A/N This is going to be a created universe, (abbreviated as WWS), so the world without shrimp reality where Tara did not die and was there for Willow during S7 and afterwards, I haven't read the comics, but I know Willow did go to the world without shrimp, but you know, for my purposes, it's an available alternate universe so basically because of the way I'll rewrite it, it won't matter too much. I just feel like all the major Willow/Kennedy stuff in S7 would've been so much better with Tara instead so. I'll stop rambling now. Look out for anything titled with WWS.
Prologue
The Origin
Sunnydale 1985
"I can't show up now, what if they're there? Together." Jennifer's sobs fill the quiet night air, the hard white plastic of the handset was wet, salty tears dripping down onto her shoulders. Mascara ran in streams down her pretty face, now spoiled by thick black drops. Her lipstick was smudging too, the back of her hand kept the remnants of its red stain. The half-empty wine bottle in her hands, dipped, tapping the floor gently as Jennifer ignored its presence. After some petty, get-out clause excuse from what should've been her best friend on the other end of the line, Jennifer dropped the handset on the floor, startled by a sudden whooshing sound behind her.
Her neck craned almost a hundred and eighty degrees, her tears freezing their place, high on her cheeks as she ignored wiping them away. The curtains fluttered, a steady fast breeze brushing them aside as a figure stood short, in the darkness. The figure shifted, moving her weight from left to right, the balls of her feet counting the seconds between each beep left by the handset. Jennifer hadn't the thought to stop it, her eyes were transfixed on the spectre. Her outline suggested a small female frame, but the mood seemed much darker, in normal circumstances Jennifer would've shouted, screamed even, there would definitely be yelling of some kind. But there was only silence as the figure began to speak.
She stepped forward, into the light, the tiny light from the lamp revealed the spectre to be a small brunette with short hair. She sat down next to Jennifer on the couch, placing the phone back in its cradle. "So, guy trouble is it?" She said sucking on the nail of her left thumb as she settled in the couch.
Jennifer stammered for words, this woman whoever she was, had just trampled into her house, without warning and without breaking in. It was impossible. But then again, she'd been so upset with Craig for breaking her heart with that slut, that she couldn't care less, how the strange woman had got here. "Who, w-who are you?" She stuttered, looking at the woman curiously.
"Oh, silly me, forgot to say. I am Anyanka, but you can call me Anya." Anya replied, letting Jennifer relax a little, she began again. "Tell me about the guy then." She said brushing her hair behind her ear and picking up the abandoned wine bottle on the floor. She poured a glass out for Jennifer and sighed as she relaxed her back into the arm of the couch. Not planning on getting drunk herself tonight.
Jennifer still looked confused but the wine helped, drowning her sorrows was usually the only option when her friend Amy gave up trying to sympathise. "His name is Craig, he's a big dumb jerk. And he left me for some slut he met at work, some secretary or something, I don't know I stopped paying attention after he said I was dumped. I just wish..." Jennifer wittered on, finally scooping away the tears with a tissue, taking most of her remaining makeup with it. Then she started sobbing again.
"You wish?" Anya replied, pushing Jennifer for revenge. Her thumbs twiddling in impatience, she wanted a thrill, a real good shot at vengeance.
Jennifer sighed, her knuckles going white in her anger as she gripped the tissue box far too tightly. "I just wish there weren't any damn shrimp." Anya's face screwed up in confusion, this request seemed entirely unrelated to this girl's heartache. Sitting up quickly, Anya grabbed the wine glass and finally took her own sip. Almost spluttering it back out when she remembered Jennifer's wish. Usually this would be the moment she'd change into her demon form and create the alternate reality, but curiosity overwhelmed Anya, so she waited for the explanation.
"Umm, why?" She asked, Jennifer turned her head to look back at Anya, before taking another sip of wine and continuing. "Well, there was this dinner, a while ago. A work do, we went together and it was all going smoothly until she..." Jennifer took a shaky breath as another tear graced the side of her puffy face. "She started choking on some shrimp from the cocktail, and Craig being all heroic, he ran over and Heimliched her. That's how they met. If there weren't any shrimp I could do it all again and make him pay this time over." Anya let out an 'ohh' of realisation, this was perhaps the weirdest vengeance she would ever reek but it seemed like a worthy case. And Craig did sound like a jerk.
"Ok, done." There was another whoosh, this time echoing through the room, as Anya's demon face was revealed to Jennifer. Her amulet glowing it's green hue in the centre of her chest. The sweet looking brunette was gone, left was a paler more animated face with thick pink ridges and veins poking through the skin. Jennifer definitely screamed this time.
And thus a new world was born. A world without shrimp. And oh what this simple change would do. Change decisions, save lives. Of course a lack of shrimp, wouldn't change too much of the course of time, but for a couple of people the world without shrimp would be an opportunity at a changed past.
