A/N: Spoilers for BtVS up through Blood Ties.
Disclaimer: None of its mine. But since it invaded my brain, I figure I've got squatter's rights
Chapter One – Before
Sunnydale, CA 2001
It was quiet in the early morning hours at the Magic Box. The silence in the store would probably be lost within a few hours as customers made their way in. For now, no one was around except for a few stray dust motes. And Willow didn't mind them hanging around. They were friendly little dust motes. As opposed to the unfriendly giant type like the ones that tried to attack her last week and…
She shook the memory out of her head. Another story for another day, perhaps.
Glancing around one last time, she verified that she had all the materials for her newest spell. Candles, bits of herbs, shiny things. All were present and accounted for. Witches toys, she thought, smiling. Willow checked her watch. 9:00. A few more minutes and she could begin.
This will work, Willow told herself again. It had taken all the convincing she had in her to get Buffy and Giles to agree to let her try this spell. She swore to them up, down, sideways, crossways, and such that the spell would only bring them to the Magic Box instead of dumping them… wherever. The witch told the pair that they could just begin walking back after they had finished dropping Dawn off at school. If Willow had the concentration to pick them up, great. If not, well, the walk was short.
Seeing that time had finally arrived, she lit a candle and intoned, "Keepers of place, hear my plea." Lighting a second candle due north of the first, she continued, "I ask that these words be considered and granted." Willow closed her eyes and raised her arms in the air for a few seconds before lowering them to pick up a pinch of the herbal mix. She sprinkled it in the shape of a pentagram across a small silver plate. "Find the Warrior of the people and her Guide and bring them to me." Willow clapped her hands three times, then opened her eyes.
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