Title: The shell without Humanity
Rating:PG-13
Disclaimer:Not smart enough, or enough money so it ain't mine. DAMN YOU WHEDON!
Summary: AU on Grave. During, not after so it's more original than most.
++++
You could tell they were warriors heading into battle. Each was carrying at least one weapon. You could also tell who was the leader and most determined.
Though when you think leader you usually don't think of a short, fake blonde, girl. But you could tell that if you got in her way, there wouldn't be enough left of you to fill an ashtray. And the people behind her mimicked her face to certain degrees. But only one didn't feel the determination on the inside as shown on her face.
So much had happened to that little red haired once girl now woman. She had gone from hell and back, evil and good.
Now she felt odd, like there was something missing. Like there was some part of this whole situation that wasn't present, or known about.
Something wasn't right.
Willow had been the first to awaken, probably because her magic soaked body. It took her ten minutes just waking everyone else up. Xander had taken the longest, batting her away and telling her that he wanted ten more minutes on the pony. She promptly smacked him upside the head startling him awake.
Though he took the longest, he was the calmest.
Buffy had automatically started looking for the person missing. When she found out it was Dawn, the volcano had awakened in the slayer. Forgetting everyone and everything she grabbed an axe and started for the magic box door.
It took Xander and Giles to barely hold her back while Willow calmly explained what was going on.
The spell was called "the summoning" Ancient and powerful, it requires twelve magical sources of varying power to charge the center and summon a huge source of power. All to integrate it permanently into the summoner.
When asked why he took dawn Willow replied that he had somehow modified the spell and didn't know how she fit in. All she did know was that Dawn could be used as a source and would be killed during the process.
Obviously the wrong thing to say to an enraged woman with super strength.
A slap from Giles was all it took to bring her out of her anger. Buffy looked at him with shocked and hurt expression that made Giles want to melt, hug her, and apologize all at the same time. But he stood fast and calmly informed her that they needed a plan.
It was decided that all they needed to do was take away Dawn and destroy one of the sources to stop the spell.
Willow would run interference while Buffy and Giles got Dawn out of there. Xander and Anya would stand by and protect Willow while she was casting the magic.
Willow was almost hysterically frightened of what might happened if she used such power again, she didn't voice it, though she could tell that everyone, well except Buffy, was a bit wary about her using it to. But the situation called for it and they had no other choice.
So they set off. Each with their own weapon in hand. All riding off to fight someone that they once relied on at one time or another. The situations similarity to another was not lost to everyone.
Them going to stop a seemingly unbeatable force from killing Dawn. It reminded all of them of Glory.
Xander was afraid, but would gladly take a fatal hit for everyone here. Giles feared for Buffy, he knew if it came down to it that Buffy would ultimately put Dawn's life over everyone's, especially her own. He didn't know if he could survive it happening again. Buffy's mind seemed to wander, crossing between mind numbing rage, to fear for Dawn. She didn't fear for her friends, cause she knew they could take care of themselves.
After a few moments of ruminating and wondering, her mind seemed to focus on something strange. This was so much like the walk before the battle with Glory, but something was off, missing from the scene. She then realized the difference.
Spike.
He had been there, to make the promise, to say those last words, to offer that small piece of extra support that she needed. Now they were going off to stop him from killing the one person he swore to protect. This thought made her determined face falter for a moment. It really struck home, that wasn't the Spike she knew, she fought with, had sex with, had…cared for. The Spike she knew had died in a place of pain and darkness. Now all was left was a monster after her sister.
With a renewed rage, the slayer's face solidified into a look of pure determination. Buffy's voice was harsh.
"Remember, mission's to get Dawn out of there, then stop Spike, or, whoever he is. Don't get distracted. You get distracted, she dies."
Everything stopped.
They were all frozen in mid stride except for Willow.
She stood there stunned and frightened. A million things ran through her head. Moving from one scooby to another she waved her hands, pushed, hit and yelled trying to get them to move, but nothing happened. They didn't twitch, move a muscle or budge from the spot they were in. She even went to the extreme of poking Anya in the eye. But her finger didn't damage anything, and Anya stayed in her frightened expression.
Panicking she whipped her head around to search for danger.
Instead she saw Spike, or she should say William, standing there in all white and slightly glowing. She calmed a bit and notice he was looking at the frozen Buffy, wearing a sad smile on his face. His voice seemed to slide into the silence, soft and kind.
"It's amazing how this young woman could inspire so much love and good in a evil demon. He loved her more than he loved anyone, that stupid vampire."
Hearing the sadness in his voice broke her heart.
"What about you?"
That seemed to deepen the grin on his face, and finally drew his attention to Willow. He chuckled
"No that was all Spike, though I can understand why he did. Unfortunately even love can't keep under a constant strain, especially in that situation. Even more so with demons, that love can get twisted into something completely different if not properly tended to. He knew that, and I think he realized that after he realized what he had tried to do. Probably why he sought to get me. Doesn't matter now."
Tentatively she spoke.
"What's wrong with them?"
"Nothing, this is a millisecond frozen in your mind. So really your still walking, but in this moment, time is frozen."
She understood this, though she knew it would confuse most, because, well most people are geniuses with a small social lives.
"Why"
His face seemed to get more serious as he spoke while walking towards her.
"Because it is finally time to tell you what's going to happen, and what you need to do."
Squaring her shoulders she stood firm in front of him.
"I'm ready."
He stopped in front of her and smirked.
"Yeah, you are."
Without warning his hand grabbed hers.
The scoobies were marching toward the crypt when suddenly Willow stumbled. Xander was quick to catch her before she fell completely and pushed her along while holding her.
Buffy and Giles took no notice and continued walking. Whispering Xander spoke.
"Will you okay?"
Willow didn't look at him and soon regained her balance but answered.
"Yeah, I am."
The missing piece had been added. The whole thing was clear and attainable. But would she have the courage to go through with it.
With that they moved back in formation as the crypt came into view.
In the background you could hear Anya say in an irritated voice.
"My eye itches"
++++
A/N: They just keep coming, one after the other, I know you're scared, your saying "It's too much, I can't handle all this crappy writing!"
But I ain't stopping, I'M FINISHING IT BABY!
Almost done, Probably one more long chapter and that's it, no more falling alseep on you keyboard then waking up with checkered skin. IT WILL SOON COME TO AN END!
I've had way too much sugar.
Anyway please keep reviewing, tell me how bad my work is so I can improve, but don't be a total ass (HA! ff.net censors missed that one) say some good things too.
Rating:PG-13
Disclaimer:Not smart enough, or enough money so it ain't mine. DAMN YOU WHEDON!
Summary: AU on Grave. During, not after so it's more original than most.
++++
You could tell they were warriors heading into battle. Each was carrying at least one weapon. You could also tell who was the leader and most determined.
Though when you think leader you usually don't think of a short, fake blonde, girl. But you could tell that if you got in her way, there wouldn't be enough left of you to fill an ashtray. And the people behind her mimicked her face to certain degrees. But only one didn't feel the determination on the inside as shown on her face.
So much had happened to that little red haired once girl now woman. She had gone from hell and back, evil and good.
Now she felt odd, like there was something missing. Like there was some part of this whole situation that wasn't present, or known about.
Something wasn't right.
Willow had been the first to awaken, probably because her magic soaked body. It took her ten minutes just waking everyone else up. Xander had taken the longest, batting her away and telling her that he wanted ten more minutes on the pony. She promptly smacked him upside the head startling him awake.
Though he took the longest, he was the calmest.
Buffy had automatically started looking for the person missing. When she found out it was Dawn, the volcano had awakened in the slayer. Forgetting everyone and everything she grabbed an axe and started for the magic box door.
It took Xander and Giles to barely hold her back while Willow calmly explained what was going on.
The spell was called "the summoning" Ancient and powerful, it requires twelve magical sources of varying power to charge the center and summon a huge source of power. All to integrate it permanently into the summoner.
When asked why he took dawn Willow replied that he had somehow modified the spell and didn't know how she fit in. All she did know was that Dawn could be used as a source and would be killed during the process.
Obviously the wrong thing to say to an enraged woman with super strength.
A slap from Giles was all it took to bring her out of her anger. Buffy looked at him with shocked and hurt expression that made Giles want to melt, hug her, and apologize all at the same time. But he stood fast and calmly informed her that they needed a plan.
It was decided that all they needed to do was take away Dawn and destroy one of the sources to stop the spell.
Willow would run interference while Buffy and Giles got Dawn out of there. Xander and Anya would stand by and protect Willow while she was casting the magic.
Willow was almost hysterically frightened of what might happened if she used such power again, she didn't voice it, though she could tell that everyone, well except Buffy, was a bit wary about her using it to. But the situation called for it and they had no other choice.
So they set off. Each with their own weapon in hand. All riding off to fight someone that they once relied on at one time or another. The situations similarity to another was not lost to everyone.
Them going to stop a seemingly unbeatable force from killing Dawn. It reminded all of them of Glory.
Xander was afraid, but would gladly take a fatal hit for everyone here. Giles feared for Buffy, he knew if it came down to it that Buffy would ultimately put Dawn's life over everyone's, especially her own. He didn't know if he could survive it happening again. Buffy's mind seemed to wander, crossing between mind numbing rage, to fear for Dawn. She didn't fear for her friends, cause she knew they could take care of themselves.
After a few moments of ruminating and wondering, her mind seemed to focus on something strange. This was so much like the walk before the battle with Glory, but something was off, missing from the scene. She then realized the difference.
Spike.
He had been there, to make the promise, to say those last words, to offer that small piece of extra support that she needed. Now they were going off to stop him from killing the one person he swore to protect. This thought made her determined face falter for a moment. It really struck home, that wasn't the Spike she knew, she fought with, had sex with, had…cared for. The Spike she knew had died in a place of pain and darkness. Now all was left was a monster after her sister.
With a renewed rage, the slayer's face solidified into a look of pure determination. Buffy's voice was harsh.
"Remember, mission's to get Dawn out of there, then stop Spike, or, whoever he is. Don't get distracted. You get distracted, she dies."
Everything stopped.
They were all frozen in mid stride except for Willow.
She stood there stunned and frightened. A million things ran through her head. Moving from one scooby to another she waved her hands, pushed, hit and yelled trying to get them to move, but nothing happened. They didn't twitch, move a muscle or budge from the spot they were in. She even went to the extreme of poking Anya in the eye. But her finger didn't damage anything, and Anya stayed in her frightened expression.
Panicking she whipped her head around to search for danger.
Instead she saw Spike, or she should say William, standing there in all white and slightly glowing. She calmed a bit and notice he was looking at the frozen Buffy, wearing a sad smile on his face. His voice seemed to slide into the silence, soft and kind.
"It's amazing how this young woman could inspire so much love and good in a evil demon. He loved her more than he loved anyone, that stupid vampire."
Hearing the sadness in his voice broke her heart.
"What about you?"
That seemed to deepen the grin on his face, and finally drew his attention to Willow. He chuckled
"No that was all Spike, though I can understand why he did. Unfortunately even love can't keep under a constant strain, especially in that situation. Even more so with demons, that love can get twisted into something completely different if not properly tended to. He knew that, and I think he realized that after he realized what he had tried to do. Probably why he sought to get me. Doesn't matter now."
Tentatively she spoke.
"What's wrong with them?"
"Nothing, this is a millisecond frozen in your mind. So really your still walking, but in this moment, time is frozen."
She understood this, though she knew it would confuse most, because, well most people are geniuses with a small social lives.
"Why"
His face seemed to get more serious as he spoke while walking towards her.
"Because it is finally time to tell you what's going to happen, and what you need to do."
Squaring her shoulders she stood firm in front of him.
"I'm ready."
He stopped in front of her and smirked.
"Yeah, you are."
Without warning his hand grabbed hers.
The scoobies were marching toward the crypt when suddenly Willow stumbled. Xander was quick to catch her before she fell completely and pushed her along while holding her.
Buffy and Giles took no notice and continued walking. Whispering Xander spoke.
"Will you okay?"
Willow didn't look at him and soon regained her balance but answered.
"Yeah, I am."
The missing piece had been added. The whole thing was clear and attainable. But would she have the courage to go through with it.
With that they moved back in formation as the crypt came into view.
In the background you could hear Anya say in an irritated voice.
"My eye itches"
++++
A/N: They just keep coming, one after the other, I know you're scared, your saying "It's too much, I can't handle all this crappy writing!"
But I ain't stopping, I'M FINISHING IT BABY!
Almost done, Probably one more long chapter and that's it, no more falling alseep on you keyboard then waking up with checkered skin. IT WILL SOON COME TO AN END!
I've had way too much sugar.
Anyway please keep reviewing, tell me how bad my work is so I can improve, but don't be a total ass (HA! ff.net censors missed that one) say some good things too.
