The Czech Republic, few months ago.
The long haired brunette knew that the monks couldn't do it. They didn't have the time to create a body advanced enough to hold the Key. She looked to her left as the doors to the chamber bent inwards from a thud; a punch that the creature behind the doors delivered onto the thick wood.
"What do you think you are doing?" a familiar female voice said from behind. The brunette, with hair down to the back of her waist, and wearing a silver and cream dress, turned and stared at the redhaired woman. The brunette then smiled before she spoke as time all around them slowed to a crawl. Their conversation happening in the space between a single heartbeat of the monks sitting in a circle, and the beast trying to get into the room.
"There is no choice, mother," the woman in the cream and silver dress said before she looked over her shoulders at the circle of monks who had their arms outstretched in front of them while humming a prayer. She then turned back to the redhead who was shaking her head, "they do not know an advanced, evolved body is needed to hold the vast power that is the Matrix. Any other body would crumble under that power and the Beast would have the means to go home. And in doing so, destroy this entire world."
"It does not have to be you," the redhead said softly as she stepped forward and placed her hands on the brunette's cheeks, "I…."
"Watch over me, mother," the brunette said, "watch over us. Watch over the friends and family I have yet to make."
"Let me do this," the redhead said shaking her head, "not you."
"In all the possible futures, it is me," the brunette said, "it is me. It is I who will either die or be saved. And I believe I will be saved. Ath… I mean Willow, is the one who will save me. In all the visions I have had with her having returned from Hell, she is the one who saves me."
"There are other futures where you are not saved too," the woman said as tears welled in her eyes.
"I have faith that she will save me," the brunette repeated with conviction in her voice before she tilted her head and smiled at the brown eyed and redhaired woman, "I know you will be by my side, mother. You will see, she will save me."
The redhead had tears trail down her cheeks as she nodded her head.
"You know there is a vast darkness locked away in the brand on Willow's chest," the redhead said while wiping her tears, "when she experiences true happiness, it will crack. It will release a danger that would end the world even if the Matrix is not activated."
"I have seen those futures as well," the brunette said, "which is why I was going to locked away a sample of my ascended powers. I would have it activate only in the event that the darkness from the brand escapes and take her over."
"A failsafe," the redhead whispered.
The brunette then nodded her head with pursed lips.
"I will lock it away into the depths of your very being, my dear Hera," the redhead said as she looked into the brunette's eyes while holding both sides of her cheeks, "the rest of your powers, your memories, your immortality. It will be waiting for you when you pass, and ascend again."
Hera nodded her head as tears formed in her eyes.
"I will be waiting as well," the redhead said with a cracked voice.
"Leave me with one thought," Hera whispered as her body glowed before her body started to break apart, "A name. A name that I would imprint onto the Monks. A name that they would give me."
The redhead nodded her head as two balls of brilliant white light formed in her hands. One was as large as a basketball, and that shot up into the air before vanishing into planes of pure energy and thought; Hera's powers, memories, and immortality waiting in perpetuity. And the other ball was the size of a golf ball, a pulsing white ball of light that the redhead brought close to her eyes. She mentally connected with what remained of her youngest daughter, and said her final goodbyes.
"I will wait for the both of you, Dawn." The pulsing ball shot out from the redhead's hand and into the cloud of green mist that rose in the middle of the circle of monks. The redhead saw a body formed just before a flash of white light formed and the body vanished.
"Good luck," the redhead whispered sadly before vanishing, just as the wooden door was smashed to smithereens.
"Where is my Key, you little meat bags!" said the wild-eyed woman in a red dress as the monks scattered away in fear.
The Rosenberg Residence, Now.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH," Willow screamed out loud as her body convulsed while it was tied down to a metallic rack. She could feel the cool of the rack against her warm body as she tried to free her wrists from the chains that tied her down. She tried to move her tied down feet as well, but she was unsuccessful. Through eyes that were partly closed shut as she screamed out loud.. her voice reverberating throughout the stone structure that surrounded her, Willow caught a glimpse of Borzan as he stood next to a large cart of syringes, chemicals, and razor sharp implements. She glimpsed the demon squeezing the heart he tore out of Willow's body with an arm that was now covered in blood.
Willow remembered everything going dark, and then she was awake again. The excruciating pain of her death magnified upon her resurrection thanks to the brand on her chest and shoulder working in unison. She didn't know how long it had been for her trapped in her own mind; but she still fought to keep herself sane… to keep her humanity intact as she endured the pain being forced on her.
"I… I've gone… gone through this… this… be.. before," Willow panted out as she glared at Borzan who had a sneer on his face before he took the heart in his hand and then brought it up to his lips. Willow gritted her teeth from the pain that was going through her body while watching Borzan bite down in the heart with a sickening sound. He then ripped off a large chunk of the heart before throwing the rest into a pile of hearts, body parts, and assorted organs that lay in a corner of the room.
'Yes, you have gone through this before," Borzan mumbled while still chewing on the muscle he bit off. He then walked up to Willow, his shoes making 'squelching' sounds as he stepped into the mess of blood and guts on the hard floor. He then reached out with his bloodied hand once only a few inches away and wiped the blood on Willow's already bloodied body. The stench permeated Willow's nostrils and she did everything possible to keep down the lump in her throat.
There was no way she would be giving Borzan the satisfaction of seeing her throw-up.
Borzan then leaned forward as he grabbed the side of her neck. He brought his lips to her ear and whispered, "remember what happened to you? Remember the animal you became, My It?" Willow shuddered involuntarily as she remembered the hundreds of years she spent with her mind shattered. But she kept her fear of becoming that same person down… at least she tried to keep it down.
But Borzan sensed it.
"I smell your fear because I'm in your mind, my It," Borzan whispered before he swiftly bit down and then ripped off Willow's ear. The white-haired young woman gave off another scream of pain as Borzan stepped back with Willow's bloody ear in his mouth. Willow saw him spit out the ear as her scream subsided. It was then that he walked over to the cart and picked up a syringe filled with a purple goo. He then turned and smiled as Willow had her eyes wide open while shaking her head.
She remembered this moment when it happened hundreds of years ago, from her perspective. After her attempted escape from hell, this goo was the second punishment Borzan used on her – the first being that she was torn apart in the area where she had seen the portal to the real world. Willow shook her head while her heart raced. Her body was still In pain, especially the right side of her head, but she still continued to try and shake loose.
"No…" Willow begged as Borzan walked towards her. "This is just my mind… just my mind. I… I'm in control…. Control…. I… I…"
"You have nothing," Borzan growled as he shoved the six-inch needle into her chest. Willow opened her eyes wide at the sting of the needle going through her skin and flesh, and then into her heart. "Now become my animal!" Borzan pushed the syringe down, and the purple goo entered Willow's heart which pumped the thick liquid throughout her system. Borzan smiled, looked up at Willow's terrified expression, and then laughed when she released a howl of pain so loud that it shook the stone in the walls.
Willow could feel her body burning, it was as if fire was running through her veins. Her howls of pain meant that she didn't feel Borzan placing his hand on the brand on her chest. She didn't see the brand glow red… all Willow felt was her pain increase.
It felt like years. Hundreds upon hundreds upon thousands of years of torture and pain. Willow felt herself die and resurrect, die and resurrect… the cycle repeating itself. But she fought to keep her memories of Buffy, Dawn, Faith, Anya, Xander, Giles, and her friends. She fought to keep the memory of Tara… her Tara. When she started to lose her mind, Willow thought of Tara and she stayed in control.
"Looks like it'll take a little longer to break you, It," Borzan said as he stood in front of her, still in his suit, without a look of worry on his face as Willow's body hung limply on the bloodied and warm rack. He then snapped his fingers and their surroundings changed. Willow looked around as the stone walls around her vanished, only to be replaced by an open desert under a red hued sky. She could feel the warm breeze brush against her body, followed by taking in a breath full of fresh air. Willow took in another deep breath before looking around once against. There were some dried trees around her, the ground was rocky and hard while there were several steam geysers burst out around her.
Willow then turned to Borzan who snapped his fingers. Willow felt herself fall to the hard ground before landing on her back. She released a yelp before hearing several 'thuck' sounds. Getting to one knee, Willow stared with her eyes wide open at several thick pikes. Tied to those pikes with their arms and legs tied behind them were Buffy, Faith, and the Scoobies. As well as Althanea, Joyce, Angel, and Dawn.
"What.. what…" Willow whispered shaking her head.
"You know what to do," Borzan said as he looked to his left, away from Willow, and then vanished. Willow turned her head to where the demon was speaking before vanishing, and her eyes widened at the sight of her darker self-swaggering forwards. Willow started to get up to her feet, but her body was still in pain, and her feet were still trembling… unable to carry her own weight. So Willow stumbled back and fell with her back to the hard ground.
"Oh, I sure know what to do," the dark Willow said as she stopped, and stood over Willow who was on her elbows, staring up at her dark bikini clad self. "And before you say anything, I know exactly what you're thinking."
"I doubt it," Willow hissed.
"I am you," Dark Willow said with a sneer on her face, "I am the darkness that's taking over your body… or is it my body? Either way, I am going to be in control."
"I…."
"Uh uh uh," Dark Willow said wagging her finger, "I wouldn't use our powers here… you never know what could be affected in the real world. And our dear Tara is so scared."
"You… you… saw…"
"Of course, I did. I just saw her. Poor girl standing naked in the kitchen," the Dark Willow crowed as she crouched down and stared into Willow's eyes before licking her lips, "when I was locked in that brand on your chest? I felt every touch, every caress, every kiss, every emotion that went through our body when she's with us."
"Stay away from her!" yelled Willow, enraged, as she forced herself to her trembling feet. The Dark Willow stood up with a smile until she was face to face with a tense Willow.
"I'm you, I'm in control now," Dark Willow said, her black eyes staring right into Willow, "I'll make Buffy and Dawn my pets, Joyce and Giles can be Acathla's slaves…"
"Shut up!" Willow yelled as she swung a fist at Dark Willow's head. Dark Willow grabbed the trembling fist with her own steady hand, pulled Willow forward and then punched her. Dark Willow continued to punch Willow's face while grabbing onto her hand in a vice-like grip.
"Xander and Anya will be decorations in my living room," Dark Willow exclaimed while savagely beating Willow who was bruised and bleeding already, "Angel will be burning in the pits! Althanea will be sent to the Fire Wraiths to be tortured for all eternity, and Tara… well, I'll enjoy corrupting her light."
"No," Willow groaned as she fell onto the ground. Her body was in extreme pain as she rolled onto her back while screaming as Dark Willow slammed her boot onto Willow's chest. She looked up at Dark Willow and her blood covered left fist, and shook her head, "stay… stay away from…"
"Tara?" Dark Willow exclaimed as she kicked the white haired young woman again, and again. "I'm going to corrupt her and make her mine! Do you hear me? Mine! And She'll enjoy it."
The pain going through Willow's body exploded the more she was kicked. She was powerless to do anything; she didn't know if what Dark Willow said about her powers was true or not- that it could affect the real world and that's why she wasn't using it. All Willow knew was that she tried to use her powers, but felt as if access had been lost.
Dark Willow delivered one last kick into Willow's bruised abdomen before stepping back panting. Willow was bleeding onto the hard ground from her lips and various cuts on her body as her eyes shifted back up at Dark Willow.
"Like I said," Dark Willow whispered at the groaning Willow, "I know what you're thinking. You could use your powers, but you cut them off because a part of you knew that you would harm Tara if you lashed out." Willow slowly closed her eyes and then opened them once again to see Dark Willow crouch down, "that's been our weakness. Love. A weakness I've felt while sealed in the brand on your chest. A weakness I've had to endure, at least until now."
"No," whispered Willow as she watched Dark Willow form a sword in her hand.
"You'll lie there while I kill the ones tied down to the stakes," Dark Willow said standing up and pointing at the Scoobies, "To you, they are the ones you couldn't save. To me? Well, let's see what they mean to me, shall we?"
"No," Willow tried to move her body as she watched Dark Willow walk away, sword in hand, her fingers gripped tightly around the handle. Willow tried to get up to her feet, but her body felt numb. And cold. All she could do was scream when the sword went through Buffy while Dawn and Joyce screamed for Willow to help them. But Willow still couldn't move. She saw Dark Willow pull the bloody sword from Buffy's chest before moving to Faith, and then Joyce, Althanea, and then Giles. All were cut down as Dark Willow laughed. And then came Angel, who turned to dust after being beheaded, and then Willow's eyes widened. She felt her mind starting to shut down when Dawn was killed. And now, all she heard was Tara begging for her life.
"No," Willow whispered as she tried to force her body to move to no avail, "no!"
When the sword went through Tara's chest, Willow felt her body grow cold. And then she felt herself closing her eyes in shock.
And Borzan's laughter echoing in her ear.
The Summers House, a minute after Buffy and Faith left.
Dawn feel the chill in the air. There was something about this moment in time, especially after hearing that there was something seriously wrong with Willow, that made her uneasy. Dawn knew she needed to be there for Willow, but she didn't know why. All she knew was that there was a throbbing sensation in her chest that she got when she thought about Willow being in trouble.
Dawn remembered sneaking into Willow's room the night the white-haired young woman returned from Hell. While the others were sleeping in the waiting room, Dawn tip-toed into Willow's room, walked past both Sheila and Ira sleeping on their cots before making her way to the side of Willow's bed. Dawn thought to herself that the unconscious Willow looked as if she was at peace, and nothing like the one that Buffy had seen for the first time when she arrived at the Rosenberg family home.
Dawn placed a hand over Willow's hand and held on for a few seconds while staring at the sleeping woman. "I missed you," Dawn whispered before leaning forward and giving Willow a kiss on the forehead. Then the next morning, Dawn helped Willow begin understanding who she was, and who they were and what they each meant to each other. As Dawn sat at the island in the Summers kitchen while Joyce began washing dishes, Dawn remembered sitting next to Willow on the bed and going through pictures with her, Buffy, and Xander.
And then came Borzan. Dawn remembered Willow screaming while Buffy and Faith were knocked aside. Dawn remembered being flung against a wall before Willow was flung to one side. She remembered Ira and Sheila dying, before Borzan picked her up and was about to kill her as well. She remembered Willow firing a blast at Borzan, with herself falling to the ground while Willow crawled to her dead parents and cradled them close.
Dawn, her body in pain from being flung and hitting the wall, rushed to Buffy and then Faith. And then she rushed to Willow whose tears were falling onto the pooling blood of her parents. The young girl then hugged the former redhead.
Dawn was going through her memories of spending time with Willow while the throbbing in her chest started to quicken. "Mom," Dawn whispered as she got off her chair while one hand gripped the edge of the island, and the other hand her chest, "mom?"
"Dawn!" yelled Joyce a she rushed to Dawn who was clearly in pain, "Dawn? We… we're going to the hospital, and.."
"No," Dawn shook her head. She felt drawn to where Buffy was going. Dawn was terrified for her sister, for Faith, for Giles… for them all. Dawn felt a chill go through her body, and she felt a pull at the same time. A pull to Willow. Dawn couldn't explain it, but deep down she knew that she needed to be there. Dawn turned to her mother who looked on with a worried face before she rushed to the phone in the kitchen to call 9-1-1. "Mom," Dawn groaned as Joyce put the receiver to her ear and was about to dial, "take.. take me to Willow. Please."
"No," Joyce shook her head. She remembered Althanea saying that whatever it was that seemed to take control of Willow was dangerous.
"Mom!" Dawn yelled as her chest stung in pain, there was something yearning to be closer to Willow, "please. I… I feel as if I need to be with Buffy. To be with her when she meets Willow or…" Dawn then widened her eyes as tears welled up, "or she'll die. Mom, Buffy will die. Faith, Tara… they'll… please. I need to be there, I… I feel I need to be there."
Joyce looked into Dawn's pleading eyes and put the phone down. She then picked it up again and dialled Buffy's cell phone number. "Buffy, I know you just left and all but.. but I need you to turn around. I need you back here."
"Faith," Buffy said as they were about to drive onto the main road, "turn around. We need to pick up mom and Dawn."
"Why?" Faith asked as she stopped the Jeep, and then turned it around. Buffy asked Joyce what was going on, and that it would be dangerous for the latter and Joyce to be in the house. Buffy glanced at Faith as she listened to Joyce talk about how Dawn was feeling a pain in her chest, and was convinced that it had something to do with Willow.
The Rosenberg residence, now.
While Glory stopped and leaned against one of the lobby walls at her apartment building with her eyes opened wide in stunned silence at the sudden increase in dark energy, Althanea slammed on the brakes in her car. The car skidded to the edge of the sidewalk just outside Willow's house while she felt dark energy permeating through her very soul. She grabbed the steering wheel tight with both hands as her body seemed to turn cold, and a chill went up and down her spine.
She was afraid. Very, very afraid.
As was Glory. It was a feeling that the woman wasn't used to, and she wanted to know what was going on. She could feel a cold breeze brush her skin… a breeze that made her shudder; but not before screaming at her minions to get her car to the lobby entrance.
'What are you?' Glory thought to herself as cold fingers brushed her skin.
In the meantime, Althanea shook her head and brushed off the fear permeating her body as she opened the driver's side door and rushed out. She ran to the driveway and then up the porch stairs, and to the front door where she slammed her fist against the wooded panelled door while calling for Tara. Althanea was terrified by now… she guessed that the closer she got to the house, the more terrified she felt. As she pounded her fist against the door, Althanea could feel fingers brush her skin and reach into her mind.
Mumbling a spell that erected a protective barrier against the dark energy permeating out of the house. She could now feel the fingers that were brushing against her skin lessen and, at the same time, she could feel the 'fingers' trying to force their way through the barrier.
"Tara!," Althanea exclaimed as she placed her forehead on the door, "Tara, can you hear me?"
Althanea stepped back and rubbed her forehead at the sudden heat that travelled through the door. She stared at the wood panelled door in stunned silence before mumbling another spell that unlocked the door, and then turned the knob. As the door opened, Althanea shuddered as a cold wind gushed out into the surrounding air. She looked around as the sky suddenly turned dark, followed by the swaying trees from the heavy wind, and leaves rustling on the branches before they were torn off.
"Tara!" yelled Althanea after she turned around again, rushed through the threshold and then placed her hands on the doorframe. 'Evil. So much evil. Willow, what's happening to you?' Althanea was aware that the others were coming soon as well, and that they needed protection against the dark forces that were emanating from the house. Althanea pushed aside her still growing fear, or at least she tried to, and mumbled while her eyes slowly closed, "Soteria, goddess of safety and salvation, I beseech thee to protect those who walk through these doors from harm and evil." Althanea opened her eyes to see a silver barrier form at the entrance. She knew it wouldn't stop whatever was happening in the house, but it would be enough to protect the others when they walk through the barrier and into the house.
'It won't stop this dark energy I feel from leaving the house, though,' Althanea thought to herself as she walked into the house. She felt the just created barrier form around her body as she yelled for Tara.
Tara was staring through the open door. Her hands were on her chest as she stared through the just opened door to the room she shared with Willow. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest, followed by a distant voice calling her name. Tara thought it was Althanea calling her name; and she felt her lips part… she felt herself breathe as she stared through the door at Willow whose aura was now completely taken over by darkness. Tara didn't know if she called out for Althanea as Willow started to float off the bed; she didn't know if it was Althanea's footsteps rushing up the stairs and then towards her while she watched Willow rotate in mid-air as a black matte material with white highlights began covering her body.
"Tara!" Althanea yelled as she jerked Tara around and towards her. Their eyes met, and Tara immediately started to cry as she hugged the older woman. In the meantime, Althanea's eyes widened as she turned her head to look into the room while hugging Tara tight. She saw Willow's body floating into a standing position before lowering herself to the floor. As she stared through the door, Althanea saw Willow's upper back being covered with the black matte material while white lines went down her side.
"Willow," Althanea whispered as a rush of cold air went through her body. She felt the fingers straining to get through the barrier as Willow slowly turned around; and Althanea released a gasp. Willow was nearly unrecognizable. Althanea stepped back, her mind going through a series of defensive and offensive spells as she stared into the deep black eyes that seemed to be drilling holes straight into her soul. Althanea felt evil radiate from every part of Willow; from the eyes, to the veins on her face… veins that seemed to go down under the white accented black matte suit she was wearing. Althanea stared at the jet black hair, and then she felt a rush of dark energy surge from Willow who formed a sneer with her lips.
"I'm not done," Dark Willow whispered as she raised her arm to the left while staring at the terrified Althanea. She mentally reached out for the badge, the Galaxy Rangers badge, and opened the drawer where it was being kept. The badge was drained of all its Alpha Radiation charge, and so it didn't serve a purpose. Willow had been relying on her own training with Ariel and the Circle of Thought, and on her training as a Ranger, and her training with Giles to get her through her nightly activities. But now, it was Dark Willow who mentally pulled the badge to her while mumbling a spell in a deep voice.
Althanea and Tara felt the temperature drop as a sphere of blue energy formed in the palm of Dark Willow's hand. The two of them stared at the badge entering the sphere before energy started to crackle on the badge itself, inside the sphere.
"Wi.. Willow?" Tara said, her voice cracking, "you.. you have to be.. be there…"
"Oh sweetie, I am your Willow," Dark Willow said tilting her head while tapping the side of her head, as the energy was absorbed into the badge. One the energy was fully absorbed, Willow grabbed it before placing it on her belt. Willow then smiled before taking a deep breath, "I created my own surge of Alpha Radiation. And now? Now I can bring the end. Bring Hell to this Earth, and put it under Acathla's rule."
"You will not succeed," Althanea said as she stepped in front of Tara and held out her hands. She gathered as much power as she could despite the chill going through her body. She kept on telling herself that this wasn't Willow, that she shouldn't hold back. But the part that saw the woman in front of her as the Willow she knew made Althanea hesitate, "I…"
"You will do nothing," Dark Willow whispered as she waved her hand and immediately both Althanea and Tara were flung against the wall behind them. Willow then walked about the bed and towards them as her arm was raised towards them. She closed her fist tight, causing sections of the wall to immobilize Tara and Althanea's wrists, ankles, and waist. The wall sections held them down just as they once held down Drusilla before she was killed by Willow. Willow stared at both Althanea and Tara with a smile while putting her arm down by her side, "you can do nothing."
"Will…" Tara was interrupted by the front door slamming open and a male voice yelling out for her and Althanea.
"I'm up here!" Dark Willow yelled, impersonating Tara's voice. Willow sneered at the shocked Tara who tried to scream out, but found that no sound was coming out of her lips. Dark Willow glanced at Althanea who was under the same spell as well before turning her head towards the footsteps coming up the stairs. "Quick Giles, she's gonna get us." Dark Willow continued to impersonate Tara's voice as she walked towards the top of the stairs, which was were Giles appeared a second later. He turned and stared at Dark Willow with wide open eyes while she spoke in Tara's voice, "oops, someone was tricked."
"Willow?" Giles said before he looked behind the black haired young woman. He saw Althanea and Tara looking back at him while struggling to rip their arms and legs off the sections of the wall that were holding them tight.
"The Willow you knew is gone, old man," Dark Willow said before a sneer appeared on her face, "I am the Darkness."
"I…." Dark Willow did a quick spin kick that impacted the side of Giles' head before he could say anything else. He stumbled sideways while grabbing the side of his head. He was then thrown onto the wall with a wave of Willow's hand, before crumbling down to the floor. He lay there unconscious as Dark Willow looked down at him before raising her arm. She looked over her shoulder at both Tara and Althanea as they 'umm…. Umm…' at her with eyes wide open on terror. Dark Willow sighed and then snapped her fingers with her other hand, "what?"
"Don't kill him," Althanea said after feeling her voice returning.
"Please, Willow… you… you kill him?, then you…"
"I'm not killing any of you," Dark Willow said as she turned around towards the two women. Tara and Althanea stared at Willow as she continued, "I won't kill you. You're all going to be mine and Acathla's play things. Well, except for Angel, I want to see him burn and reform, before burning again for all time." Dark Willow then glanced at Tara, "sweet Tara, I'm going to enjoy corrupting your light so much. I'm going to enjoy darkening your very soul."
"Willow!" yelled Tara reaching out to her lover, the one she knew was still in the woman in front of her. "Don't be afraid, fight. Fight. We're…."
"I told you Tara, I am Willow," Dark Willow said shaking her head, "I'm the one who was created in Hell. I'm the one here now. You deal with me, and I will show you how dark and brutal you can be in the hell that's coming." Willow then turned to the unconscious Giles before looking over her shoulder at the door at the bottom of the stairs swinging open once again as both Xander and Anya rushed into the house.
"Tara! Althanea?!" yelled Xander after a barriers was formed around his and Anya's body, "where…"
"Xander." Anya stated plainly while placing a hand on his shoulder as she stared up at the top of the stairs.
"Willow?" Xander whispered as a rush of cold air went through his body and Anya's.
"Xander, Anya," Dark Willow whispered, "just in time."
The Rosenberg Residence, Five minutes later.
The Jeep screeched to a stop in the driveway just as the sky started to turn red. Buffy, Faith, Joyce, and Dawn rushed out and stared up at the sky before feeling the ground around them tremble. Buffy then turned and stared at Faith, followed by Joyce and then at Dawn who was grasping her chest. Buffy frowned at Dawn who was telling her that she needed to be here…. Despite all her reservations, despite Joyce's reservations… Buffy and Faith agreed to bring Dawn with them.
But not into the house.
"Dawnie, you and mom stay here," Buffy said as she and Faith began to make their way at to door.
"Buff…."
"Stay here!" Buffy yelled at Dawn, over the sudden howl of the wind that was threatening to push them backwards while black lightning jumped from one cloud to another. Buffy then hurried with Faith to the front door which the both of them kicked down. Dawn, through the pain radiating from her chest, caught a glimpse of Dark Willow in the living room, through a section of the foyer, as the latter turned once the door was ripped off its hinges. Dawn widened her eyes as she saw Dark Willow sneering at Buffy and Faith who stopped at the edge of the Foyer.
"Buffy, Faith," Willow pouted while the two Slayers saw Althanea and the others being held on the walls by an invisible force, "you sure took your own sweet time. You had me waiting for…"
"Willow," Buffy said as she shook her head while glancing at her friend. She could feel the dark energy coming off Willow, "I… this isn't you, Will. Look at what you're doing. Look at Tara. You're hurting Tara."
"You…"
"Look at her!" yelled Buffy at Willow, interrupting her gloat, as she pointed her finger at Tara, "the Willow I knew would never do this. She would never…"
"The Willow you knew?" Dark Willow said looking back at Buffy after blowing a kiss at the immobilized Tara, "the Willow you knew is dead and gone. She was weak… she had so many choices to kill you, Buffy. So many choices to kill you after coming back from Hell. Even while you talked, the Willow you thought you knew imagined you on a torture rack."
"Willow," Faith said shaking her head, "Buffy knows how you feel about…"
"Shush," Dark Willow said before waving her hands.
"Faith!" Buffy yelled out as Faith was ripped off the floor and slammed into the wall next to the newly conscious Giles. Buffy then turned back to Willow and closed her hands into fists, "Willow, I…"
"You bore me, Buffy," Willow whispered before she waved her hand and slammed Buffy into the wall next to Xander. All of them were struggling to break the invisible bonds that held them to the walls. Willow looked out the living room entrance, and out the foyer through the front door to both Dawn and Joyce. She sneered at the both of them, with Joyce holding onto a tearful Dawn. It was when Willow shifted her eyes to Dawn that she saw something strange, something she hadn't noticed before.
'There's a green outline, a green coloured energy around her,' Dark Willow thought to herself as she narrowed her eyes. Shaking her head, she turned back to the others and thought, 'I'll tear her piece by piece when the Hellmouth's been opened, and I've brought the other Jailers and Acathla back to Earth. I'll find out what that green energy is… oh, and I'll have fun cutting her apart to find it.'
"Now," Dark Willow said as she walked to the center of the room while staring at Buffy and Faith, "you may have been wondering about the red sky. Well, that's what happens when you're ready to open the Hellmouth."
"Willow," Anya said, "whatever Borzan, or Acathla, or whoever it is… whatever they promised you? It's all a lie, and…"
"Shhh," Dark Willow put her finger to her lips before saying, "one more word, and I tear your heart out. And believe me, without hell being here… you won't be able to resurrect for me to do it again, and again, and again, and again, and…"
"Willow!" Tara exclaimed, "fight! I know you're there, I know….!"
"Watch," Dark Willow sneered at Tara, "watch as your world burns."
Willow pressed the badge on her belt and closed her eyes while raising her arms by her side. It was then that Willow breathed deeply as she felt her Series Five Implant powering up, boosting her abilities. Willow then started to mumble a spell, a spell taught to her by the Circle of Thought that would enable the caster to access the lifeforce of an entire world. It was employed by Ariel for planet to planet teleportation, an ability that Niko studied but wasn't able to further develop to Ariel's level due to the formers entry into the Galaxy Rangers.
"Willow!" Giles yelled as a gust of wind broke out in the living room, scattering books and pictures all over as blueish green energy shoot out from the Earth, up through the house, and into the palms of Dark Willow's hands, "Willow!"
"By the goddess," Althanea said as she felt fear permeate her body. She recognized the energy that Willow was gathering, "she… she's gathering the Earth's lifeforce. Willow! No!"
"What do you mean?" Buffy yelled over the howling wind as Willow brought her hands slowly together while energy continued to gather. The swirling balls of energy in her hands gathered with a deafening roar that shot out the window all over the house, and all over the street as Dawna and Joyce ducked when the Jeep's windows blew out. As did the other windows of the houses down the street, and down several blocks. Dawn looked at the shattered windows, and then back at the house. There was something telling her to get into the house, that she would be able to stop it. She could feel Joyce loosening her grip around her body, and Dawn took the chance to wriggle free and make a run for the door.
"Dawn!" yelled a scared Joyce as she ran after Dawn.
In the meantime, Althanea looked on in horror as the swirling red and black energy between Dark Willow's hands started to grow while more of the Earth's energy was being pulled in.
"She's gathering the Earth's lifeforce," Anya said with fear in her voice as she stared at the red and black energy, "she… she's corrupting the energy."
"My Series Five implant, together with training from the Circle, Ariel, Althanea, and the Devon Coven has made me more powerful than you would ever know," Willow growled as she looked up at Anya, "its boosted my powers until I was able to pull Earth's lifeforce, and infuse my own dark aura into it." Willow then smiled as she looked at the ball of red and black energy in her hand as the howling wind in the living room vanished. Everything that had been flying around fell to the floor with a thud. "I let this fall, and the Hellmouth opens." Willow looked up and smiled at Tara, "say goodbye to…"
"Willow!" Dawn yelled as she pushed the door open and ran into the living room.
"Dawn!" yelled Buffy, Faith, the other Scoobies, and Joyce who ran in after her. Joyce grabbed Dawn's collar and was about to pulled her back. "Mom! Get Dawn out of here, and…. Mom!" Willow casually waved one hand at Joyce while the other held up the ball. Joyce was pushed by an invisible force into the living room where she landed on the dining table. From her vantage point, Buffy saw Joyce groan and roll onto her back after she fell on the table top with a thud.
"My little Dawnie," Dark Willow said as she stared at the brunette, and the green energy that surrounded her, "why so green?" Dawn looked confused at Dark Willow as she felt the throbbing in her chest subside somewhat while Willow continued, "umm…. I'll find out what you really are when Hell comes here, Dawnie. Don't worry, I'll cut you up to get into your…"
"Stop it, Willow," Dawn said with fear in her voice as she looked up at the dark haired woman, "I…. I…." Dawn suddenly felt a warmth go through her body as she stepped back and grabbed the side of her head. There was a throbbing sensation as she stared at a confused Dark Willow, and then at a group of confused Scoobies who were all looking back at her. Dawn wondered what was going on before she turned and looked at Joyce getting off the table very slowly, her body obviously in pain. The older woman turned around and gasped before rushing to Dawn.
"Dawn," Joyce said as she kneeled down and grabbed the girl's hands. It was then that Dawn, for the first time, looked down and saw her hands glowing white.
"Mom?" Dawn said while shaking her head in confusion, "what's…."
"Your eyes," Joyce whispered as white light started to emanate from Dawn's eyes. It was then that a feeling of warmth went through the entire house as Willow stepped back while narrowing her eyes at Dawn.
"Dawnie?" Tara said after the fingers that had been caressing her skin for the past two minutes following the collapse of her barrier, simply vanished.
"Whatever this is?" Dark Willow said shaking her head as Dawn turned her head, "there's nothing you can do. The end…" Willow sneered as she removed her hand from the bottom of the ball of energy, "has come." The ball of Earth's corrupted lifeforce started to fall. Time seemed to slow down for Dawn as she watched the ball fall while Buffy and the others were screaming at Willow to stop it from falling. There was something in the depths of her soul that Dawn felt calling out to her to stop what was about to happen.
Time slowed even more. Dawn heard her heart beat slow, her breathing slow as she looked at the panicked expression on Joyce's face as she held onto Dawn's cheeks. It was then that she noticed someone behind Joyce. Dawn shifted her eyes behind Joyce and saw her… a long haired redhead in a white dress. There was something familiar about her that Dawn couldn't place.
But it was her sight that seemed to give Dawn strength. Dawn looked back at the worried Joyce, who was looking at the ball which had started to fall. Dawn turned her head, and then her body before she threw herself towards the ball. Specifically, the area underneath the ball of energy.
"No!" Dawn yelled as time seemed to return to normal. She felt herself flying through the air momentarily before she landed with a thud on the carpeted floor, her arms outstretched. The ball hit her hands which then gave off a brilliant white glow. The sphere of red and black which could have ended the world by opening the Hellmouth, turned blue and white before shooting back down into the Earth.
"No!" growled Willow as she grabbed Dawn by the back of her neck and then flung her against a wall.
"Willow!" Joyce said as she ran at the former redhead who was dashing towards Dawn who was lying on the floor, groaning in pain. Willow turned her head and lifted her arm. She closed her fist as she closed off Joyce's breathing.
"On your knees!" Dark Willow growled while the others screamed at her to stop, "on your knees!" Joyce felt her body on fire as her throat and lungs were being blocked off. She fell on her knees while looking at Willow through tear stained eyes, mentally begging Willow to stop hurting them, "die on your knees. I'll make sure that Dawn…"
"Let her go, Willow," Dawn said as she stood up with her eyes and hands glowing a brilliant white. Dawn turned her head to Joyce, and titled her head. She then waved her hand and turned back to Willow after Joyce was able to breathe once again. Dark Willow turned to Dawn who then waved her hands and freed the other Scoobies who fell feet first onto the carpet covered and debris strewn floor.
"I don't know where you've got this moxie, Dawnie," mocked Dark Willow as she stared at Dawn, and then at the others, and back at Dawn, "but I like being pushed. I'll just bring more Alpha Radiation, and then.. then I'll…"
"Wi.. Willow?," Dawn whispered, her face suddenly fearful as her whole body started to glow white, "Willow?"
"What are you…. You doing?" Dark Willow demanded to know as she felt a warmth travel through her body. "You can't stop me, I.. I am Darkness… I am…"
Dawn suddenly had a more serious expression on her face before she whispered, "I am light." Dawn then stood poised and her lips pursed. It was just then that Dark Willow thought she saw a woman, someone who looked like an older Dawn in a silver and cream dress, standing in place of the Dawn she knew. Tara too caught that momentary glimpse of what looked like an older Dawn standing in the young Dawn's place. She blinked, and the older woman was gone. Dark Willow too closed her eyes and shook her head, opening them only to see the young Dawn glowing white in front of her. "And the light will always shatter the darkness."
"No…." Dark Willow whispered as she stepped back. Dawn gasped and arched her back, pulling back her head and arms as a brilliant white light exploded out of her body.
"No!" Yelled Dark Willow. Just before she closed her eyes, Tara caught a glimpse of the wave of bright white light hitting Dark Willow. She thought she saw a dark cloud being torn away from her and dissipating in the light before the white light it started to get brighter.
Once lying in the cold darkness bleeding and helpless, Willow felt a warmth go through her body as she felt, and heard herself screaming in pain. It felt as if the warmth had permeated her entire body, to every atom, to every molecule, to every muscle, blood vessel, and bone. She could hear herself screaming, she could hear Borzan screaming in her ear.. a scream that died out with a whimper. Willow could literally feel the symbols on her bones and organs, caused by the brands on her chest and shoulder blade, heal shut. She had her eyes closed in pain as she felt the brand on her chest heat up before it started to cool and the skin heal.
"Another chance," a female voice said as the pain vanished from Willow's body.
Willow opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by white, and standing in front of her was a cloaked figure in white, her face covered with a hood that cast a shadow over the face. "Another chance to live your life as you see fit."
"H.. how?" Willow asked as she looked down at her arms and saw the scars that were caused by the hellfire dipped weapons in Acathla's Hell, the very same ones that were never supposed to heal… close up. She watched her skin heal before looking down and finding herself in a white matte body suit with blue accents. It was Niko's Galaxy Ranger uniform she was wearing now, as Willow placed a hand on her chest and tried to feel the symbols of the brand against the skin-tight suit.
And she felt nothing.
"I…. I'm healed?" Willow asked as she looked back up at the figure.
"I was a failsafe," the figure said as she pulled back the hood to reveal herself, much to Willow's surprise, as an older woman who looked just like an older Dawn. "unfortunately I cannot take away the memory of what you almost did."
And then the memories came flooding back to Willow. She nearly ended the world… she hurt Tara, Buffy, Faith… she hurt Joyce and Dawn. She hurt so many.
"And they will not fault you," the figure said standing still, as if she knew what Willow was thinking. "And you will not remember this conversation."
"Then why…." Willow shook her head as she crumbled down to her knees. She felt exhausted.
"Your wounds were caused by darkness you faced in hell, and remained with you because of the darkness that was locked away in the brand that once remained on your chest by the acts you committed in Hell," the woman said tilting her head at Willow, "but darkness will never stand against the light. I am the part of Dawn that remained Hera, I was created for one situation… and one situation only. If the darkness within you took over then I was to save your soul."
"I…." Willow whispered as she lay sideways on the floor and looked up at the woman. Willow felt so tired.
"The darkness that was sealed within the brand is gone, the brands are gone," the figure said, "the only darkness that remains is the one you create for yourself from this moment onwards. You have the potential for good or evil, Willow. It's now your will to choose, my champion."
"Champion?" Willow mumbled.
"You won't remember me," the figure whispered as Willow felt her body go numb, "goodbye, my…"
Before the figure could finish, Willow closed her eyes. She then suddenly heard voices all around her shouting. She felt warm arms cradling her body while footsteps 'thuded' all around her.
"Dawn!"
"Willow!"
Willow recognized one of the voices calling to her. She loved the warmth and concern in the voice. Opening her eyes slowly, Willow looked into the brown eye of the woman she loved. The very same women she remembered hurting only minutes ago.
"T… Ta… Tara?" Willow asked.
Tara nodded her head as tears welled in her eyes. Tears of happiness as she looked down at the woman she was cradling in her arms while her eyes took in the bright red hair.
"Hi," Tara whispered.
"I…." Willow then remembered Dawn, and her eyes widened in panic, "Dawn, where's Dawn.. where's…"
"Willow?" a weak voice called out.
Willow turned her head to see an exhausted Dawn looking back at her while she was being cradled by Joyce.
"Mrs. Summers, I…. I'm so sorry," Willow said as she remembered what happened when she flung Joyce aside earlier.
"We're all alright," Joyce reassured Willow as Buffy kneeled down next to Willow and placed her hand on her cheek.
"Never thought I'd see the red hair again," Buffy whispered as Giles checked in on Dawn, and then Willow.
"Red?" Willow said as she raised an arm and caught a clump of her hair and pulled it to the front. Willow's eyes widened when she saw the clump in her hair had reverted to her bright red colour. The colour before she was pulled to hell. And All Willow could do was smile before closing her eyes, "tired."
"The sky cleared up," Anya said looking out the window as a car driven by a blonde woman in a red dress roared past. Anya glimpsed at her driving off before turning around to Xander who was heading for Dawn, who was slowly sitting up before she put her arms around Joyce's shoulders and went to sleep; exhausted.
Glory's car.
"I sensed it right here," as she skidded her car left and accelerated onto another street while her minions shuddered in fear, "where is it!" As Glory entered the neighbourhood, she saw the red skies clear up and the feeling of the dark energy brushing against her skin vanish. She saw residents of the houses rushing out to inspect the shattered glass on their lawns and driveways, but Glory had been searching for that dark energy source.
She knew she was close. But now there was no sign of it.
And She was mad.
"Where is it!" Glory demanded as she drove the car like a maniac, while the minions in the rear seat panicked. Suddenly, the car screeched to a stop several houses down.. and then Glory gasped before saying, "damn it!" She changed form to a male who looked around confused before looking down at the steering when, and then at the red dress he was wearing. Scowling, the man then turned his head and glared at the minions.
"What did dear old sis do now?" he demanded. As the minions explained, he stepped on the acceleration and drove back to Glory's apartment.
TBC.