Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
This is inspired by what we see of the afterlife in 'The Vampire Diaries' and 'The Originals', and something I once read in a Cangel fic.
Takes place just a little while after the Angel series finale.
Well, this was a huge mess really. Angel really should have brought them in earlier into this plan of his to make sure they actually did survive against the Senior Partners to fight more in the future.
Because the helpless still did need helping, right? Them dying in this fight wouldn't prevent the helpless from becoming anymore helpless than they already were.
Oh well, its not like Team Angel had any reason to trust them now, considering Andrew and then Giles of all people.
Willow respected and loved him like her own father. Sure, he had failed her in her magical education for a long time, ever since she had started practising, but after the whole mess with her going evil and veiny due to her beloved Tara dying, he had at least introduced her to the Devon Coven and tried to help her.
If only he had done that earlier, so that she wouldn't have abused magic and Tara to the point she'd drive her away, then without the mess Tara wouldn't have been in the room that horrible day in front of the window.
Still, she'd come around him again after that, and began to trust him once more, until this! How could he do that to Fred?
How could he try to strain relations between both the teams like that? He always thought he knew best, yes. But to choose his own ego over saving an innocent life?
Where was that nice British librarian on whom she used to have a crush?
These were the thoughts going through Willow's head as she used her magic to take out as many Demons on the enemy's side as she could.
They were too many and kept coming, but they weren't giving up either. Angel, Spike (he was alive! Well, good for Buffy), Illyria (in Fred's body! Willow was still trying to get used to that) and Gunn were in the front, as they'd been the ones to start this.
Gunn had almost bled out but Willow had healed him in time.
Buffy, Faith, Dawn, Xander and the Slayer army were engaging the Demons with all ferocity as well, though the body count on their side was ramping up due to the inexperience of most of the new Slayers.
Sad really, more good lives lost in the never ending battle against evil. Miss Calendar, Buffy (temporarily), Tara (Willow sniffed on thinking of her), Spike (temporarily again), Anya, Amanda, the other activated Slayers, Doyle (she'd heard of him briefly), Cordelia (If someone had told a 15 year old Willow she'd shed a lot of tears over Cordelia's passing, she'd have laughed in their face, but now, well….), Fred, and now Wesley as well.
Angel had killed a Dragon though, and she had to admit, it looked quite cool, like in those fantasy novels she used to read back in the day.
Though there was always a chance the Dragon was decent, and had been brainwashed by the enemies. Still, it was war, what choice did any of them have other than kill or be killed?
Of course Buffy had spared Ben once before, which she still found to be a stupid move.
The numbers of their enemies seemed to be reducing now, by some miracle. Guess the grit of the good guys could win against even overwhelming odds.
But what happened next moment dashed all hopes, as suddenly the sky looked like it was tearing apart, and red lightning was cracking all over.
"What the hell is happening?" Dawn was the first to ask, looking up with a dropped jaw.
"Bloody hell!" Spike muttered.
Willow closed her eyes, feeling it. Oh Goddess no!
"They're trying to suck this whole city into a Hell Dimension", Willow revealed to everyone's horror. "It will be bye-bye LA."
"What do we do now?" Gunn asked no one in particular.
"If I was not such a weakling now", Illyria scoffed at Angel, Spike and Gunn. "I would have been able to fight against them."
Willow knew there was only one thing to be done now. Taking a deep breath, she flew up into the air, holding out her hands to both sides, her eyes closed as she started glowing.
"What's Will doing?" Xander inquired, calling out to her. "Will?"
"She is ending it", Illyria revealed to them.
"Does she have the power to stop this?" Angel inquired.
Buffy nodded. "Not a lot she can't do nowadays." There was a reason Willow was considered their Big Gun.
Willow glowed white, her eyes and hair turning the same shade too, and then she screamed as magical energy expanded out of her, going all around and covering the entire city, then the sky, clashing against the red lightning.
"WILLOW!" Dawn called out, clearly concerned for her.
"Come on, Red", Faith urged, knowing she could do it if she put her mind into it. If only because of her desire to redeem herself.
No matter how much good they did, she knew they'd never consider their hands clear.
Never.
Willow now let out a scream, going all out. These were the Senior Partners using all their power, so she couldn't be lax, she had to use all of her power as well.
Xander had shown her the 'Dragon Ball Z' anime once, though she hadn't been all that interested. Still, she remembered the scenes and rules of the franchise enough.
If not for the intensity of the situation, he'd joke she was going all Super Saiyan now by breaking her limits.
Guess one could call her a magical Super Saiyan, because she was breaking all limits, fighting against the beings that had plagued humanity since its dawn.
Dawn, she always found puns with her name amusing and embarrassing at the same time.
And this was it. Willow felt she had expended it all now, the skies having been closed, the Dimensions all safe.
The rifts the Partners had used to bring Demons into this world were closed….forever! They could not summon any assistance from other Dimensions anymore, and their resources on Earth would not last forever.
This was a huge victory against them!
Right?
Willow's eyes were drooping as she slowly plummeted towards the ground, using the reserves of her power to not just crash.
She was on her back now, weakened, unable to move a muscle. Xander was the first to reach her. Buffy may be faster, but he was her best friend.
"Will, hey", Xander grasped her shoulders, giving her a smile. "You did it, they're beaten."
"I…know…" Willow nodded, her nose bleeding as Xander's one eye widened, with Buffy and Dawn now kneeling over her too.
"Willow, you're gonna be okay, right?" Dawn asked, looking concerned clearly. "Right?"
"I…think so….yes", Willow gave another nod, and it now caused her pain.
"Good job", Buffy assured her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I know you can do it."
Faith was now there too. "Way to go, Red. You sure showed 'em."
"We showed 'em", Willow muttered.
Angel and Spike looked grim though, exchanging a sad look, while Illyria looked neutral, like always.
Buffy looked back to see their faces. "Hey guys, why so sad? The day is saved, Willow sent 'em all packing."
Illyria was blunt, like usual. "She is fading."
The words hit their hearts like a ton of bricks.
"WHAT?" Dawn exploded, clearly in a rage now, turning to Illyria. "What are you saying? She is not….She is too powerful that….she is not!"
"She is powerful, but still human, she won, but her body could not handle it all", Illyria shook her head, Angel and Spike looking at her sadly.
"No….." Dawn was in tears now, turning to Willow. "Willow come on, don't leave me! Please!"
"Will….." Buffy's tears rolled down her cheeks too, as the Slayer turned to look at Illyria. "You are an Old One, can't you do something?"
"Even if I had all my power, I couldn't, I do not have that kind of power", Illyria told her.
"Oh no…." Faith trailed off, covering her mouth, looking down at Willow, who just gave her a smile.
Xander was numb in shock now, but recovered a little.
"Will, hey, look at me! Hey!"
Willow did.
"Hey, so, what do you say we go to the new Spider-Man film at the weekend?"
"Huh? Yeah, would love that…." Willow said, trying her best to work through the pain.
"We'll all go together", Dawn added with a very forced smile. "You, me, Buffy, Xander, Faith."
Faith had an appreciative look on being added to this, and told Willow. "Yeah, all five of us together for a little fun at the weekend."
"I mean, we can use a break too, right?" Buffy nodded too, everyone trying to keep it together, and only very barely succeeding.
"I say you deserve it most of all", Xander told Willow finally.
"Can't….wait….." Willow smiled, and that was the last thing she did, her eyes drooping shut.
Xander shook, crying uncontrollably, holding his oldest and best friend in his arms, while Dawn put her head on his shoulder, sobbing herself.
Buffy's sword dropped as she fell to her knees in tears, Spike hugging her from behind, trying to control his own tears.
Faith's lip was quivering as Angel put a hand on her shoulder, and she embraced him, sobbing into his chest, Angel looking saddened too.
Gunn just watched the scene with a sad sigh as Illyria stood, her face an emotionless mask.
They had won, but at a great cost.
Instrumental version of 'Under Your Spell' plays
Willow found herself in a very familiar place. It was that bridge back in Sunnydale, where Tara had sung to her!
Oh, one of the happiest moments in her life.
Willow then looked to the front to see a horse, and on it was a silhouetted figure. In spite of the silhouette, Willow recognized her, almost unable to believe it.
Tara Maclay got off the horse, and walked to Willow, the redhead having tears.
"Tara?"
Tara smiled, then gestured to her horse. "Want to ride?"
Willow looked at the horse, then down at the ground, then back at Tara.
Tara walked closer to her until they were a few feet apart. "Goddess, I missed you."
Willow grasped Tara's face in her hands and they shared a passionate and loving kiss, soon breaking apart as Willow sobbed into Tara's shoulder. "I missed you so much, baby. It was so hard without you."
"Shhh", Tara hugged Willow, both of them falling to their knees as Willow continued sobbing.
"I did so many terrible things-"
"Its okay, you are not that person anymore", Tara assured, kissing Willow's head and cheek. And it was true. If she was still that person, Willow would never be here.
They were in that position for almost an hour, Willow finally being soothed by the end of it, as Tara helped them both stand up.
"The rest…." Willow trailed off, remembering the friendly talk they all had to keep her up in her last moments. "They will…."
"I know", Tara sighed sadly, knowing how hard Willow's loss would hit them. "But we can only watch."
Yeah, that was all they could do. Watch them grieve, then work through it, cope. That was it.
"Come on", Willow said, holding hands with Tara as they smiled and kissed each other again, then walked together to her horse, Tara sitting on the front and Willow behind, as they rode away into the sunset, with Tara once more singing 'Under Your Spell'.
And that was the end for the two Wicca lovers.
Well, writing this kinda broke me, and I know it was bittersweet as well, but this was what I had in mind today.
Hope all enjoyed and see you all next time with some other update.
