Right, some Buffy characters appear in this, so here's their backgrounds-
Buffy Anne Summers: Vampire Slayer. Blonde. Protective. A bit fashion conscious. Tends to fall for bad boys.
Xander Harris: Buffy's number one sidekick. The only one who doesn't or has never had a destiny. Funny. Likes to joke at inappropriate times. Loves girlfriend Anya no matter how uncomforting she gets.
Anya Jenkins: Ex-vengeance demon. Funny but doesn't really mean to be. Sarcastic. Adores money.
Rupert Giles: A Watcher- guardian and trainer of slayers. Knows a lot about demonology and is intelligent.
Thanks everyone who reviewed!
Moving On:
Willow made her way down the steps to Giles's apartment, reaching out and tapping her knuckles against the door,
"Willow, how wonderful to se you back," he greeted, as he opened the door.
"Hey Giles," she smiled,
"hey Will, where's Tara?" Xander asked, walking over and giving his friend a quick hug, "leave her in San Francisco?" he joked,
"actually, no, she's packing up our things," the redhead replied.
"Why? where are you going?" Anya asked; standing next to her boyfriend,
"San Francisco," she informed them, looking down to avoid eye contact,
"but you just came from there," Giles stated,
"yeah, but I'm going back there to live," she said, looking Xander straight in his eyes as she spoke.
Meanwhile, at the Halliwell manor,
"it feels weird knowing that Willow and Tara will be going to sleep and waking up in here, not Prue," Piper said, brushing her hand against the bed as she walked passed.
"Hmm, but they seem nice, so it's not like we're letting complete strangers into the house," Phoebe assured her,
"yeah, but still…it's gonna be weird for a while," Piper said, as she opened the closet and took out Prue's black leather jacket; putting it on.
"What are we gonna do with all her stuff?" Phoebe asked, "and her car?"
"sell it I guess, unless you want it?" Piper replied, glancing at her younger sister,
"no, but maybe Willow might?" the clairvoyant suggested,
"maybe," Piper nodded,
"so, what are we gonna do with all the rest?" the youngest sister asked,
"keep it," the middle-turned-eldest replied, opening the jewellery box next to her and taking out a necklace which had 'Prue' written on it.
Back in Sunnydale, Willow was sitting in the Summers home and had just told Buffy her news,
"but…can't you just not go?" the slayer asked,
"I don't have a choice, it's my destiny, I thought you of all people would understand that," Willow replied.
"I do…it's just…it's gonna feel strange without you," Buffy said,
"and it's gonna feel strange without you, but I have Piper and Phoebe now, you don't have to worry about me," the witch explained,
"I'm gonna miss you so much Will," Buffy sobbed, as they shared a hug,
"I'm gonna miss you too," Willow said, as tears softly rolled down her cheeks.
"Promise me you'll visit?" Buffy said,
"promise," the redhead nodded, "and now I have a quick and easy way of doing it," she added, before her body fell limp and rested on the sofa,
"Willow? Willow? are you okay?" Buffy asked; beginning to get worried.
"I'm fine," a voice said, as the blonde turned to see another Willow standing behind her,
"how?" she asked,
"astral projection," Willow replied, returning to her body as she spoke,
"sounds like your new life is gonna be pretty cool," Buffy stated,
"hmmm, no matter how cool it gets, I'll never forget you guys," Willow promised, taking a hold of Buffy's hand and closing her eyes,
"create," she simply whispered. Buffy felt something form in her hand as Willow moved hers away to reveal that each of them held a gold ring; Willow's with 'Buffy' engraved on the outside and vice versa. The pair smiled as they each slipped their own ring onto their own finger.
In San Francisco, a storm had suddenly began to rage over the city and Phoebe was convinced it was supernatural, while Piper hoped her sister was just overreacting and it was completely natural.
"I'm telling you, you're crazy!" Piper commented,
"why? because I'm finding evil before it finds us?" Phoebe asked,
"because you think the weather is going to attack us!" Piper replied,
"haven't you ever seen 'Twister'?" Phoebe said,
"that was not real," Piper sighed,
"it could be!" the youngest argued, charging towards the Book of Shadows and reaching out to touch it, just as a lightening bolt shot through the window and threw her across the room,
"told you so," she groaned.
"Okay, so we know the weather is evil, but unless you have Mother Nature on speed-dial there's nothing we can do," Piper stated, helping her sister up,
"there must be something in the book," Phoebe said, walking over to see their family heritage was no longer there,
"you think the weather demon took it?" she asked,
"sure, then maybe he gave it to Frosty the snowman," Piper said sarcastically, through gritted teeth.
"Piper, I'm being serious," Phoebe stated, "and if you don't believe me then look," she added, pointing out through the window. Piper looked where her sister's hand was pointed and saw that the Book of Shadows saw swirling around amongst a powerful gust of wind,
"but I thought demons couldn't get the book of shadows!" she protested,
"maybe demons can't but magical wind can?" Phoebe suggested,
"wind," Piper whispered.
"What about it?" Phoebe questioned,
"Shax, he was some kind of wind demon, maybe this is connected to him," the eldest living sister replied,
"I hope for his sake that he's not back," Phoebe scowled,
"he's not," Cole told them, as he entered the attic.
"Then what's going on?" Phoebe asked,
"Shax was part of an assassin group called the Order Of The Elements, killing a member of the Order causes the element of their dominion to cause destruction over the whole world, the only way to stop it is to either bring him back or vanquish the remaining demons of the Order," the half-demon explained,
"I vote for door number two," Piper stated.
"We're gonna need the book," Phoebe said,
"and Willow," Cole added,
"and right now we have neither," Piper sighed,
"I'll make up a spell to vanquish the remaining members, Cole, you can use your knowledge on the Order to help me, while you, Piper, get Leo to orb you to Sunnydale to get Willow," Phoebe instructed,
"lets get goin' then," Piper nodded, clapping her hands as she spoke.
At UC Sunnydale, Willow had just informed the college of her departure, and was walking through the building, when a fiery globe whizzed passed her head. The witch then turned around to see herself face to face with a burning flame that was in the shape of a woman,
"please work, please work," she begged in a whisper, before closing her eyes and throwing out her hand; managing to successfully release a telekinetic blast which hit a nearby table rather than the actual demon, but she at least saw it as a start to controlling her new abilities.
"Burn!" the fire creature yelled, before lifting into the air and shooting towards Willow. The witch threw out her hand again, this time actually getting the demon and flinging to backwards,
"now time for magic trick number two," Willow said to herself, before her head flopped down and her body stood limp.
Astral Willow appeared in the Halliwell attic out of a scarlet flare,
"Willow, what are you doing here? Piper and Leo had just orbed to Sunnydale," Phoebe said, from where she stood at the book,
"I need a vanquishing spell," Willow said,
"for who?" Cole asked,
"some kind of woman made of fire," the redhead replied.
"Pyronia," Cole murmured,
"who?" Willow asked in confusion,
"kinda like Shax but can control fire rather than wind," the half demon explained,
"okay, so you got a spell?" Willow said,
"no, but you go back and keep her occupied until we do," Phoebe replied, Willow nodded and vanished from the room.
She awoke back in her body to find Pyronia frozen and Piper and Leo standing in-front of her.
"Where've you been?" Piper asked impatiently,
"at the manor, Phoebe's gonna come with a spell," Willow replied,
"good, because she's starting to break through the freeze," Leo stated. Pyronia suddenly regained movement and her fire arm stretched inhumanly towards the trio,
"Piper freeze her again!" Willow panicked,
"I'm trying!" Piper claimed, repeatedly flicking out her hands. The flaming limb tossed Piper and Leo to one side; giving them minor burns, before moving back to Pyronia's body. Then the burning demoness hovered forward and completely consumed Willow, burning her from the inside out until releasing her charred body and watching it drop to the floor,
"now the power of three is truly over," Pyronia said, disappearing into a burst of flame. Piper and Leo ran straight to Willow's burnt and bloodied body,
"heal her damnit," Piper ordered,
"I've tried honey, I'm sorry," Leo said,
"she's…no…she can't be…I've already lost Prue, I can't lose her too, there has to be a way," Piper stammered, tears beginning to trickle from her chocolate eyes.
Floating above the couple and Willow's body, was in fact Willow's spirit. She was dressed in long sleeved angelic white gown, while her short crinkly red hair was shining beneath the golden glow that was slowly surrounding her.
"I'm dead?" she said, her brow wrinkling as she stared down in confusion,
"not completely," a new voice replied, as she found herself in a realm of whiteness, face to face with a raven haired woman.
"Prue?" Willow whispered, the woman nodded,
"my sisters need you Willow, the world needs you, and I'm here to make sure they manage to keep you," she said,
"you can resurrect me?" Willow asked, Prue smiled and shook her head,
"I'm not that powerful, but, I do now how to get you alive again before you do completely die and move on to the afterlife," the deceased Halliwell replied,
"how?" the young witch asked,
"my helping you to stop doubting yourself and your abilities," Prue informed her, before taking hold of Willow's hand and transporting them to one of the known churches in Sunnydale.
"Can they see us?" Willow asked, glancing at the congregation in-front of them,
"no," Prue assured her, leading the redhead down the centre aisle and towards an open casket. Inside lay Willow, looking like she did now, except she was dressed in a knee length black dress; which had straps slightly off her shoulders, and a pair of black heels.
"This is what's gonna happen in a few days if you don't stop doubting yourself like I said," Prue told her,
"but I don't look all icky and burnt," Willow stated,
"Piper and Phoebe would have magically restored your body," Prue said.
"Can we go, please?" the redhead asked, seeing Tara standing up and walking forward to speak, Prue nodded,
"I think you've seen all that you need to do," she said, taking hold of Willow's hand again and causing the area around them to shift and swirl.
"Where are we now?" the almost dead witch asked,
"the same day we were just at, except this time, you stopped doubting yourself and survived," the actually dead witch replied. They stood and watched as a living Willow, Piper and Phoebe entered the dimly lit warehouse,
"so what did you say this demon was called?" Piper asked,
"Hydrax," Phoebe replied,
"why do demons have strange names?" Willow said,
"god knows, though I don't think he's ever decided to share," Piper commented.
"Watch out!" Spirit Willow hollered, as a whirlpool formed in the ground behind them and rose to form a demon very familiar to Shax, except more blue and wet,
"they can't hear you," Prue said, but soon took this back as living Willow turned around and waved her hand at Hydrax; throwing him backwards through the air.
"You sure about that not hearing me thing?" Spirit Willow asked,
"maybe it's because you're the same person," Prue replied, she frowned, "sort of." The pair continued to watch as Piper froze Hydrax and they chanted a spell which took affect just as he broke through the freeze,
"that's all of them," Piper stated,
"you never know, the next demon we face could be the Source," Phoebe said,
"you never know," Piper agreed, as they turned to leave.
"Can she see us?" Spirit Willow asked, as her living future self stopped in her tracks, turned and smiled,
"she can," Prue said, with a smile of her own,
"what does that mean?" Spirit Willow continued to question,
"you stopped doubting yourself," Prue explained, leaning forward and hugging the redhead; a strange sensation passing through them both as their non-corporeal bodies met.
"Tell my sisters I love them," Prue whispered in her ear, before Willow closed her eyes and awoke to find herself back in her-completely healed-body.
"Willow? How….how are you back?" Piper questioned,
"Prue," she replied,
"Prue?" Leo repeated, sorrow and confusion moulded into Piper's face at the mention of her recently departed sister,
"it's a long story," Willow told them.
"Promise you'll explain later?" Piper said, turning around and freezing Pyronia again,
"promise," Willow nodded,
"we need Phoebe's spell," Piper stated,
"I'll go get her," Leo said,
"no need," Phoebe said, as Cole shimmered her in.
"Lets get vanquishing," Willow said, as she and Piper stood beside Phoebe and chanted the spell:
"Evil flame that burns,
The demonic fire that churns,
No longer may you blaze,
We stop your deadly craze."
Pyronia unfroze and screeched in agony as swirls of water crashed around her and she exploded,
"two down, two to go," Phoebe stated, "any idea where we can find Hydrax and Wireck?"
"no," Willow replied,
"Wireck likes earth right? maybe somewhere earthy? like Golden Gate Park?" Piper suggested,
"can you guys vanquish him without me? there's something I need to take care of," Willow said,
"sure," Piper replied, the redhead beginning to arouse her suspicions. Willow gave them a smile and walked away,
"lets go," Piper said, pulling Leo closer to her and allowing him to orb her out; Cole and Phoebe shimmering after them.
Willow arrived at what would soon be her old home and grabbed some candles,
"Willow, are you casting a spell?" Tara asked, walking in from the bathroom,
"yeah, urm…can you just give me a few minutes alone?" Willow said,
"sure," Tara nodded, beginning to get just as suspicious as Piper, "I'll go over to Giles's, I think we left some of our books over there," she said, picking up her jacket and heading out. The redheaded charmed one formed a circle with the candles and lit them all,
"okay, Prue, I'm not sure if you can hear me, but I need to ask you something!" she stated, looking upwards. When nothing happened Willow began to blow out the candles, before they all relit themselves and little balls of light moved around in the circle,
"Willow, I just left you, what's wrong?" Prue asked, as she appeared,
"I can't do it," she replied,
"do what?" Prue questioned,
"be you," Willow replied.
"I don't understand," the spirit said,
"when I said your name, Piper had this look, like I wasn't good enough to say it, and I'm pretty sure if you said my name she wouldn't say much, maybe even just shrug," Willow explained,
"don't be stupid, Piper's just suspicious, tends to panick, it'll be okay when you get to know her," Prue assured her,
"thank you, again," Willow said,
"no problem," Prue smiled, dematerialising into the same lights she had appeared in. As soon as Prue left, orbs lit up the room, followed by shimmers, as Piper, Phoebe, Cole and Leo appeared.
"Get the demon?" Willow cheerfully asked,
"yeah," Piper replied, glancing around and spotting the candle circle, "you okay?"
"peachy," Willow said, a big smile etched into her face.
Three Days Later
Piper, Willow and Phoebe entered the same warehouse Willow had seen in her time travelling trip with Prue, and began looking around.
"So what did you say this demon was called?" Piper asked,
"Hydrax," Phoebe replied,
"why do demons have weird names?" Willow asked,
"god knows, but I don't think he's ever decided to share," Piper commented. That was when Willow remembered, that if the timing was right, Hydrax was about to appear behind them, and he did. She turned and threw out her hands; blasting him backwards,
"Piper freeze him!" she instructed, Piper gestured with her hands and Hydrax stopped in his tracks, giving them a chance to chant their spell:
"Wicked water in our sight,
Live no more in day nor night,
No longer may you liquefy;
These words shall make you finally die."
Hydrax roared as he exploded,
"you never know, the next demon we face might be the Source," Phoebe said,
"you never know," Piper agreed, as they turned to leave.
"You coming Willow?" Piper asked, coming to a halt and looking back to where the redhead was standing and smiling,
"yeah, sure," she replied, only then realising that they couldn't see Prue, "thank you," she mouthed to the ghostly witch, before her smile passed and she ran slightly to catch up with Piper and Phoebe.
To be continued…
Next chapter- Tara is kidnapped by an evil witch. Willow decides she wants to learn more about her new abilities. And Piper suffers with stomach pains.
'There Are Two Sides To Every Craft' should be up soon.