Disclaimer: Well, I'm not feeling up to anything creative-wise in the
disclaimer section. I own nothing Buffy the Vampire Slayer related. Joss
Whedon does. And I don't own A Midsummer Night's Dream. William Shakespeare
does. Or would, if he were alive today, or if his family has publishing
rights. Oh, and I don't own anything relating to the movie version. Does
that settle it all? No? It doesn't? But I don't wanna say it . . . Fine!
And contrary to popular belief, I did not invent the question mark or
electricity. Somebody else did. I am a pathetic nothing who never created
anything worth remembering.
Rating: PG-13- Naughtiness by the Bard
Summary: 100% AU! Magic? Mistaken identity? Fairies? True love? And . . . donkey lovin'? BTVS meets Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream!
Author's Notes: Again with the not writing! Sorry. You don't know how much free time you have until it's all gone. All of last week, I've been writing my semester final paper on Pride and Prejudice and preparing for the league acting competition. Hence the not writing. So very sorry! And if that isn't enough, I now possibly have strep throat! Wonderful, and just in time for finals! Life is crappy! So, here is a new chapter, and I hope it makes up for the lateness of it all. Kisses, hugs, and prostrate exams!
PS: Turn and cough!
Chapter Six- What Thou Seest
Half a mile into the forest, a small stream trickled through the forest. Nothing much could be said about it, except the water was some of the purest that lay in Sunnydale. If a traveler were to follow the stream, they would come upon a fork in the river. Taking the eastern fork would lead the person back into town, where the water became brown and polluted.
But the western fork snakes further into the forest, passing by fields of clover and daisies, and the ground on which the stream flowed drops away, letting the water fall into a glorious waterfall. It rests in a small, but deep, pool until it slips away with the current.
No spirit would dare enter this area without permission.
Around the banks of the pond, and tiny meadow that lies beside it, is Queen Cordelia's favorite haunt. As long as she has existed, it has been hers. All the deer that sleep under the oak trees, all the robins that make nests in the branches, all the frogs that swim through the cold water, belong to her. She cares for her creatures as any loving parent would, and they in turn protect the lair when she is away.
It should be mentioned that the queen only comes to her pond and meadow on special occasions.
It should also be mentioned that those "special occasions" happen only when she and King Xander fight.
"BASTARD! ALL MEN ARE BASTARDS!" Her scream echoed against the trees, waking a den of rabbits.
"I mean, I thought he learned his lesson! I thought he be all, 'Oh, Cordy didn't like it when I messed around in the 17th century, so she probably won't be ok with it now!" shrieked Cordelia, feeling the hot tears sting against her skin.
Rolling her eyes, Tara nodded, continuing unsuccessfully to brush her lady's hair. They sat in the sand by the pond, Cordelia lying her head in her servant's lap as she cried.
Tara remembered how the queen had acted after Xander's numerous affairs with a changeling tribe in 1633. For six years, she banished all the men of her court to the Asian desert, and forbid any communication between the sexes. As for herself, Cordelia spent the time roaming through the human world, cursing the males with a deadly virus. It spread violently. Hence the Black Death.
But Tara snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the queen ask a question.
"Excuse me, milady?"
Cordelia sighed. "Maybe I should just give it all up! You know?"
"I don't, milady."
"Maybe I should just say 'To hell with men!' and become a lesbian! You seem to be ok with it."
Inwardly, Tara felt like shooting herself. Or the queen. Whatever was most convenient. "Well, Queen Cordelia, in order to be a lesbian, you kinda have to like . . . women."
"Oh. Nevermind."
She sat up, and Tara put on her crown, a garland of purple, pink and blue flowers. It matched the larger garland that hung around the waist of her light blue, velvet gown.
Linking her arm through Tara's, the brunette continued. "Why did he do it? Wasn't I enough for him? Or am I just too old for him? A thousand centuries changes people, so maybe I've changed."
"No," laughed Tara, "He still thinks you are the center of his universe. It just . . . he's been having fleeting feelings."
"Oh, you should have seen his face when I caught him. Like, I thought he was pale when I caught him flirting with that skank-ho of a water nymph!" She shook her head. "But, when I walked to the caves and saw him on . . ." Another tear trickled down her cheek. "She was a changeling. A changeling! They're like, little dirty trolls who- NO! They're lower than trolls! They're changelings! Nothing is lower than a changeling!"
As the two approached the queen's napping area, a third fairy joined the group. It was Dawn, Cordelia's second favorite servant. Nervously fiddling with the skirt on her pink sleeveless gown, she meekly addressed the queen.
"Milady, do you want me to sent everyone away while you nap?"
A pang of sympathy hit Tara. Dawn had only been serving the queen for a few centuries, and wasn't used to her royal Moodiness' quirks.
Mumbling a response, Cordelia began climbed up her favorite tree, which overlooked the meadow. Lounging on a strong branch, the queen began to lightly doze.
"Alright, everyone get out of here," quietly ordered Dawn, shooing away the milling fairies. "All of you, buzz off!"
Quiet entered Cordelia's woods, and a small bird started singing a soft lullaby. A heavy sleep began to wash over Tara as she walked back to the pond.
"Dawn, I'm going to take a quick nap. Wake me up for my shift," requested the fairy, only to see that the brunette had already fallen asleep near a little field of strawberries.
Reclining on the sand, her eyes began to droop. It had been a long day, and she deserved a little bit of slumber.
Glancing one more time at her queen, Tara closed her eyes and fell asleep.
^^^^^^^^^^
"Almost too easy, isn't it?" asked Xander, knowing perfectly well he was the only one awake.
From afar, he had been watching Cordelia and her servants' hang about her haunt, waiting for the perfect moment. She always took a nap in the late evening, and slept soundly.
But as for her attendants, that was another matter. They were diligent, always alert, always watching. In order to charm Cordelia, he needed them out of the way. So, using a spell he learned long ago from a gypsy woman, he disguised his voice as a songbird's and sang them to sleep.
Tiptoeing past her elf-guard Lindsay, and scooting quickly by her head servant Tara, he closed in on his wife.
But, when he began to consider himself safe, his legs gave way under him. He tripped over something.
Jumping up, he searched for the offending root or branch that could have given him away, only to find it was a leg. A leg belonging to a small, brunette fairy.
She didn't wake up, and as Xander moved her legs aside, proceeded to mumble something obscure about raccoons.
With the fairy put out of the way, Xander continued his trespassing. Soon, he stood under Cordelia's favorite tree.
Climbing up the tree as a bear would, he leapt onto the branch where she slept. Flower in hand, he was ready.
But his plan was forgotten as he gazed upon her. At once, he felt guilty for the plan. Cordelia always forgave him, sooner or later. And, although she declared she would never see him again, he knew it wasn't true.
A memory came back of the two of them, sitting on the very same branch, watching a doe give birth to a fawn in the early spring. They sat, hand in hand, in love like two mortal teenagers. She wasn't criticizing him, and he wasn't cheating on her.
*Maybe Willow was right . . .*
Raising his left hand, he began to slap himself across the face. He had to go through with the plan. She needed to forgive him.
Carefully straddling Cordelia, he pinched the flower on the bulb. A tiny secretion of juice came to the surface, a rosy dew.
It was dropped onto her eyelids, and the dew sparkled like two jewels. She was charmed.
"Fall in love with something gross, ok baby?" whispered Xander, before springing onto the ground and rushing away.
Author's Notes, Part II: I always love it when authors respond to my reviews. It gives me little Goosebumps! So, here's a bone for you who like a little recognition.
Beenieweenie: gotta love a Shakespeare newbie! Hope this POS story inspires you to read up on the dude's plays. And I also belong to the "Faith Kicks Ass" camp. She just screams bassist.
Michelle, PortCharlesSlayer, and Rosie: Glad you love my story! So very happy! *does the happy insane dance*
Dee: Oh yeah! I can't take this a smutty way. I mean, you are correct. James Marsters is an incredibly talented actor and blah blah blah, I'm going to find some more internet pics of his fine self! Why? Because I am a loser!
Rating: PG-13- Naughtiness by the Bard
Summary: 100% AU! Magic? Mistaken identity? Fairies? True love? And . . . donkey lovin'? BTVS meets Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream!
Author's Notes: Again with the not writing! Sorry. You don't know how much free time you have until it's all gone. All of last week, I've been writing my semester final paper on Pride and Prejudice and preparing for the league acting competition. Hence the not writing. So very sorry! And if that isn't enough, I now possibly have strep throat! Wonderful, and just in time for finals! Life is crappy! So, here is a new chapter, and I hope it makes up for the lateness of it all. Kisses, hugs, and prostrate exams!
PS: Turn and cough!
Chapter Six- What Thou Seest
Half a mile into the forest, a small stream trickled through the forest. Nothing much could be said about it, except the water was some of the purest that lay in Sunnydale. If a traveler were to follow the stream, they would come upon a fork in the river. Taking the eastern fork would lead the person back into town, where the water became brown and polluted.
But the western fork snakes further into the forest, passing by fields of clover and daisies, and the ground on which the stream flowed drops away, letting the water fall into a glorious waterfall. It rests in a small, but deep, pool until it slips away with the current.
No spirit would dare enter this area without permission.
Around the banks of the pond, and tiny meadow that lies beside it, is Queen Cordelia's favorite haunt. As long as she has existed, it has been hers. All the deer that sleep under the oak trees, all the robins that make nests in the branches, all the frogs that swim through the cold water, belong to her. She cares for her creatures as any loving parent would, and they in turn protect the lair when she is away.
It should be mentioned that the queen only comes to her pond and meadow on special occasions.
It should also be mentioned that those "special occasions" happen only when she and King Xander fight.
"BASTARD! ALL MEN ARE BASTARDS!" Her scream echoed against the trees, waking a den of rabbits.
"I mean, I thought he learned his lesson! I thought he be all, 'Oh, Cordy didn't like it when I messed around in the 17th century, so she probably won't be ok with it now!" shrieked Cordelia, feeling the hot tears sting against her skin.
Rolling her eyes, Tara nodded, continuing unsuccessfully to brush her lady's hair. They sat in the sand by the pond, Cordelia lying her head in her servant's lap as she cried.
Tara remembered how the queen had acted after Xander's numerous affairs with a changeling tribe in 1633. For six years, she banished all the men of her court to the Asian desert, and forbid any communication between the sexes. As for herself, Cordelia spent the time roaming through the human world, cursing the males with a deadly virus. It spread violently. Hence the Black Death.
But Tara snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the queen ask a question.
"Excuse me, milady?"
Cordelia sighed. "Maybe I should just give it all up! You know?"
"I don't, milady."
"Maybe I should just say 'To hell with men!' and become a lesbian! You seem to be ok with it."
Inwardly, Tara felt like shooting herself. Or the queen. Whatever was most convenient. "Well, Queen Cordelia, in order to be a lesbian, you kinda have to like . . . women."
"Oh. Nevermind."
She sat up, and Tara put on her crown, a garland of purple, pink and blue flowers. It matched the larger garland that hung around the waist of her light blue, velvet gown.
Linking her arm through Tara's, the brunette continued. "Why did he do it? Wasn't I enough for him? Or am I just too old for him? A thousand centuries changes people, so maybe I've changed."
"No," laughed Tara, "He still thinks you are the center of his universe. It just . . . he's been having fleeting feelings."
"Oh, you should have seen his face when I caught him. Like, I thought he was pale when I caught him flirting with that skank-ho of a water nymph!" She shook her head. "But, when I walked to the caves and saw him on . . ." Another tear trickled down her cheek. "She was a changeling. A changeling! They're like, little dirty trolls who- NO! They're lower than trolls! They're changelings! Nothing is lower than a changeling!"
As the two approached the queen's napping area, a third fairy joined the group. It was Dawn, Cordelia's second favorite servant. Nervously fiddling with the skirt on her pink sleeveless gown, she meekly addressed the queen.
"Milady, do you want me to sent everyone away while you nap?"
A pang of sympathy hit Tara. Dawn had only been serving the queen for a few centuries, and wasn't used to her royal Moodiness' quirks.
Mumbling a response, Cordelia began climbed up her favorite tree, which overlooked the meadow. Lounging on a strong branch, the queen began to lightly doze.
"Alright, everyone get out of here," quietly ordered Dawn, shooing away the milling fairies. "All of you, buzz off!"
Quiet entered Cordelia's woods, and a small bird started singing a soft lullaby. A heavy sleep began to wash over Tara as she walked back to the pond.
"Dawn, I'm going to take a quick nap. Wake me up for my shift," requested the fairy, only to see that the brunette had already fallen asleep near a little field of strawberries.
Reclining on the sand, her eyes began to droop. It had been a long day, and she deserved a little bit of slumber.
Glancing one more time at her queen, Tara closed her eyes and fell asleep.
^^^^^^^^^^
"Almost too easy, isn't it?" asked Xander, knowing perfectly well he was the only one awake.
From afar, he had been watching Cordelia and her servants' hang about her haunt, waiting for the perfect moment. She always took a nap in the late evening, and slept soundly.
But as for her attendants, that was another matter. They were diligent, always alert, always watching. In order to charm Cordelia, he needed them out of the way. So, using a spell he learned long ago from a gypsy woman, he disguised his voice as a songbird's and sang them to sleep.
Tiptoeing past her elf-guard Lindsay, and scooting quickly by her head servant Tara, he closed in on his wife.
But, when he began to consider himself safe, his legs gave way under him. He tripped over something.
Jumping up, he searched for the offending root or branch that could have given him away, only to find it was a leg. A leg belonging to a small, brunette fairy.
She didn't wake up, and as Xander moved her legs aside, proceeded to mumble something obscure about raccoons.
With the fairy put out of the way, Xander continued his trespassing. Soon, he stood under Cordelia's favorite tree.
Climbing up the tree as a bear would, he leapt onto the branch where she slept. Flower in hand, he was ready.
But his plan was forgotten as he gazed upon her. At once, he felt guilty for the plan. Cordelia always forgave him, sooner or later. And, although she declared she would never see him again, he knew it wasn't true.
A memory came back of the two of them, sitting on the very same branch, watching a doe give birth to a fawn in the early spring. They sat, hand in hand, in love like two mortal teenagers. She wasn't criticizing him, and he wasn't cheating on her.
*Maybe Willow was right . . .*
Raising his left hand, he began to slap himself across the face. He had to go through with the plan. She needed to forgive him.
Carefully straddling Cordelia, he pinched the flower on the bulb. A tiny secretion of juice came to the surface, a rosy dew.
It was dropped onto her eyelids, and the dew sparkled like two jewels. She was charmed.
"Fall in love with something gross, ok baby?" whispered Xander, before springing onto the ground and rushing away.
Author's Notes, Part II: I always love it when authors respond to my reviews. It gives me little Goosebumps! So, here's a bone for you who like a little recognition.
Beenieweenie: gotta love a Shakespeare newbie! Hope this POS story inspires you to read up on the dude's plays. And I also belong to the "Faith Kicks Ass" camp. She just screams bassist.
Michelle, PortCharlesSlayer, and Rosie: Glad you love my story! So very happy! *does the happy insane dance*
Dee: Oh yeah! I can't take this a smutty way. I mean, you are correct. James Marsters is an incredibly talented actor and blah blah blah, I'm going to find some more internet pics of his fine self! Why? Because I am a loser!