though, saying "Please" only rarely got you what you wanted.

"No history of serious mental illness, at least insofar as formal treatment is concerned," Giles murmured, summarizing. "No apparent legal, medical, or financial difficulty. And," he added, rubbing his eyes tiredly, "a singular history of good deeds." He turned away, shaking his head.

"Look at all those awards," Faith whistled, moving in to take Giles' spot. "No doubt about her hotel room in the afterlife."

"Many a socially renowned person has been found to have some horrific skeletons in his or her closet," Giles pointed out, staring out the window. "But I agree--there's certainly no reason not to believe that she was indeed a good and giving soul."

"God..." Buffy muttered. "This is so not what we wanted to hear."

"Well, yeah," Xander replied, eyebrows arched. "I wasn't exactly expecting folks to turn synchronized somersaults of joy." He looked at her curiously. "Why the extra glumminess?"

Everyone glanced uncomfortably at Willow and Tara. Willow sighed and quickly summarized the afternoon's revelations, Xander and Anya growing more distraught by the moment.

When she finished, Xander sat down heavily. "Of course. Of course Kyra's involved. No way does she miss out on the fun." After a moment he looked up. "So how do we stop it?"

I would give anything to hear that subject raised in something other than the interrogative.

"Behold the brick wall into which we repeatedly slam," Buffy said in obvious frustration, hands on her hips.

A quick rehash of their knowledge to date proved to offer nothing new.

"Well, we know that if you survive one attack, you're basically immune," Anya pointed out, with a worried glance at Xander.

"So that means everybody here's safe except Dawn, Faith, and me," Xander finished. "Think it's saving the best for last?" he added, flashing a very large and very insincere smile.

"Except I don't think Faith will be a target," Tara said. "I mean, they have her pegged as Kyra's protector. If they didn't want anything to happen to Willow or me, they wouldn't want anything to happen to Faith, either."

"Great. So we're expendable," Buffy grumbled. "I'm not part of the prophecy, and I'm one of those folks on the Away Team that you just know isn't making it back to the ship. My vanity and I are deeply offended."

"Way to focus on the essentials, Buffy," Willow noted, bemused, though she knew that her best friend was only trying to lighten the mood.

"Much-needed levity," indeed...

"Tara's probably right," Anya said, crossing her arms anxiously. "That leaves Xander and Dawn."

"Eight down, two to go," Dawn said softly, looking at Buffy's drawn countenance.

They could all handle danger to their own lives, Willow realized. We don't lose it until someone we love is threatened.

She suddenly noticed that Giles hadn't spoken in several minutes. With a sense of gathering--heightening--dread, she watched the Watcher intently until he met her gaze. Discomfort flashed through his drawn features.

"Giles? What are you thinking?" she asked, knowing as she did that the major stockholders in her psyche really didn't want to hear the answer.

"Please understand, both of you," he began reluctantly. "I realize that of course you want to protect your daughter. Of course that's your greatest concern."

"But...?" Tara asked, her jaw tightening.

"I think we need to consider the possibility that we may not be able to stop this prophecy from coming to pass," he finished heavily.

No one else could bring themselves to say it.

"Giles, we have to stop it," she protested, even as the realization crashed into her brain: He's right. Hadn't she known it, really, from the moment the Anadeis blithely passed on their information? But she couldn't say it, not even to herself. She felt Tara's hands tightening on her shoulders.

"We can't let them turn Kyra into some tool to use in their battle," Dawn said heatedly.

"Not to mention letting two other innocent people die," Xander added. "We protect people, remember?"

"You act as if I raise this possibility because it brings me pleasure to do so," Giles snapped, his eyes burning angrily. "As if I don't love that child myself."

An awkward silence followed this, until Dawn finally offered softly, "I'm sorry. I know you want to protect her."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, what she said...Sorry."

"We're all on edge," Giles said tersely. "And certainly I recognize that both of you may be targets. I'm just trying to consider the practical aspects of this."

The room fell silent again. No one seemed able to meet anyone else's eyes.

"But it's not just about practicalities, is it?" Tara asked quietly.

"What do you mean?" Anya demanded, but Willow noticed that Giles' only reaction was a tightening around his mouth.

"You're right, Tara. It's...rather a habit you've developed." He smiled mirthlessly, then looked at both of them squarely. "I fear that this entire scenario is more complicated than any of us want to admit."

What's he talking about? She saw that Tara, though, was looking at him steadily even as her fingers trembled slightly upon Willow's shoulders.

"It's tempting to forget that the Anadeis sent Kyra to you in the first place. They didn't pluck her out of the upstairs nursery and inflict this upon her. Wait, please," he said, holding up a hand to forestall the protests already swelling. "Please do not think for a moment that I'm justifying their actions. I'm only attempting to point out what may be uncomfortable considerations."

Even in her fear, Willow felt for the Watcher. This was so often his role.

As if reading her mind, Giles snapped off his glasses, tossing them aside, and ran an exhausted hand over his eyes. "There are times that I loathe this work," he muttered as if to himself. Then he sighed, and met their eyes once more.

"You asked for protection--thank heavens you did. And the Anadeis responded. We were indeed spared. In the process, they delivered a beautiful and very singular child into our lives and our hearts." The Watcher drew a deep breath. "Did any of us truly expect that it would end there?"

Willow glanced worriedly at Tara even as her own heart picked up its already frenetic pace. She half-expected her mate to explode in protest. Her partner, though, seemed to be waging some very private battle. She could feel Tara's energy moving, shifting...Was it possible that the volatility, so quick and visceral in their earlier discussions, was abating? Even slightly?

Baby? What's happening?

She realized that others in the room were focused on Tara at this moment as well. Had they also noticed her particular animus for this topic? Whatever the reason, all eyes were trained on Tara's achingly beautiful face. With a closer look, Willow saw two tears wending their way over the curve of her beloved's cheek. They moved with with surpassing slowness, as if realizing that they were forging some new reality within their creator.

Finally Tara met her eyes, and Willow felt a harsh stinging against her own lids. "I didn't expect it," Tara whispered. "I just hoped."

Oh God...I know...

Willow swallowed heavily. "Me too, Baby," she answered, her throat aching. "But--but it's more complicated, isn't it?"

Tara nodded mutely, and closed her eyes. Willow gripped her fingers tightly. Stay with me, love.

After a moment, Tara gazed at her again, and Willow saw a quiet, surging determination within the cobalt depths. She leaned down unexpectedly and kissed WIllow gently on the lips. Their eyes met--I can do anything with you--and then Tara straighted and turned toward the group.

"I think you're probably right, Giles," she said quietly. "But the implications scare my heart practically out of my chest."

"I can only imagine, Tara," the Watcher replied, so softly that Willow wondered if any of the others could even hear him.

"So--let's talk about those implications and I'll try to keep the terror at bay. Willow?"

Willow nodded, tightening her grip on Tara's fingers.

Giles fixed both of them with a long, intense gaze. "We will protect this child," he said softly. "Please believe me."

I believe you'll try, with everthing you have.

The Watcher turned to face the others, and his voice took on some measure of his typical steadiness. "The first...implication that comes to mind is that Kyra, according to the spirits who sent her, is destined to play an important role in the events to unfold years from now."

"Right," Tara said, looking at Willow for confirmation. "They said there would be women in the future who will apparently be incredibly powerful...as in, 'change the way things are run' powerful. But their mothers are only kids themselves right now."

"And at least some of the Grand Pooh-Bahs of the future won't take very kindly to a change in the status quo," Xander offered, in what Willow suspected was an overture to Giles in the Watcher's efforts to navigate this painful conversation.

"Right again," Willow nodded, never loosening her grip on Tara's fingers. "That's where...where Kyra's supposed to come in. She'll protect them."

Again with the future tense...

"Do we have any other details?" Buffy asked, frowning. Willow could see her best friend struggling to walk a very fine line: commit to the goal of stopping this Big Bad and be prepared for...the alternative. "Like do we know how many of these women there are? Or how Kyra will know who they are? And is there one Guardian per Future Uber-Girl, or is Kyra, like, the chaperone for the whole group?"

Willow glanced uncomfortably up at Tara. "Um, we didn't really get into all of that," she said reluctantly. "We--uh--well, when we learned that Kyra wouldn't become the Guardian unless this Big Bad takes ten good souls, we, uh, decided pretty quickly that we should probably try to focus on--"

"We hung up on them," Tara said simply.

"You hung up on them?" Dawn asked incredulously. "Three immortal spirits with heaven only knows what kind of power, and you just...disconnect?"

"Pretty much," Willow acknowledged ruefully. Seemed like a good idea at the time...

Giles shook his head. "I don't know whether to chastise you for your rashness, or--"

"Pony up some props," Faith grinned. "Bet they pissed their robes."

"Willow called them lazy hags," Tara added. "And I think there was some mention of shoving the prophecy up their asses."

"They made me cranky," Willow said defensively. "All disembodied and bossy."

Buffy looked at her with open affection. "And this from the girl who volunteered to leave her lunch seat the first time I talked to her."

Giles permitted himself a tiny smile. "Kyra will not be inclined to suffer fools gladly," he said. "Not with the two of you as role models." The smile faded quickly. "It would be wise, though, to try to procure more information. It could prove necessary to contact them again."

"Do you think they'd answer the phone?" Anya asked skeptically.

"They will if they think Willow and I have accepted Kyra's role," Tara said quietly.

This effectively brought an end to the quasi-merriment.

"Which brings us back to that possibility," Giles replied. "If this prophecy is true, these women will be in danger and Kyra will be both trained and destined to protect them."

He left that point hanging in the air until Willow reluctantly picked it up. "You're saying that these women might die if Kyra isn't acting as their Guardian."

Another thick silence feel over the room. Finally Tara sat down, running her hands through her hair in what Willow knew was a nervous habit. "She's a baby, dammit."

"But--if she were to become the Guardian," Giles began, "she would not face her duties until she had been trained."

"No--I mean, yes. I know that. Even the Anadeis aren't going to send a toddler out to do their business. What I mean is, she can't talk for herself. She doesn't have any voice in this. She gets this job hung around her neck and we can't even ask her how she feels about it." She gave a short, bitter laugh. And then she looked up at the two Slayers, her gaze intent.

"Buffy--would you be the Slayer if you had a choice?" Tara's voice sliced through every periphery, every detour. "Would you, Faith?"

Buffy shifted uncomfortably and looked at her chosen counterpart. Faith's expression, though, was unreadable.

"Tara, I know what you're asking," Buffy started hesitantly. "And I wish I could answer it, I really do. But it's...God, I don't even now how to look at it. I can't imagine not being the Slayer, but would I have chosen it? I mean, starting with an absolutely blank slate?" She looked helplessly at Tara and then Willow. "If I weren't the Slayer, would I even know any of you? We moved here because I burned down my last school, for heaven's sake. And Dawn--" She looked anxiously at her sister, who suddenly appeared smaller somehow, and very vulnerable.

Faith doesn't know, remember?

"Dawn's life would be almost as different as mine," her best friend finished simply. "And when I think of it like that--"

"It's a no-brainer for me," Faith said abruptly. "If I wasn't the Slayer, I'd be doing God-knows-who back in the South Side. Odds are I'd have dropped out in the eighth grade." She flashed a sudden, wry grin. "Angel made me get my GED."

Everyone looked at her in surprise, a reaction she clearly didn't miss. "For real. Said I couldn't work for him unless I did it. You shoulda seen it...Fred tutored me in math and science, Wes took care of English, and Angel his own historic self covered social studies. I'd come home from patrolling, either totally wiped out or jonesin' to party, and he wouldn't let me until I showed him what I'd learned that day. Talk about your committed faculty...They totally got me through it."

Nice work, Angel...

"Anyway, point is, pretty much every good thing I ever got, I got because I was the Slayer. Pretty much every good person, too," she added, looking studiously at nothing.

The Slayers' words were beating against the smooth pane of Willow's mind, cracking and splintering the utter conviction she'd felt as she broke off contact with the Anadeis. It had seemed so clear, less than three hours ago: They would stop this Big Bad, prevent the prophecy from coming true, give Kyra a normal life.

Right...Because that's so clearly what we all want...

And there were two innocents yet to be taken. Even if Kyra weren't involved, they would try to stop the unfolding of this story.

But the women who would be left unprotected...What about them?

Another profoundly discomfiting thought occurred to her. "Tara...Suppose we do keep Kyra from becoming the Guardian. Isn't there a chance she'd resent us for it?"

A survey of facial expressions gave immediate evidence as to who had already considered this option: Dawn, Buffy, and Giles.

"More than she'd resent us for standing back when we could have made her life safer?" Tara asked incredulously.

"I don't know, Baby...I'm not saying we shouldn't try to stop this thing. Of course we should. It's just..." She trailed off, floundering. Speaking was always so much more difficult when she felt that Tara might be using a different dialect.

"You wouldn't necessarily have to tell her," Xander pointed out.

Willow found this option very tempting for about two seconds, and then dismissed it. A glance at Tara told her that her mate was back on her side of the fence--at least on this issue.

"I can't imagine keeping a secret like that," Tara said, shaking her head. "And besides--great secrets of birth and destiny? Kinda have a way of leaking out."

"It's true," Buffy nodded. "One of us would take her out to celebrate her high school graduation and drinks would be involved and disclosures would be made."

"Nice passive voice, Miss Bronte," Dawn snorted, rolling her eyes.

"Why are you getting drunk at our daughter's high school graduation?" Willow demanded. "You're not getting her drunk, are you?"

"We could buy her one lousy drink, couldn't we?" Faith asked, shooting Buffy a questioning glance. "Like, some frou-frou thing with an umbrella?"

"A daquiri," Buffy promptly suggested. "Celebratory and suggestive of impending adulthood, but without the binge implications of beer or shots."

"And while we're on the subject, whatever will we wear?" Giles broke in. "Formal wear is so hot in June...Honestly, if we could return to the subject at hand?"

"At hand is our collective mouth," Buffy replied. "Even if you didn't go for full disclosure on philosophical grounds, odds are one of us would blurt it out or--even worse--she'd find out about it in some random fashion, thereby fucking with her entire sense of self."

"I gotta say--if I found out that I had been born as part of some big mystical hoo-ha and nobody told me--like, for years...I would be pretty pissed," Dawn said with studied nonchalance. "Just hypothetically speaking."

Willow remembered the teenager's reaction at finding out days later that she was the Key. Pissed? Definitely. Pretty? Not so much.

She caught the glance exchanged between sisters. "Yeah. Makes sense," Buffy said, after an awkward moment.

"Oh-kay...And moving right along, acting like nothing weird just happened," Faith began, giving the Summers sisters a bemused glance, "here's a hypothetical situation for you. Red--let's say that when you were a baby, your mom somehow knew that you were gonna pull off some kickin' Wiccan mojo. And that you were gonna end up hangin' with this crowd," she added with a faux-disapproving toss of her head. "She convinces your dad to move away from Sunny D. You never meet the Slayer. You never get mixed up in any of this." She crossed her arms, fixing Willow with a stare. "Are you pissed at her?"

Willow could barely wrap her mind around such a scenario. If she'd never met Buffy...

I might never have met Tara.

"God...I--I can't imagine it," she finally replied. "What would my life even look like?"

"But are you ticked?" Faith persisted. "Just thinkin' about it?"

"Well...Yeah," she admitted. "Because I love my life. I mean, I could stand a little less carnage and a little more paid vacation, but couldn't we all?" She shook her head. "God, the TF alone seals the deal for me." She caught Tara's quick smile and felt a familiar but always welcome warmth splash over her heart.

"Excuse me? What's a TF?" Xander blinked.

"Tara Factor," Willow replied, feeling the blush steal up over her cheeks. "It's this variable I use to describe Tara's impact on my life or on any given situation." The others stared at her in open bewilderment. "Like, if getting caught in traffic exerts a life quality impact of -5.8, the TF mitigates it; pulls it up to a -2.3. Or...Or, if I'm drinking a double-mocha/mint chip shake, the TF takes that experience from a +4.3 to a +6.7. And yes, I am a love-sick freak of epic proportions but I don't care. Je ne regrette rien," she added defiantly.

"Truly, there is but one Willow Rosenberg," Buffy marvelled, to general consensus. "Pretenders to the Willow throne, be warned and be gone."

"Lovesick and effin' lucky," she heard Faith mutter.

"So, to get back to your point, Faith...Yeah. I'd be angry." She cast an anxious look at Tara, who was clearly struggling with this.

Willow knew that her mate valued free will above all other human rights and responsibilities except perhaps love--and she would probably argue that that those two, if genuine, need not be in conflict. Certainly her own experience--learning that her father had deceived her mother, manipulated her mind, all in the name of love--had created an even greater antipathy to any interference in any person's journey.

But didn't they also have a duty to protect their child? Keep her safe until she could make this decision for herself? That wasn't an option, though, was it?

I don't suppose they offer delayed admissions...

"I think we're forgetting something," Dawn broke in suddenly. "We're assuming that if we don't derail this train, Kyra gets thrown into the fight and she won't have anything to say about it." She glanced around, disbelief in her eyes. "Guys, c'mon--this is Kyra we're talking about! We've seen what she does with strained peas. Do we really see anybody saying jump and her asking how high?"

Willow had a sudden image of Kyra raising a tiny fist to that wretched homophobe, her little brow furrowed, dark eyes flashing. And then that image shifted, fast-forwarded to an adolescent, hands on hips (Why do I see three piercings in her left ear?), one eyebrow arched, Tara-style, as she asked, "And I'd be doing this--why?"

A fierce, wild pride ripped through her. Their daughter was strong. She would be such a remarkable woman...

Beside her, Tara gave a tired but genuine chuckle. "That is a most astute point, Ms. Summers," she said appreciatively.

"It's true," Giles replied slowly. "They haven't created some automaton. We've already seen ample evidence of her very distinct personality."

Faith shrugged. "So maybe the kid grows up, learns how to fight at the feet of the master--and her lovable side-kick," she added, with a gracious nod in Buffy's direction. "And then says, 'I think I'll take up flower-arranging instead."

Buffy gave a harrumph and a stationary flounce. "I'll try to keep up, Don Coyote."

"Quixote," came the immediate correction from Willow, Tara, Dawn, Giles, and--Willow smiled to notice--Faith.

"I knew that," Buffy replied unconvincingly. "The point is, Kyra could do a lot worse in the tutorial department. Let's face it--we've got a pretty impressive faculty right here. Faith is her primary teacher and protector, but we're all gonna be here for her."

"Takes a village..." Faith said, hands in her back pocket.

You want to stay so badly...

"So if she decides she does want the Guardian gig, she can decide it for herself and we'll all help out," Dawn concluded. "And if she doesn't, Anya will have her ready to take on Wall Street."

"Take on?" the ex-demon snorted. "She'll own it."

"Maybe that's part of what scares us," Tara said. "The distinct possibility that she would choose it." She drew a heavy breath and laced her fingers slowly through Willow's once more. "But...that would be her choice."

Willow's heart and mind were whirling, thoughts and fears and hopes tilting like tiles in a kaleidoscope. They had navigated and survived this conversation: What if Kyra were to become the Guardian? Tara was still frightened--as was she--but they were both less fragmented, reactive.

And the love she felt for these people who loved their daughter...

"We've got a pretty impressive faculty right here..."

Buffy had been hurt, she knew, at the revelation that Faith was Kyra's destined protector and mentor. But she had swallowed that, pledged her loyalty and support in whatever capacity she could best serve.

"Kid could do a lot worse..." Indeed she could.

All of this, though, was a far cry from being excited at the prospect of their daughter becoming a warrior, regardless of the cause. And the two innocents...

Xander seemed to be reading from the same page. "But...OK, all of this is good and important and very solidarity-building. Yay, team. But we're still gonna try to stop this guy, right? I mean, the prophecy aside, we're talking about two innocent people, not to mention everyone who loves them. We don't think we should just sit back and watch this play out like a movie of the week, right?" He asked this last part with palpable uncertainty, and Willow could understand why.

Of course they would try to protect these last two people; even more urgently, if that were possible, considering that Dawn and Xander might be targets. And yet...What would it mean if they did avert the prophecy's fulfillment? What of the women to come? Who would protect them?

She was snapped back to the moment by Giles' voice. "Your question is a good one, Xander," and Willow realized that it was testimony to the solemnity of the moment that Xander didn't make a bad joke at the pronouncement."I don't see that there's any debate on that point. I, for one, refuse to believe that we best serve the cause of good by watching two good people die."

Tara nodded. "I know people talk about sacrifices to the greater cause, but even if Kyra weren't involved in this, I couldn't sit by and say, 'Well, they had to die. It was all part of the plan.'"

Echoing in the background of this discussion of good and how best to serve it, Willow realized, was the growing fear: This may all be a moot point.

"So we fight," Xander nodded. "Now if we only knew who, how, and where."

"Minor details," Buffy said, swiping an exhausted hand across her eyes as she tried to bite stifle a yawn. "But for now, I am well and truly wiped out. Please, someone--get me horizontal."

Willow caught Faith's involuntary gulp.

"You speak, albeit tackily, for all of us," Giles said dryly. "I suggest we retire."

"You--with me," Buffy practically barked to her sister.

"You--with me," Anya echoed to Xander, though with far different implications.

Ew...

********

A short time later, as she drifted off to sleep in Tara's warm, strong arms, Willow dreamt of a dark-haired young woman with a long, jagged scar on her right shoulder, who wielded a sword with almost infinite grace and surety, laughing as she did so.

********

To Be Continued

[Puff]

I win? Wow I don't think I have been first before, and I should start by apologizing over the distinct lack of feedback I have been giving. Is 28 to early to be considered old and lazy? But I have been getting my butt kicked by RL as well. My friend has moved out from CA to live with us, bringing with her a dog, a horse, 2 ferrets and a whole heap of emotional issues. Anyone know a good therapist? She's great but life it taking a while to calm down. Nursing school is going well I and I have been blessed with wonderful patients so far! Go me.

Onto actual feedback. The mixture of emotions was kind of like a rollercoaster in this part, you didn't know when the twists were going to come and I kept expecting one big drop off. I still don't know whether I want Kyra to be the guardian or not. I am eager to find out if the BB is stopped or if the prophesy will come into effect. I did think Dawn made a very valid point though, I can't see Kyra jumping through hoops for anyone.

Giles managed to be both the voice of brevity and levity in this part which was cool (and not just because that rhymes and I got to use the word brevity in feedback) but also because Giles has so often been the voice of doom and gloom and that's it. Which is a shame because he does humor so well and it is frequently his one liners that have me laughing the hardest.

I love Faith in this story. It is so nice to read about the softer side of her without her loosing the part that is still Faith (if that makes sense) and it's a real credit to your writing that you manage to achieve this. I still find her relationship with Buffy intersting and I think that they are well matched as a couple...I'm just not sure if Buffy would go for it.

So again sorry about the lack of feedback. I'll be more prompt in future. I hope you are well. How is the kitten doing?

Edited one more time because I forgot to say how much I loved TF and Willow's explaination of what it was.

[LeatherQueen]

Wow. So much to talk about! And I'm sure others will have much more in-depth and wise things to say.

But...

Willow dreamt of a dark-haired young woman with a long, jagged scar on her right shoulder, who wielded a sword with almost infinite grace and surety, laughing as she did so.

and

And then that image shifted, fast-forwarded to an adolescent, hands on hips (Why do I see three piercings in her left ear?), one eyebrow arched, Tara-style, as she asked, "And I'd be doing this--why?"

So... my question is are these true glimpses into the possible future, or imaginings of Willow's admittedly agile and incredible mind?

Oh, and by the way, "titular representation"? So many naughty ideas for this have run through my mind, jiggling their way into several saucy images. Thank you for that!

And another Oh! - Just when is Faith going to learn the truth about Dawn? I think she's proven her loyalty by now. What is Buffy waiting for?

[Safuega]

Mary:

I hope your insect bites and related 'garden injuries' are getting better. I also hope that you have finished putting your beds to bed 'cause the nights are getting chillier and chillier.

As for this update, what I like about your stories is that sooner or later you address the thoughts that I think but do not express in the feedback, like the fact that Willow and Tara might not be able to defeat the BB or the fact that although Kyra has a destiny, she may turn away from it. I'm a firm believer of free will, but I also cling to the irrational notion that there is some sort of meaning to all this, that there is something called destiny. Having said that, I am a firm believer that while we may all come with an imprint from birth, we also come with the capacity to turn said imprint on its head. This is why I do not fret about the guardianship that Kyra has been burdened with because I truly believe that she has a choice. We all have choices, some more than others, but we all have them nonetheless.

My favorite things from this update, in no particular order:

1. Faith got her GED. Yay, she has something tangible to be proud of!
2. Buffy as Sancho Panza. And may I add, how fitting for Faith to be Don Quixote. She might be battling windmills in the form of an invislbe BB, but she believes in the fight and will carry on through the bitter end.
3. The shout out to Edith Piaf, or what I hope is a shout out to her. Love, love, love, the song Je ne regrette rien. Love it so much that it has been my motto for life too since I first heard it years ago.
4. Willow's dream. It made me want to know the future Kyra. She seems really happy.

All is well in my world now Mary. You updated, and today I got a really cool pro bono assignment helping people in New Orleans with the Katrina mess despite the fact that I am currently being an evil lawyer, so all's good.

Thanks for sharing this story. I look forward to more.

Safuega

[Ressick]

Wowser. I love how Buffy points out the change in Willow over the years. And I think it's good how it seems like W/T are coming to terms with what the Anadeis said to them. Of course, I still love them telling the Anadeis off...

Buffy looked at her with open affection. "And this from the girl who volunteered to leave her lunch seat the first time I talked to her."

The Scoobs talking about getting Kyra a drink for her high school graduation is a hoot! Plus who doesn't love the TF? Will's vision of her pierced, scarred daughter in the future just made me smile so much. With such great people to raise, protect, and teach her, the girl's got it made. And the final... You, with me... Ewww... Hehehehehe... Thank you for such a wonderful update.

[Darth Pacula]

G'day from Down Under, Mary of Up Over. Try saying that ten times fast.

Okay, on a personal note, you've got eleven knee surgery scars? Holy crap. that's more than me, though at least one of mine looks like I tried to slit my own throat. Is it just me, or do you not quite have this walking/running on two legs down yet?

Woo Hoo! I'm a street! With the being driven and walked on, and roadkill being stuck to me ... and why am I excited about this again? Umm ... it is a shout out to me though, right? Or is my immense and undeserved ego leading me up the garden path again? Or is it down?

Right then, I think I'd better stop being overly amused by my own stupidity, and get on to some proper feedback. Well, it definitely sounds like the latest suicide is one of the BB's marks, so that's not of the good. Though the suicide rate amongst clergy is high? That's something I didn't know.

Whoa, did you actually seem to fit in every concept us kitties have raised about this whole Kyra becoming the Guardian situation into one update? I haven't gotten all anal retentive and gone back and made a checklist ala Willow, but it seems like you've fit most of the ones I remember in here. Bravo, Mary. That's one hell of a philosophical discussion for the scoobies.

about the red ensign comment Buffy made. She's definitely been hanging around Xander too much if she actually knows the Away Team reference.

Now, something just occurred to me. A lot of us, and the scoobies to boot, seem to be thinking of this whole situation as Kyra fighting in someone else's war, right? Fighting the good fight on behalf of the Anadeis and any other PTB's that either can't or won't do so themselves. But isn't this our war as well? Even if only by virtue that it's our world that is their battlefield/playground, and since we live on our world ( did I really need to state that? ) doesn't it become our war as well, by default? Maybe we didn't start it, maybe we don't want to fight it, but it's still our war too. Because we're the ones that have to live with the results of it.

Okay, here's another thought. ( Holy cow, that's two thoughts in the same hour! A personal best! ) If these Anadeis are such powerful beings, and Kyra is destined to become the Guardian, why did they leave an out? A way to put the knackers on the whole deal? Not to mention, if Kyra doesn't become the Guardian, why can't they make someone else do so? Are they just going to pout, and throw away all of their plans because their preferred player's been benched?

The whole 'hung up on the higher beings' bit was brilliant. So was the discussion of Kyra's graduation celebrations. And the TF explanation. I swear, I laughed my freakin' ass off so many times, I'm going to need a nail gun to stick it back on.

Now, having a prophecy to guide your actions is all well and good, but they can't really let their fears and hopes for the future have too big an effect on their actions in the present, because as we've seen quite often on the show, most of these prophecies aren't written in stone. They're mutable, preventable, and every little choice we make can have a potential effect on the outcome of the future. That whole butterfly flapping it's wings in China and causing a hurricane on the other side of the globe thing. Really, all the scoobies can do is what they think is the best thing at the time, otherwise they'll be paralyzed by the sheer potential outcome of their smallest actions.

Okay, I've just looked at what I've written, and hell, I do tend to waffle on, don't I? So I'll end with the obligatory 'You rock, Mary!' and say yet another fantastic update.

Keep it coming, else I shall surely wither and die a horrible lingering death. Hang on, would that actually be an inducement to keep going or stop? Uh oh.

Bye for now,
Paul.

[watty]

I read updates and I jot down comments and memorable quotes as I go. For instance about the 8th victim, my thoughts are that they can't beat themselves up about this at all, how can they possibly protect and warn every single potential victim? It's physically impossible. Just as near the end when they agree that they still need to fight and try to prevent the BB from getting the last 2 victims. *sigh* it's worse than an uphill battle, it's worse than trying to prevent an avalanche using a spade, or to clear out a flooded city using a spoon. Enough analogies, my point is, they should just admit that all they can do is to protect Xander, Dawn and may be Faith, and be prepared for the prophecy to come about.

Giles has the unenviable job of pointing out the painful obvious, and I'm surprised he didn't go as far as suggesting that. I do applaud the group for realizing they can't stop Kyra from coming into her birthright by being over-protective and even lying to her about her destiny. Cos, well, it worked so well with Dawn. I like how they thought about their role in the fight and thinking whether they would have wanted another, more simple, life.

In my mind, they should focus on preparing Kyra for her guardianship. Like monarchies, where baby kings and queens have regents ruling on their behalf, I wonder if part of Faith's job is to take on Kyra's mantle while the child is growing and learning. That will be interesting wouldn't it? And how do they find out?

Going back to my first point about jotting down notes. I almost abandoned everything I'd written, all thoughts I had ... when I started reading about TF. Oh man!!! The number freak in me did a huge squeal. Probably enough to stop those avalanches and flooding I was mentioning earlier [** or may be cause them **]. So, it seems like the TF depends on activity? And whether it's negating a negative or improving a positive? Because the weighting on soothing the frustration of traffic jam is +2.5, whereas mocha shake experience is +2.4. Is there a range? While I can imagine the minimum to be +0.1 (all TFs are positive, I get that), I can also imagine the maximum to be the largest number possible, like when Tara is screaming Willow's name at the top of her lungs while climaxing, is the TF like a googolplex?

watty's delight aside, I'm also curious about Willow's dream, but I have patience for that, I know it'll be revealed in due course.
[br]

[AntigoneUnbound]

/Hello, all. Interesting, as always, to read the various thoughts and observations. Seems like our girls' and the Scoobies' reaction to Kyra's destiny evoked some pretty varied reactions. Some people understand the desire for protection; others think that they're over-reaching their boundaries; some have a mixture of both. Thanks to everyone for following this and leaving your feedback!

Puff-So-Buff: Hey girl! First of all, please don't sweat the fb aspect. Your life sounds crazy right now. I commend your sense of loyalty to your friend, not to mention your hospitality! And when you say you're blessed with wonderful patients--well, that kind of remark makes me suspect that they're equally blessed. Rock on, Puff.

Emotional rollercoaster indeed...So many facets to this; so many implications. One of the tough parts of writing this element is trying to balance moving the action with giving due time to the emotional reactions. Let's face it: a shitload of stuff has happened in the last week. 8 or 9 days ago, they were planning Kyra's birthday party--and then Faith shows up, and we got trouble right here in River City...

Brevity and levity; doom and gloom...Heh! Kinda gets you on a roll, doesn't it? Oh God, I totally agree with you about Giles' sense of humor. His deadpan delivery and proper phrasing make a killer combination for me. One of my all-time favorite lines came in "Hush," when Anya remarks that it must be an orgasm friend coming to visit (as it were) and he replies, "Yes, Anya, that's exactly the most appalling thing you could have said." Slays me every time...

Thanks for the Faith props. I don't wanna make her vanilla; I just want her to be a little more emotionally honest because that takes a whole different kind of brave.

So just enjoy the story and leave what you can, when you can. It's just always good to see your name, Most Wimpular Puff on High. Oh--Roadkill's doing well! So effin' cute it almost causes physical pain.

Leather Queen: Ah, I'm gonna leave the exact nature of Willow's dreams and images unclear at this time. I wanna sort of walk the mystical line for a moment, if I might. And "titular"? That word just cracks me up! I mean, it has nothing to do with breasts and yet you can't say it without...giggling. Like I'm doing now.

Thanks for the good words, LQ; glad you're enjoying it!

Safuega: Yeah, the garden's entering final shut-down. We haven't had a major frost yet ("Major Frost, reporting for duty") so I haven't lost anything. I can still look out my window and be pleased.

I have to say, I wouldn't recognize you if we passed on the street (I'll be carrying the copy of "War and Peace") but I suspect we have similar philosophies. If I believe that everything is completely random, it's almost paralyzing b/c it renders each moment a crap-shoot. Talk of "learning from experience" is inapplicable b/c unless the circumstances are identical, there may well be a different outcome; that is, any given experience is more independent from any other than we might like to believe. That statement's problematic, of course, b/c independence, to my understanding, can't be a relative term. So how do I find a greater purpose, if I also believe things are chaotic? Can I embrace any such purpose, if I know that my need makes me inclined to believe that there is one? Excuse me for a moment while my head explodes.

Definite shout-out to Edith! God, I love that song. Makes me wanna sip scotch from a tumbler and look off into the distance. I see Willow as being about as far from a torch song singer as you'll ever find, which made it more amusing in my own li'l mind. Great point about Faith, too. For all her realism, she will tilt indeed if she believes in the cause--which she abundantly does here.

Pro bono work in the Gulf? Safuega, that is over and above cool! Screw the stereotypes of evil lawyers; you'll be whatever kind you want to be. Congrats on this. When do you leave? (Or is it a long-distance deal?) I'm really psyched for you; I can tell it's got you juiced.

You leave great feedback, girl. I really appreciate it.

Ressick: It's always fun to write moments of recollection, when somebody points out changes over time. The TF just popped into my mind and delighted me to ridiculous lengths; I'm glad you enjoyed it as well! Thanks so much for the kind words. Hope you like where it goes from here.

Paul: G'day to you as well! It's probably early evening for you (10:30 am here). Yep: 11 of 'em! Way too much basketball and softball. Where'd yours come from?

And yes indeed it was a shout-out! I always get this little kick from writing Kittens into the story. I'll send someone from highway maintenance over to clean up the carnage.

Whoa, did you actually seem to fit in every concept us kitties have raised about this whole Kyra becoming the Guardian situation into one update?

I had mapped out this update last week, but it was interesting to write it because a lot of people were having all sorts of reactions over the last 2 updates about what Willow and Tara needed to do; how they needed to react, and I kept thinking: "They just found out! Give 'em some time!" I'm writing a very compressed story, in that a lot happens in a short time period. Makes for an interesting process.I knew that Willow and Tara's first reaction couldn't be their enduring one, but to me, it was just too far-fetched to have them move directly into, "OK--let's get going with this Guardian stuff." So yeah, I liked writing the philosophical aspects of this. There are so many implications re: how best to define parental love and protection; free will; greater good; fighting against ridiculous odds. You seem to be of a similar bent re: such elements. They're just fascinating to explore.

For example:

A lot of us, and the scoobies to boot, seem to be thinking of this whole situation as Kyra fighting in someone else's war, right? Fighting the good fight on behalf of the Anadeis and any other PTB's that either can't or won't do so themselves. But isn't this our war as well?

Indeed! If I have a stake in the world's well-being, don't I also have an obligation to work actively for that well-being?

Excellent points, also, re: the prophecy element and Kyra's role therein. How many prophecies did the Scoobies avert? So many loopholes, so many possible deviations. Would these three really stake the entire future on everything going exactly according to a certain plan right now?

And now I must ask: How exactly does one put the knackers onto something else? Is it painful? Do you need the intended object's permission? I await your learned response.

Your feedback absolutely rocks, Paul. Thanks so much for the time you put into it.

Watson, You Numerical Diva, You! How's it going over there? Jotting notes and memorable quotes? You are thorough, indeed.

You noted:

my point is, they should just admit that all they can do is to protect Xander, Dawn and may be Faith, and be prepared for the prophecy to come about.

I have to say, I disagree--not on pragmatic grounds, but on the nature of what they do and how they've done it in the past. How many bullets have they dodged? How many 11th-hour reprieves have they won? I think their practical sides are screaming out in frustration: "What do we do?" And yet the idea of consciously admitting and even accepting defeat is just not tenable to them, esp. when they can draw on experience and say, "Yeah, but we did it this time."

Yes, the whole idea of Kyra's upbringing and assumption of duties would be interesting to read. When do they tell her? How do they tell her? ("How'd soccer practice go, Honey?" "Pretty well." "That's good. So, listen: You were delivered to us by immortal spirits. You're an instrument in the battle to establish a more just world. It'll involve danger but great honor and we're here to help out. Ultimately, it's your choice. So...how do you feel about lasagna for dinner?")

Ah, the TF! Tara's presence (or lack thereof) during the experience also factors in and exacerbates the impact. There's a complicated equation that was passed on to me in the night by fairies (George Michael and Elton John, to be specific) but I can't part with it lest my garden be over-run with gophers. Oh wait--too late. Glad you enjoyed that.

Thanks for the great feedback, Watty. Hope all's well with you and yours.

OK. More later.
Mary

[justin]

Great update

"Except I don't think Faith will be a target," Tara said. "I mean, they have her pegged as Kyra's protector. If they didn't want anything to happen to Willow or me, they wouldn't want anything to happen to Faith, either."

I think that they're being a presumptious in discounting Faith as being a target. I mean they're right that Anadeis won't want anything to happen to her but unless they're controlling the BB I don't think it'd care what they want.

After all Tara says the Anadeis don't anything to happen to her or Willow but they were still attacked by the BB. If Faith had taken a moment longer breaking through the door then Willow would be dead (I had been going to say that Tara would too when I realised that if Willow had died then the BB would have killed two of Giles, Anya and Buffy and not needed to attack Tara)

Anyway I'd say Faith is still very much a target.

"I think we need to consider the possibility that we may not be able to stop this prophecy from coming to pass," he finished heavily.

Giles proves himself to be a very brave man here, risking the wrath of Tara in raising what is a very important point.

In the following discussion you did a very good job of answering all the questions that had build up. I liked the idea of them drunkenly telling Kyra about her destiny while at her high school graduation.

Even though they're starting to come to terms with what they found out about Kyra they still need to save those two last people, prophecy or no (Aside from the two people and anyone who they might save in the future there's also the fact that it's bad form to let the bad guys win)

The problem is they have no idea who the BB's going to attack next, what it is or how to fight it. Now they've covered the Kyra angle they need to start getting some info on the BB pretty sharpish. Perhaps find some sort of magical means to either work out it's next target or to fight it (such as giving it a physical form)

One last thing, why does it require these ten people to die in order for Kyra to gain her powers? I mean I know the prophecy says that a new light will come from darkness but that doesn't really explain the connection between the BB getting it's kills and Kyra gaining her powers. So what is the connection between Kyra and the BB?

If there is one maybe she can help them fight it.

Also (I know I said one last thing but I'm on a roll) The anadeis said that Kyra would be a normal child if the prophecy was stopped but that isn't entirely true since she already has magical powers and she'd presumably keep those. Unless she loses those powers when the BB is stopped then she could still become this guardian if she wanted. It'd probably be harder without her full range of powers but still possible, especially with the scoobies training and supporting her.

[Modjadji]

*sidles into the thread, peering around sheepishly*

Like what you've done with the place

Generally, when people say they haven't left feedback in years, they're exaggerating. I, however, literally haven't left feedback in over a year, on any fic *hangs head in shame*. I checked my previous posts on this thread and the last one had something about homework and domestic war-zones. Funny to think I'm now all moved out and a nearly a third of the way through a degree! Still, all settled down now, and back to the business of telling you how spectacular your writing is.

To be, or not to be? That is abso-friggin-lutely the question. Unfortunately for the girls, they don't have the luxury of sitting Kyra down and asking her whether she wants to take arms against this particular sea of troubles. You've certainly given them a difficult set of choices with this one. Either they rob Kyra of a power that could potentially help a lot of people, or they put her in a great deal of danger and let two innocent people die in the process. Knowing them, they'll do everything in their power to prevent the deaths, but, as Willow says, this may all be a moot point. After all, we're 8 down and 2 to go, with no idea what the BB even is, let alone how to stop it.

The Anadeis' approach to "conspiring for good" is a pretty utilitarian one. Are the ten good souls necessary to somehow balance out the karmic payload of creating a Guardian? Generally, anything that requires killing off good people to work isn't in my happy column. How do they know the amount of good they're losing isn't greater than the amount they're gaining? I just don't really think you can measure death so clinically. How will Kyra feel if she becomes the Guardian, knowing that it took innocent lives to give her the power? Do the Anadeis have the right to do what they want with Kyra just because they caused her to exist? For that matter, do W and T have the right to do what they want with Kyra just because they're raising her? So many questions. It's a real indication of how great your writing is that it makes people think this hard!

On the subject of Kyra, I'm loving the little flashes we're getting of her possible future. Can't you just post an update a week for, say, the next 18 years so we can get every moment of her growing up? You've done a fantastic job of getting me really attached to her, which makes me very, very involved in all these heart-wrenching plot twists, damn you! It's great to watch every character react to her.

I'm also really enjoying the way you write Buffy. You've captured her turn of phrase perfectly. I could literally hear SMG saying "Behold the brick wall into which we repeatedly slam", to the extent that it gave me shivers. It's not the first time I've read one of your fics and forgotten that I wasn't watching a much better version of the show. Your characterization is so accurate that you can read a random piece of dialogue and tell which character is saying it beyond a doubt, but without the trap that some writers fall into: "Anya's blunt, Tara stutters, Giles says 'Dear Lord' and cleans his glasses...etc". Yes, all of the above are true, but there's more to writing all of those characters than that, and that's a very difficult thing that you do very, very well.

Speaking of caricatures, you've managed to decaricaturize (is that even a word?) Faith masterfully. She's a delicious character to play with and you're really doing justice to her. Her love for Buffy is in keeping with what we've seen from her previously. Hell, even when she was trying to kill Buffy she was flirting with her ("If you're a screamer, feel free"? puhleeeeze...). That side of the relationship has always been a bit "well, duh" from my admittedly skewed perspective, but Buffy's feelings towards Faith are harder to decode. I do want to see them together, partly because of the factor, let's be honest here, and partly because I think they balance each other so well and, as you point out, are very similar underneath. If Buffy is feeling anything stronger than friendship towards Faith, she's keeping it very much below the radar, but this may just be because her noisy inner life is clouding the signals. Basically, put me down with a big tick in the "get 'em together" column, with the proviso that it's done right. Which considering whose fic I'm posting on, it undoubtedly would be. Maybe a brush with the BB for Faith might be the wake up call Buffy needs. Who knows? I'll leave it in your capable hands.


Well, that was ridiculously long, sorry. I'd forgotten how much fun it was I promise, more feedback in less than a year, this time! It's good to be home.

cheers,
mo.

[Gem]

Wow... I've just read this story all in one night (I DID try to go to bed at 11pm... I have a 9am lecture!) and all I can say is wow. Your writing, your imagination and your characters are, quite simply, amazing.

Will try and come up with some more coherent feedback tomorrow! Sorry!

[the hero factor]

"Great. So we're expendable," Buffy grumbled. "I'm not part of the prophecy, and I'm one of those folks on the Away Team that you just know isn't making it back to the ship. My vanity and I are deeply offended."

Loved this. I'm a big Trek fan. Well, mostly. I was very disappointed with Voyager and didn't even make it through the first season of Enterprise, but when it's good, I love Trek (DS9, yay!). And Red Shirt jokes are never not funny to me.

The Scoobies keep talking about the women that Kyra is supposed to protect, and what will happen to if they prevent her from becoming the Guardian. But what I got from the conversation with the Anadeis is that when the Big Bad gets it's ten good souls, it will bring forth some kind of great evil force, necessitating these powerful woman for good to balance the scales. And Kyra to protect them. Otherwise, why would stopping the BB keep Kyra from becoming the Guardian? Of course, maybe not.

And can I just say that I really like what you've done with Angel, and how obvious it is that he really supports and helps Faith. I've always liked Angel, and each mention of him makes me smile. The image of him and the rest of the MoG helping Faith get her GED was great.

The TF. Willow is so darned cute sometimes.

Great update.

[Patches]

Hey Mary,

I was going to make a witty pun about gardens swimming with gerunds, but as you can see, cognitive processing and I are no longer on speaking terms.

I think the girls ought to re-read Oedipus and think long and hard about dear Jocasta. Is it not a truism that the very act of attempting to thwart fate with forknowledge of the future leads only to disaster. We've played this theme (destiny/fate vs free will) throughout history and why is it we keep coming back to the same results as the Greeks? Xena, for example is bound by her fate, and ever catch the original Final Destination (the sequel was somehow, unsatisfying in both execution and resolution).

There's a lot to consider in this story, but this: "“And there were two innocents yet to be taken. Even if Kyra weren't involved, they would try to stop the unfolding of this story.

But the women who would be left unprotected...What about them?” seems to dig at the heart of the dilemma.

Ethically/morally, only two people have the right to make this decision -- the final two souls. The question is, why did each victim know, in his or her heart of hearts that 'this was the right thing to do.' We have observed that the BB appears to manipulate the vics, but in light of this whole theme of light emerging from darkness, can this be but an extension of the prophesy? Beyond the shattering peace of resolution of the suicide, Willow and Tara *knew* they were doing the right thing. By attempting to thwart the prophesy, will Tara, Willow et al destroy light and bring about the age of darkness? The theme resonates beyond the immediate words of prophesy and thier little corner of existence. History is filled with tales of individual sacrifice to serve the cause or save the many. As Bogart said, "the problems of three people don`t matter a hill of beans in this crazy world." Were truer words ever spoken.

There has to be a pattern, some discernable link, tie or thread to the victims if the Scoobies are to stop the BB (ie figgur out who's next), unless of course, you're discussing Chaos theory, in which case the BB's actions are entriely random, and in Choas theory randomness, prophesy and pre-determined outcome, are antithetical.

Now, on the flip side; we're screwed no matter what we do...damn the torpedos, full speed ahead and let the chips fall where they may (oh, three cliches and a mixed metaphor in one sentence, Go me! lol).

Okay, that's my somewhat scrambled two-cents worth for the night. I hope this makes some form of sense. Thanks Mary, this is a wickedly twisted story.

Eta

One other observation, of sorts. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle has an interesting effect outside the world of physics. In a more general way, since the very act of observing something changes it, and therefore although we can predict an outcome (the phrophesy) by the nature of disclosure (observation, causality and determiniacy) of both the prophesy and future events, it is perforce altered. Okay the hamsters are back in the cage, and I am, in zombie fashion (complete with tatterd clothing), going back to work now.)

Oh, and btw, Giles absolutely rocks! in this story.

Cheers!!
Patches