A New Look at the Old Quickening
By Carms
Disclaimer:
I don't anyone you can recognize I'm just borrowing them. This is for entertainment purposes only. No money is made from this so there is no need to sue.
Continuity: [Highlander]:
Richie never died. He persuaded Adam to go on a road trip with him and they end up in good old Sunnydale. BTW, Cassandra still hates Methos but she doesn't have the burning need to kill him on sight anymore. [Buffy]:
Willow died instead of Tara in 6th season. (If you didn't know that Tara died I apologize for the spoiler.)
Author's note:
First of all I wanted to thank everyone who has reviewed this story and my other stories I really appreciate it. Secondly, I made some changes to the previous chapter since a few people mentioned that Adam's reaction seemed out of proportion. And last but not least, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in beta reading for me. Please??? If anyone is interested please email me at carmsfic@hotmail.com. Thank you so much.
Anyway, on with the show.
A few weeks later: Northern California
Willow woke up when the door to her room slammed open and the heavy drapes on her windows were flung wide open to allow the bright morning sun. Groaning, she hauled her covers over her head to try and block out the light only to have it jerked away. Now deprived of her blankets, Willow tried to use her pillow as cover only to have it also taken away.
"Uh uh! I don't think so young lady! Adam sent me here to come wake you up. It's time for more training and he likes to start early."
Blearily opening a eye to direct a glare at the red headed young man, Willow reluctantly sat up. "Have I told you lately how much I hate it when you are this cheerful at the concept that I am going to be tortured. I mean trained. by Adam?"
Richie chuckled at Willow. "Whatever Wills. Just get ready. He said to be downstairs for breakfast in 15 minutes or you'll go without and he'll still use you as a rug to clean the gym floor. So if I were you I'd be jumping into the shower by now." With that parting remark, Richie headed out of the room jauntily whistling a catchy tune.
"ARGH! Why me?" Willow cried out once Richie was out of earshot. She plopped back on her bed only to jump back up and rush to the shower when she saw the time.
Downstairs..
Adam sat at the table quietly reading the newspaper and waiting for his new student. Laying down his paper as his mind drifted to Willow. He didn't know what to make of the girl at first. She was like a breath of fresh air yet she also embodies and emanates pain and loneliness close to how he has felt in the last few years after Alexa's death. Willow's image filled his mind and a small smile formed on his face. His thoughts straying to places where they dare not stray because despite Willow's loveliness and loneliness she is still adjusting to the changes fate has brought upon her and as her teacher it is his responsibility to help her cope and to survive what will come. Adam's contemplative thoughts were disturbed by the sounds of footfall coming down the stairs. Calmly picking up his newspaper again Adam mentally prepared himself for the day ahead.
In the gym.
Richie watched amused as Willow once again landed on the mat. It has been a frequent sight this morning as Adam tried to teach Willow some hand to hand combat techniques. The endeavor has been a very frustrating one for Adam; while Willow apparently has had some basic training her pre-dereliction to hit him in the chest with a sharp stabbing motion has been hindering their progress. He has tried to break this instinct by turning the tables on her and dropping her on the mat every time she did the particular move but to no success. Adam walked up to Willow who was still recovering from the broken ribs, which resulted from her most recent fall.
"Why? Why? Why!? Why?!! Why must you keep repeating that same maneuver over and over again, Willow? You have to remember that an immortal's weakness in not in his chest but in his neck. Go either for his neck or to an area that will incapacitate him longer than a blow to the chest would. Now get ready we will begin again." Dropping back into his combatant stance Adam waited from Willow to do so as well.
Willow was getting upset. She has been trying her hardest and he is never satisfied. She understands that she tends to fall back on her instinct to stake her opponent but that is no reason for Adam to continue ridiculing her. Her anger fueled by her frustration and the stress of beginning a new life was enough for Willow to loose her temper. Drawing forth her energies and her anger deep within her she began to sizzle. There was no other word for the electric sparks that sprouted from the tips of her hand and for the charged atmosphere of the air around her.
Richie wasn't sure what was going on but his instinct cried out for him to duck and hide because something big and bad was about to happen. From years of living in the streets and from his recent adventures as an immortal, Richie quickly heeded his instinct and dove under the bench he was previously sitting on just before all hell broke loose.
Adam watched with fascinated and stunned eyes as Willow's eyes turned black and lightning sparks erupted from her hands. Nor did he miss the sudden change in the air. Unfortunately for him he didn't have a bench to dive underneath like Richie did and caught the full brunt of Willow's anger.
Willow can feel the anger overwhelming her tenuous control. Over the past few weeks Adam has been coaching her how to control and manipulate her powers now that the oppressing feel of the Hellmouth was no longer there to subdue them. He warned her that she must keep her emotions moderated at all times or else risk total chaos. Besieged by powerful tidal waves of quickening and fear she did the only thing she knew how to do. She released the energy within her and onto her surroundings, what she didn't count on was the immense strength and power of her surge would be. Lightning bolts flew in all directions, most of them headed for Adam's direction, torrents of air circulated the room creating a fair imitation of a contained tornado and the air sparked from the energy ionizing the very atmosphere. In the middle of it all stood Willow being buffeted by the power and was about ready to collapse. When she finished venting the excess energy within her she unconsciously released far more than she needed and consequently drained her power reserves. The lightning storm lasted for several more minutes before Willow cried out and collapsed. Upon her fall a visible change in the feel of the room occurred. The storm was gone leaving behind in its wake a trashed gym, a shocked Adam, a confused Richie, and a yet again unconscious Willow.
Disclaimer:
I don't anyone you can recognize I'm just borrowing them. This is for entertainment purposes only. No money is made from this so there is no need to sue.
Continuity: [Highlander]:
Richie never died. He persuaded Adam to go on a road trip with him and they end up in good old Sunnydale. BTW, Cassandra still hates Methos but she doesn't have the burning need to kill him on sight anymore. [Buffy]:
Willow died instead of Tara in 6th season. (If you didn't know that Tara died I apologize for the spoiler.)
Author's note:
First of all I wanted to thank everyone who has reviewed this story and my other stories I really appreciate it. Secondly, I made some changes to the previous chapter since a few people mentioned that Adam's reaction seemed out of proportion. And last but not least, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in beta reading for me. Please??? If anyone is interested please email me at carmsfic@hotmail.com. Thank you so much.
Anyway, on with the show.
A few weeks later: Northern California
Willow woke up when the door to her room slammed open and the heavy drapes on her windows were flung wide open to allow the bright morning sun. Groaning, she hauled her covers over her head to try and block out the light only to have it jerked away. Now deprived of her blankets, Willow tried to use her pillow as cover only to have it also taken away.
"Uh uh! I don't think so young lady! Adam sent me here to come wake you up. It's time for more training and he likes to start early."
Blearily opening a eye to direct a glare at the red headed young man, Willow reluctantly sat up. "Have I told you lately how much I hate it when you are this cheerful at the concept that I am going to be tortured. I mean trained. by Adam?"
Richie chuckled at Willow. "Whatever Wills. Just get ready. He said to be downstairs for breakfast in 15 minutes or you'll go without and he'll still use you as a rug to clean the gym floor. So if I were you I'd be jumping into the shower by now." With that parting remark, Richie headed out of the room jauntily whistling a catchy tune.
"ARGH! Why me?" Willow cried out once Richie was out of earshot. She plopped back on her bed only to jump back up and rush to the shower when she saw the time.
Downstairs..
Adam sat at the table quietly reading the newspaper and waiting for his new student. Laying down his paper as his mind drifted to Willow. He didn't know what to make of the girl at first. She was like a breath of fresh air yet she also embodies and emanates pain and loneliness close to how he has felt in the last few years after Alexa's death. Willow's image filled his mind and a small smile formed on his face. His thoughts straying to places where they dare not stray because despite Willow's loveliness and loneliness she is still adjusting to the changes fate has brought upon her and as her teacher it is his responsibility to help her cope and to survive what will come. Adam's contemplative thoughts were disturbed by the sounds of footfall coming down the stairs. Calmly picking up his newspaper again Adam mentally prepared himself for the day ahead.
In the gym.
Richie watched amused as Willow once again landed on the mat. It has been a frequent sight this morning as Adam tried to teach Willow some hand to hand combat techniques. The endeavor has been a very frustrating one for Adam; while Willow apparently has had some basic training her pre-dereliction to hit him in the chest with a sharp stabbing motion has been hindering their progress. He has tried to break this instinct by turning the tables on her and dropping her on the mat every time she did the particular move but to no success. Adam walked up to Willow who was still recovering from the broken ribs, which resulted from her most recent fall.
"Why? Why? Why!? Why?!! Why must you keep repeating that same maneuver over and over again, Willow? You have to remember that an immortal's weakness in not in his chest but in his neck. Go either for his neck or to an area that will incapacitate him longer than a blow to the chest would. Now get ready we will begin again." Dropping back into his combatant stance Adam waited from Willow to do so as well.
Willow was getting upset. She has been trying her hardest and he is never satisfied. She understands that she tends to fall back on her instinct to stake her opponent but that is no reason for Adam to continue ridiculing her. Her anger fueled by her frustration and the stress of beginning a new life was enough for Willow to loose her temper. Drawing forth her energies and her anger deep within her she began to sizzle. There was no other word for the electric sparks that sprouted from the tips of her hand and for the charged atmosphere of the air around her.
Richie wasn't sure what was going on but his instinct cried out for him to duck and hide because something big and bad was about to happen. From years of living in the streets and from his recent adventures as an immortal, Richie quickly heeded his instinct and dove under the bench he was previously sitting on just before all hell broke loose.
Adam watched with fascinated and stunned eyes as Willow's eyes turned black and lightning sparks erupted from her hands. Nor did he miss the sudden change in the air. Unfortunately for him he didn't have a bench to dive underneath like Richie did and caught the full brunt of Willow's anger.
Willow can feel the anger overwhelming her tenuous control. Over the past few weeks Adam has been coaching her how to control and manipulate her powers now that the oppressing feel of the Hellmouth was no longer there to subdue them. He warned her that she must keep her emotions moderated at all times or else risk total chaos. Besieged by powerful tidal waves of quickening and fear she did the only thing she knew how to do. She released the energy within her and onto her surroundings, what she didn't count on was the immense strength and power of her surge would be. Lightning bolts flew in all directions, most of them headed for Adam's direction, torrents of air circulated the room creating a fair imitation of a contained tornado and the air sparked from the energy ionizing the very atmosphere. In the middle of it all stood Willow being buffeted by the power and was about ready to collapse. When she finished venting the excess energy within her she unconsciously released far more than she needed and consequently drained her power reserves. The lightning storm lasted for several more minutes before Willow cried out and collapsed. Upon her fall a visible change in the feel of the room occurred. The storm was gone leaving behind in its wake a trashed gym, a shocked Adam, a confused Richie, and a yet again unconscious Willow.