Sorry it took so long, but I've got no excuse this time – I've just got plain old writer's block

Sorry it took so long, but I've got no excuse this time – I've just got plain old writer's block.

Chapter 7: "The Slayer Returns" (another new movie by Tim Burton – NOT!)

Richard was getting tired of dodging the man with wings. He knew he couldn't dodge the jerk forever in the void. In a desperate attempt to fly past his opponent, Richard dove and feinted - right then left. Seeing this, his adversary vanished and reappeared a split second away from behind him and bore down his flaming sword at the unprotected back.

The cosmically powered former human barely had time to react, turned and slammed both his hands together to stop the sword from completely falling through him. Cosmic as he is, he still doesn't know his full potential, or his full weaknesses. So he instinctively performed the butterfly sword catch technique.

The impact of the sword being clapped by two hands was astounding to say the least.

Both combatants were thrown fifty feet away from each other by the explosion of sheer energy. Seeing that his adversary was a bit dazed, Richard shot for his targeted opening and dove through the very fabric of the temporal eddies that were also doorways to the past or future.

Stunned and totally dismayed, the dazed being flew after him.

And both found themselves witnessing the "EVENT", as what most Watchers had unanimously named for the greatest stand a Slayer has ever had in sacrificing herself for the good of humanity.

Buffy was on the ledge, preparing to jump. Dawn was behind her, weak and imploring her sister to abandon her decision. With one last long look, the Slayer who beat the odds turned and faced her destiny.

She jumped.

And time splintered to a halt as Richard commanded it to be so.

The winged man's voice echoed throughout stilled time towards the Cosmic Protector.

"You have no right to change what has already happened!"

Richard then flared and assumed his cosmic identity: Ja'Redd - giving the winged being another shock and paused in mid-flight. "You're right," he said, "I can't change the past."

"Then what ARE you doing?!"

"I'm changing the future." Ja'Redd replied and took out Buffy's life force, wrapping it in a ball of energy. He turned and faced his opponent once more and continued. "She has to die today, to live tomorrow. So she can beat the odds once more"

The being nodded, now understanding, "They were right about you. But I HAD to know, for all our sakes."

"Like what and who?"

"Nothing you'd care to know for now." The man said, "Make sure that they protect her this time. And make sure you stay on the path of light, though not even heaven knows what to do with the singular likes of you."

Both looked down at the drama frozen in time, the being extinguished his flaming sword and gestured at the air. Time once more ran forward, and the Slayer fell through the portal – severing the connection between multiverses, dark or light. Richard was torn at seeing her beloved friends in anguish, standing, kneeling, broken, battered, and now alone – hovering over her body as if the world did indeed end for them that very night.

With his wings aglow, the man faced his worthy adversary again and advised him – respect and friendship on his face. "Godspeed, Protector!" He said, "And please tell Max Quaylen the his old friend Michael sends his regards."

With another gesture, Michael brought forth the light and enveloped the Protector.

It was blinding, one moment Richard was hovering in midair – the next, he fell face down onto a cold hard marble floor. Dazed, he gathered his wits about him and realized he was back at the crypt that used to belong to Spike. Immediately, he stood up and checked to see if he still had her life energy, finding that it was still with him; he hurried to the Slayer's body.

Again, checking her body for any residual traces of dimensional energy and finding little of it left – he brought the glowing energy sphere above her chest.

And watched it sink back down into her body.

The explosion of light and sound blew him five feet away.

Right into Spike, as the vampire entered his former crypt to see if the Slayer was well cared for. As both men tried to untangle themselves, they stopped short when they heard a loud gasp coming from above the marble slab, which now doubled as a bed.

As one, they stood and went towards a very confused Slayer that was looking at them as if she never saw them before in her life. Something rested by her foot, something shaped like a piece of a stone tablet. Spike's eyes went wide at the very sight of seeing her alive!

Buffy saw the blond vampire – taking in his expression to be too deep in shock, her memories now rushing back to her. She turned her gaze at Richard, then back to the vampire.

"Spike." Was all she said, beginning to smile - and then she promptly fainted. Spike just nodded, not believing it at all.

Richard moved to find something to use as Buffy's blanket when he heard a thud behind him.

Looks like Spike passed out too.

Richard sighed a familiar phrase, "Oh, boy."

More words from a lazy, writer's blocked author:

I have no excuse for this one getting away from me, there was too much work to be done and last month was the worst for the company. But now that things have slightly settled down again, I can think clearly and continue where I left off. I hope this was worth the wait and I do apologize for the inconvenience.