Title: Courage to Change
Rating: PG - Will change eventually, but they start off little kids. Not much with the naughtiness at 10 years old
Summary: Let us flip the buffy verse around. Willow leaves Sunnydale at 8. why? Read. Tara comes to Sunnydale at 10! Why? Again read! We are throwing Tara into Willow's original place when Buffy arrives. We are changing the lives of characters that arrive later in the buffy story by introducing them to Willow before they get to Sunnydale. Eventually Willow ends up back in California, after a mess of adventures and danger at such a young age. Just in time for her twenty second birthday and a war to break out from The First. Should be interesting. Oh and by the way, I'm taking some ideas from the cartoon "Avatar: Last Airbender". No characters, just some basic ideas. Why? You already know the answer! Read.
Disclaimer: Buffy and characters not mine. Avatar ideas not mine.
Finally: Reviews! Ask questions, compliment, suggest, or just plain tell me I suck. I don't care. It's fun to write and these two girls make me believe in love. You can't hurt me! But every review is read and appreciated. Enjoy!
Side notes: for the Tara fans! Tara is the most wonderful, awesomest, beautifulest person ever (tied with Willow of course, and I know some of those weren't real words) however, being as Buffy isn't there yet, she's pretty much just going through school. May be some flash backs later, but she doesn't really have a story until 16. So I promise, she is not being ignored! Also, I want to make this at least mostly realistic towards the joss universe. Not canon, but following the shows real life emotions and the dangers they live everyday. There will be character deaths. I don't think there is a character or even a villain I don't love in the show, so killing anyone will be difficult, but it's just how their lives go. I will NOT be going canon however... It could be anyone. For the British portion of things, I did research. That's not to say everything is correct or even close but I attempted. Looked up a couple of different places (never been there and I made some stuff up for the purposes of the story).
Part II
Chapter Five: The Coven
"When we last saw our heroes, they gravely gave information of their pasts, sharing in something that both young and old had long feared, and knew they would soon regret. While this was happening, the clock struck midnight, and young Willow's destiny had begun. Mother Nature was no fool..."
"Hey!" Young Willow shouted from her position laid in Angel's lap. Angel awoke with a start. He looked down at Willow with confusion as she seemed disgruntled, "Some stupid, disembodied voice totally woke me up! Using our lives for your own entertainment purposes not good enough for you? You gotta interrupt our sleep time too? I thought we agreed no narrator?!" Her pout came out as she looked around her without any actual expectation of seeing anyone.
"Sorry, Ms grumpy pants. Just trying to make it more exciting..."
"More exciting?! It's a show about a vampire slayer who puns and kicks ass! What more do u need?!" Willow asked rolling her eyes. Her resolve face came out and all talk had ceased. When she felt satisfied that it was gone, she laid her head back down as if nothing happened. Angel looked around the room, wondering if he should say something. He just shrugged and went back to sleep also as if nothing had happened...
Morning came early as the ship signaled land. It's huge horn blowing, shaking the ship all the way to its core. Both Willow and Angel were jostled awake. It was finally over for Willow. She never wanted to travel by ship again. Blech. Plus, not the most wonderful breathing air in theirs so amazing "bottom of the ship" suite. It made her miss the streets of New York, which really said something cause, depending what part you were in, it could be gag worthy.
It took almost half the morning for the crew to clear the ship and get the cargo off. Willow thought they may have to wait till night fall before they could leave, due to Angel's allergy to sunlight, but it turned out it was extremely cloudy and rainy. There would be no sun that afternoon. The ship had docked in Liverpool, which seemed as good a place as any to start for Willow. They slowly made their way through the ship, carefully creeping in the shadows. Willow followed Angel, knowing he had explored the ship several times and he knew the ways to go without being noticed. They didn't know if someone was still lurking and didn't feel like being questioned or attracting attention. However, luck seemed to be with them as the ship was clear and the dock was almost empty. They managed to make their way into Liverpool without much of a glance from others. It was time to find a place to recharge from their journey and hopefully, Willow thought, shower. She felt grimy and gross. Luckily, Angel had traveled many times in Great Britain, and right near Liverpool lay Childwall Woods. He knew of a small secluded area of trees, with a small pond of nothing but clean rainwater. It was a start.
Quentin Travers was an important man. Mostly to himself, but also feared and respected along the highest of the Council of Watchers. Many secrets and responsibilities lay behind those experienced and steely hazel eyes. He was the man who called the shots. Some of those choices were not easy, but he made them as cold and clinical as he could. He believed the world could not afford kindness when it came to their business. Without him, he truly thought the world could end. Some would call him barmy for his thought process, but if any of those daft people knew anything about the beastly and dark side of the world (most chose to ignore it) they would surely leg it.
As it would seem on this very day, everything was a shambles. He had just gotten word from the council's Seers that another power had risen to fight the forces in the dark. That was not an option. The council had been established long ago. Their roots being the shadow men that, with the guidance of the Powers That Be, created the first slayer. The council was the authority in governing the war against the evil of this world. They were the trainers and law of The Chosen Slayer. It was the rules and direction of the council that kept this world turning.
Now something was trying to defy those laws and try vigilante justice. It was one thing to have rogue demon fighters out in the world. This was of no real concern to the Council if some imbeciles wanted to put their lives on the line without proper training and research. However, someone with power had to be controlled, as the slayer was the controlled tool with which the Council fought the forces. This new power however, a different "Chosen" one. As far as Travers was concerned, this was completely out of line. Absurd, as it were. No one had the right to try and disobey their laws and customs. He made his way through the Council's library, down the cherry wood stained halls with hand carved engravings. Finally ending in the Council meeting rooms with the higher members. He took his seat calmly, and looked over the crowd. Most of them were administrators, and more experienced Watchers. A couple of people who did some major funding for them and finally, their special ops team.
His two best watchers sat at either side of him. Both descendants of past watchers. On his left was Diana Dormer, a fine older woman and daughter of Darin Dormer, the Watcher whose slayer stopped a small army of vampires from destroying the world themselves with an extremely powerful ritual. It was also noted that the young slayer was the second longest lived slayer dying at age 21, heroically. As the slayer who lived longest was 22 in New York when she was killed by, as the information suggests, the infamous William the Bloody. Quite the historical moment in their time. Diana had come all the way from the East coast of America to make this meeting. She was a Harvard Professor, but this meeting was important. On his right, was of course, Rupert Giles. Both his parents had been Watchers, and his family actually went back generations in the Council. They were invaluable as researchers, and knowledge seekers. There was nothing that a Giles could not find out if given time. Rupert was no exception, though he did have a bit more of a rebel streak in him then his father. His teen years gave him more insight into magic then most Watchers and also a healthy fear of the dark arts, and what they were capable of. He had taken time out of his regular job at the British Museum.
"You all know why we are here, I assume?" There were nervous glances and curious eyebrows raising, so Travers continued,"Most of you have already heard the rumors floating around. For those of you who haven't, let me fill you in," his voice was professional, gruff and monotone. He took a deep breath, his gaze glaring into the very souls of all his most important of the Council,"those of you that have heard rumors, you have probably heard something to the effect of another Chosen one having been called. This, in turn would raise the question if our slayer, under the care of Watcher Remus, has died and a new one has been called. This is not the case. Young India Cohen is still among us fighting under our tutelage. Which would bring together the next question, are there now two slayers?
"This, of course, is impossible. It has been brought to my attention that it was not the Powers that have created this new "Chosen" one. The seers have said that the power lies with that of Mother Nature," as Travers said this, many eyes looked upon him in disbelief and confusion.
One of administrators asked the question that many had on their minds,"Mother Nature is a real being? I thought she was just myth. Something to blame bad weather on."
Rupert Giles stepped up to the question, as he polished his glasses and looked to Travers,"I do believe there are many beings out there that exist without our knowing, and many more powerful than we truly realize. Mother Nature would fit in both categories it would seem. I'm not quite sure of the extent of all her particular powers, nor would I simply guess at the powers of her "Chosen" one, but it should definitely not be taken lightly."
All around the table there were a mix of worried glances, impassive faces, and, from the two head watchers and special ops team, almost excited enthusiasm. Of course, both were thinking different outcomes to this scenario. The special ops team were already each coming up with ways in which to capture this new power, and to rid the world of it or use it to the Council's purpose. The watchers, however, were in a completely different thought process.
Diana decided to speak up at this point. The tension in the room was mounting at what all this could mean,"This could be a huge opportunity for us. The powers that this young one... I assume young?" Travers gave a nod in her direction,"As I was saying, the powers this young one could have, could wield, may be a wonderful help to us. Another tool for us in the fight against the vampires, demons and all else that tempts fate."
"We can't allow such rubbish. This so called "Chosen" could be a danger to us. We only have control of the Slayers because we keep them alive with harnessing their skills and strength. We haven't much on power. It shouldn't be a risk to our Council to try to tame a beast that an old broad like Mother Nature feels is needed. I personally wouldn't trust a woman who make it freeze part of the year just cause she can," Collins looked on the Watchers as if they were mad. He was special ops for a reason, and he didn't take kindly to threats against the Council, nor did he like interlopers in their business. This Mother Nature was doing just that. Getting in the way.
Rupert had never liked the Ops team, and could not believe what he was hearing,"You can't just kill a human being because they were given powers. This could be an opportunity for us to expand our knowledge, and possibly gain an extremely important ally. Bugger that it's another beings idea, the important thing is that it's already done. We should find this person and integrate them into our Council. Give him or her a watcher, study their powers, and help them succeed in this fight. We are not murderers! We teach, we fight for the rights of humans in this world. We don't kill them. We kill demons!" His green eyes darkened with resolution.
The debate went on for another hour, back and forth between the entire Council board. Some suggested they try to find a way to reach out to Mother Nature and figure this out. Others didn't like the idea that someone was stepping on their toes, especially a "tree hugger" who knew nothing about the real evils of this world.
Travers had heard enough. He had made up his mind about the young "Chosen" of Mother Nature. They needed to get moving on a plan of action,"Enough. Though I do not usually wish to condemn a young lad or lass for being given power, that is out of their hands, it poses too much of a risk. There is no one to prepare this young one, and no one here who can reasonably know the extent of that power. Whomever this "Chosen" one is, is now a liability. Smith, Weatherby, Collins... You know what to do. Find this one, and take them down. I want it to be quick and clean though. Do not be the monsters that we fight against everyday." With that, Travers turned and walked out. His final thought as he walked out was that no one knew how difficult it was to lead. To make the tough calls such as ending a child's life because of foolish beings trying to play God.
The two more seasoned watchers looked each other in the eye. This was not what should be. They needed to come up with a plan. Before this poor child was sentenced to death for merely existing.
Althenea's eyes shot open, as her heart began to race. They had been called to aid the great mother of their earth. Mother Nature had tasked them with finding her young Chosen one, and preparing her for her destiny. This was not what made the young seer's heart thunder like mad though. Althenea felt danger for the young girl already. They needed to find her. And fast.
She quickly dressed, throwing on her deep velvet cloak and whisked away down the stairs to the other coven members. They all greeted her with a smile, which soon turned to dread as they saw the worry in her beautiful features. She was only thirty, but very well versed in her powers, and so worry in her face was nothing to scoff at. Althenea addressed them,"We must work quickly to find young Willow. Danger lurks near for her and if we do not get her under our protective roof soon, we shall see her death before she even gets to truly live."
With this, the elder of the coven, a very perceptive and powerful older woman by the name of Lunessa, leader of them, looked around her small Coven. They did not have many members. It was her, Althenea the seer, a young twenty two year old witch Aria who still had much to learn about control, Sheray and Dareena who were sisters about forty-four and forty-five, all the way from America. They were not really witches,for their power lay in nature. They knew the earth for what it needed. Almost like being able to talk to the plants and animals, but not quite. They were wise in their ways. Mother Nature had chosen their coven for all these wonderful women,their knowledge, and of course, their pursuit to know more and more each day about the world and how they could help to keep it. Of course, there was one more member of their little group.
Lanessa spoke clear in her intention to find the youngest of their coven. Her very own fourteen year old grand daughter,"Where is Maroah? We need to find Willow immediately. Maroah needs to find her mother's people. Hopefully they can help track her down faster." The rest of the coven looked around the room and were not astonished to see the young teen missing... Again.
"That grand daughter of yours can't ever stay in one place for longer than ten minutes," harped Sheray, her shoulder length black hair bounced slightly as she flung her head to look towards the window in an effort to see anyone lingering outside. The dark complexion of her black skin shining beautifully in the light.
Dareena, with her slightly longer hair in a braid down her back and just slightly lighter skin then Sheray, shook her head in agreement with her sister,"She is such a bright young girl if only we could get her to concentrate!"
"Enough. She is much like my son in that way, this I know. No one knows of her whereabouts? Time is running out, we must find her. Mother Nature would not be very pleased if we cannot even get her Chosen one here alive!" Lanessa spoke in annoyance. Sometimes she cursed her son for having such an adventurous spirit. Even more so when she found out he had given it to his daughter before his passing.
Aria stepped up, sweeping up her golden hair in a quick ponytail and slipping on her jacket, covering up her pale but beautiful skin. In a sweet and soft voice, she spoke to the rest of them,"I shall go find her." With that she went off.
"Goddess help us if we don't find young Willow soon," Althenea spoke.
Dareena looked back at Althenea,"You sure have that right, girl."
Hope you all enjoyed it! Questions/ comments? You know where to find me. By the way, the coven people, their names are all made up. Completely made up characters except Maroah and Althenea. Althenea which was actually used in the show. She was one of the seers to help find potentials. Also, Maroah is a friend of mine who allowed me to use her awesomeness and personality for a character. You will grow to love her. Thank you!