"Okay Puppy. It's time to learn the facts of life.", Willow smirked evilly as she repeatedly kicked Warren in his side as hard as she could. And with the strength augmentation spell she had placed upon herself since near the beginning of the fight, many of Warren's ribs broke with each impact.
"First of all, you should know that my name is Willow, THY GOD. And I'm a very, VERY cranky God.", Willow explained as Warren began to growl at her. Willow simply ground her boot on his fingers, "Ah ah ah Puppy. Willow didn't say to bark yet. But your enthusiasm is noted. Now where was God? Oh yes, God has had a very rough life. Parents always away, always picked on by people who don't matter, never noticed by people who do, heart broken by people leaving. It made God a sad little girl who would always curl up in front of a computer and write or run programs or other booooring computer things. The saddest part is that was all she was good at it. Or so it seemed."
"That's when she started playing with magick. And let me tell you, that made her feel like the God she truly was. She became powerful. Strong. She did what she always thought was right but even with all the power, it was hard and brought her little happiness. But it also brought her Tara. Tara was the one thing that made her life truly worthwhile. It was true love. Not a dream, not an illusion, not some post-pubescent fantasy. But true love."
"And She so loved Tara she gave up ALL her begotten magicks to make her happy. And it was all bliss and happiness and daisies UNTIL YOU SHOT HER AND TOOK HER FROM ME, YOU SLIMEY LITTLE BASTARD! You made me lose control of myself and hurt my friends. And you made me LIKE doing it. I was an addict and you made me relapse. Ever since that day I have had a voice in my head degrading me, cutting me down, and begging me to do horrible things to my friends to fulfill that twisted need inside me. And you want to know what pisses me off the most about that? It's me thinking that. It's me wanting me to hurt my friends and its all YOUR DAMNED FAULT!", Willow roared in rage as she electrocuted Warren with black lightning. Tears rolled down her face as she explained the source of her pain. She was so consumed; she didn't hear Poe cawing overhead, or Tara's approach.
"W-Willow?", Tara said walking up, unsure this was Willow due to her hair color.
Willow turned and ground her heel into Warren's knuckles.
"Go away. I don't want you to see this.", Willow practically growled.
"Goddess.", Tara said taking in Willow's altered appearance. Indeed, she was hardly the loving witch Tara had known. She looked more like an ebon banshee now.
Poe began cawing to Tara overhead and it made Tara's eyes go wide as she looked at the fallen Warren.
"P-Poe says…. That he was just told that that's the man who killed me.", Tara said, unsure of what to do next.
"He is. He came back as one of these things. You were sent back to stop him. But I won't let you.", Willow said standing off with Tara.
"I-I don't like this whole vengeance thing Willow. It isn't in my nature. But if this was what I was sent back to do, let me do it.", Tara said, apprehensive about killing someone, even a demon.
"No. Because if you do it, then you'll have to go back to being dead. And I won't lose you again! I can't stand to have you back just so you'll leave again! I need you.", Willow replied, her lip quivering despite her current confident state, "That's the deal with these things."
"Mr. Giles told me not necessarily. Sometimes they stay. We researched it.", Tara told Willow.
"I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT RISK!", Willow began crying, "I love you too much to let you die again. If I kill him, then you can stay."
"Willow, I love you more than anything or anyone on earth, but if this is my job then I have to do it.", Tara stated plainly. And Willow cried, because she knew in her heart that Tara was right, and was adamant about doing this even if she didn't truly want to. And Willow could deny Tara nothing.
"Come to me baby.", Tara said outstretching her hands. And sniffling and crying, Willow walked towards Tara, her black hair resuming its red shade. The veins and pentagram faded. The black in her eyes, rolled away so that the tears were more evident. She wrapped herself into Tara's arms and laid her head on her shoulder sobbing. Tara kissed her and comforted her as best she could. For this moment, they were the entire world.
That's why it was so shocking when Willow had a spasm of pain and tried to gasp for air that never came. She slumped forward and Tara could see one of Warren's tendrils imbedded in her back. Warren smiled sadistically.
"Sorry. But I loooove splitting you crazy kids up.", Warren cackled.
Tara's eyes welled up with tears. She was in pain, saddened by what had befallen her lover. Then she felt something she was unaccustomed to. Rage.
"That was a mistake.", Tara snarled.
Pinhead slammed into the pavement of Revello Drive causing some asphalt to shatter as he did. Undeterred, he rose a moment later and stared face to face with the Spirit of Vengeance known as the Ghost Rider. The tall being crowned by a skull aflame sent shivers of fear to all of the bystanders who looked upon him, save Pinhead.
"What is that thing?", Buffy asked Giles, and many of the others who had run around the side of the house to join her.
"Bloody hell. Not that bloke again.", Spike mouthed fearfully.
"Again?", Xander asked.
"New York. 1989. Bloke had me crying for a week after that stare of his.", Spike said of the inhuman Ghost Rider.
"You've run into this creature before?", Giles asked.
"Wasn't a bloody picnic either. Wanker scares me more than just about anybody. Well maybe not Angelus.", Spike explained.
"Wow. Now see, this is why I got into vengeance. Guys like this really make it worthwhile. Lots of gusto into their work.", Anya said beaming.
Preternatural fists slammed into Pinhead, making him stagger. The Cenobite, undeterred, struck back nearly knocking Ghost Rider off his feet. Nail covered flesh met hellfire covered skull as the two creatures head butted. Grim, cold determination was in Pinhead's eyes as he covered the Ghost Rider in chains, trying to tear at whatever flesh may be on his body. Finding none it dug into the flaming bones and black leather clothing of the hell biker. Fiery, passionate, vengeance burned in the eyes of Ghost Rider as he swung his own chain cracking Pinhead's jaw.
"Do you dare face the agony of those you have slain?", Ghost Rider asked in his cold, gravelly rasp.
"Agony is pleasure.", Pinhead said, tired of the physical confrontation, and choosing to send twin beams of energy out of his eyes at Ghost Rider. The Spirit of Vengeance was sent flying backwards into his parked motorcycle in a crumpled heap. Much of his leather clothing was shredded by that attack, exposing his flaming skeleton. Pinhead fired again as Ghost Rider attempted to rise. Ghost Rider was sent sprawling forward and crashed into the ground. Pinhead closed the gap between the two and fired again and again and again until Ghost Rider moved no more. Pinhead smiled as he turned the skeleton over, ready to deliver the deathblow., "Agony and pleasure are one in the same. They are both part of the game."
"This is no game.", Ghost Rider said as beams suddenly fired from his eyes right into Pinhead's. Pinhead screamed in agony as they did so. This was the most potent of Ghost Rider's abilities. This was the dreaded Penance stare, a weapon which turns the pain inflicted upon the innocent upon the very one who inflicted it. Pinhead in such a case, has inflicted much suffering and was now feeling it. Pain is usually a source of pleasure for the Cenobite, but pain as it is felt by the victim…. Well let's just say Pinhead would have rather been skinned, salt poured in every wound, and then dropped into a septic tank. The Cenobite fell to the ground and began crawling away. Ghost Rider arose and stalked after him. Pinhead turned and looked at Ghost Rider, and weakly began chuckling.
"It's…a-all a game. Every bit. One that I'm going to win. That hurt me in ways I cannot describe. Thank you. I will reciprocate when this world is sent to Hell in the next few minutes.", Pinhead smiled as he teleported away from the scene.
Ghost Rider simply walked back and picked up his motorcycle and prepared to get on.
"Wait!", Buffy said running up. Ghost Rider regarded her.
"I am needed elsewhere. I cannot wait.", Ghost Rider said revving his bike, preparing to give chase to Pinhead.
"Let me help you! I'm the Slayer, and this is my town. It's my responsibility. Please. I can help you.", Buffy pleaded.
Ghost Rider regarded her with his hollowed out, fiery eyes. Then he spoke.
"Get on.", Ghost Rider commanded. And Buffy leapt on the back of his motorcycle, a little wary of the hellfire bones that were exposed.
"Now wait just a bloody minute. You can't just expect us to sit out can you?", Spike demanded. Ghost Rider turned and looked at him, stopping the vampire in his tracks.
"I know you.", Ghost Rider said, making Spike swallow hard, "And I have no quarrel with you now."
"It's the soul.", Spike thought, "Bloke would a gave me that stare at half a chance otherwise."
"If you're going to come Spike,", Buffy said, "Come on."
And then the motorcycle streaked off into the night.
Spike turned to Xander, "I'm taking your car."
"The hell you are! I'm driving. Besides, I have a machine gun in the trunk.", Xander replied.
"A what?!", Spike said.
"So I've had it since we stole that bazooka to kill the Judge. Shut up. I like it.", Xander explained.
"Right. Watcher, I think you ought to stay here. Keep any blokes that can do magick with you.", Spike ordered, "Maybe you can teleport that box back. If nothing else you can all open a portal to somewhere else if this doesn't go down right."
"I concur." Was Giles' simple reply.
"I'm coming too.", Andrew said proudly. Spike and Xander looked at him like he was nuts.
"I can summon something to help us!", Andrew explained.
He was still looked at as if he was nuts. Then Spike shrugged.
"May as well. Might be good for a laugh."
"What about me?", Kennedy asked.
"Bloody well stay here. Already got one load with us.", Spike growled.
"Hey!", Andrew shouted.
Kennedy looked ready to protest when a glare from Spike instantly quieted her. He was not a man to be trifled with. And with that, Spike, Xander, and Andrew hopped in Xander's car.
"Just a question. Where are we going?", Andrew asked.
Xander pointed to the street, "Wherever that fire leads us."
The car sped off, following the trail of Hellfire left in Ghost Rider's wake.
Tara was slammed into the ground covered by Warren's tendrils.
"Hold still baby. Let's make a little hentai. I'll straighten you out.". Warren laughed. She had been so easy to defeat. She had barely struggled, even after all that anger she had displayed. Warren looked to the side. Willow was still alive. He was guessing that strength augmentation hadn't worn off yet. No matter. She'd die soon enough. Just as soon as he was done squeezing the life out of Tara.
"You make me sick.", Tara said to him.
"That so?", Warren asked, "You know when you talk the talk, you should really at least try to walk the walk. You were so easy to take down."
"Maybe I wanted to be taken down.", Tara said, smiling. That worried Warren, but nonetheless he was simply squeezed tighter.
"Oh yeah. I bet you did. Admit it, you just need a big strong man to handle you like you want."
"Actually, I did this because that crow flying around up there, just out of reach, told me to. He told me that one of my abilities is to project the emotions of something I come into contact with. Usually, said emotion is painful.", Tara explained.
Warren smirked at her, "HELLO? I'm a Cenobite. Look at me. Does it look like pain bothers me anymore? I get off on it."
"Yeah I know. That's why I'm not going to give you pain Warren. I'm going to give you love.", Tara said smiling.
An instant later, Warren fell to his knees. And screamed.
