Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 6
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
In what had once been Joyce's room Willow searched through her collection of magic ingredients while Dawn paced behind her. "Are you sure that we need to bring her soul back? I mean Faith did have a good point with the whole Buffy having a hard time adjusting thing."
Not even looking up from her search, "Yes, Dawn, I'm positive that we need her back. Buffy couldn't beat Serenity on her own which means that we would have no chance at all against her. But maybe if worked together we could slay her."
"We're not even sure that would work!" Dawn argued. "Considering how we acted last time I don't think she would even want to help us."
"Damn it Dawn, I need her!" finally turning on Dawn, "I need to tell her I'm sorry, I never meant for her to leave..." sinking to her knees crying, "I want her back so much."
Dawn simply went up to Willow and put her arms around her shoulders, hugging her tight. "I know, we all want her back, I'm just not sure it's the right thing."
Wiping the tears from her eyes, "Right thing or not, prophecy or not I'm bringing her back. I know it's selfish but I can't live without her."
Nodding her head, "Ok Will, but getting everyone to agree with it is going to be the hard thing and how will you do it?"
"I'll just need her, me, and a couple of magic items but nothing like the urn of Osiris. The items are just there to help me concentrate better." Picking up the ingredients that she had sorted out of her collection into a bowl Willow made her way towards the stairs.
"So, um, how will this spell work?" Dawn asked.
Willow stopped at the top of the stairs to think, "It's really similar to a binding ritual just instead of sealing a demon to the casters will it's sealing a soul to the target body."
"Oh," the confusion still obvious in her voice.
"I sort of act as an anchor to Buffy's soul and help to draw her back to her body," Willow clears up.
"Ah, now that I understand."
Continuing onto the living room and placing the bowl with the items on the coffee table Willow turned to face everyone with her resolve face showing. "I'm going to resoul Buffy," a small clamor of voices rise up so Willow simply raised her voice some, "We have to have Buffy back, without her there's no way we can beat Serenity."
"Will, are you sure you're not just doing this out of grief? I mean I know you're really hurting but is bringing Buffy back such a good idea?" Xander tried to reason.
"Look we're going to have to do something with her and it really just comes down to two options: restore her soul or stake her and I don't know about the rest of you but I could never slay Buffy," she said.
"I'd be willing to," Faith stated, "I know B would never want to be a blood rat and bringing her back for something that isn't even an apocalypse ain't a good way to get on her good side."
"I'd say a three thousand year old vampire that's involved in a prophecy with a turned slayer in it counts as apocalyptic," Spike pointed out, "And not to color anyone's opinion on souling, not souling the bird, but the veil that's on her face wont keep her out forever."
"What!? You mean she could get up any moment and rip out all our throats?" Anya blurted out.
Shaking his head, "No, she should stay out of it for another day or so, but I wouldn't push it beyond that."
"Look none of you even have to be here with me when I pull Buffy back, so if she is pissed that she's back she'll only find me," Willow said.
Xander scratched his head, "Um, Will didn't you need four people the last time?"
"Yes, but that time I was bargaining with Osiris, this time there wont be any intermediaries. Just me and Buffy, that's it," she answered. "I will need you to help me clear the room however and after that I'd like to have Dawn and Faith near incase something happens. The rest of you could start researching Buffy's sire at the Magic Box." Seeing no one immediately moving to act Willow pointed out, "Look we have to resoul Buffy, there is no other option." Everyone got up and began to move the furniture out of the living room while Willow drew a pentagram in the center of the floor.
"Will, what are you going to have to do?" Xander asked after moving one of the armchairs, "For the spell that is."
"The binding circle is to hold Buffy's demon back," pointing to the pentagram she had just drawn, "When everything is ready I'll remove the veil; awakening Buffy. Then I'll start the binding spell using this crystal," pulling out a clear egg shaped stone from the bowl she held, "as a focus point for her soul then I'll direct it to her body."
Lifting the couch Faith with Dawns help, she whispered to her, "Does this remind you of when we kicked B out? Somethin feeling really off, but nothing you can do about it?"
"Kinda, but I think there's something right about this," Dawn answered sounding not quite sure of herself.
With the room emptied of everything but Willow and Buffy, the witch began to prepare for the spell. The pentagram drawn and Buffy at its center, her head opposite of the point, Willow went about placing incense down and the crystal at Buffy's feet. Going back over the bowl she uncovered a second crystal that looked the same as the other yet set it where she would be sitting. Lighting the incense and sitting down before her crystal, Willow placed her hands on her knees and began the simple floatation spell to reveal Buffy's pale face.
Stretching ever so slowly, Buffy sat up yawning. "Why are you here all alone Will?" answering her own question, "Oh, let me guess, your giving me back my soul. Well did it occur to you that the soul might not want to come back?"
"Yes, demon, it did," Willow said flatly while focusing on her crystal.
"Oh, so it's entirely work related," looking down at her fingers she began to pick at her cuticles, "Your not doing this for personal reasons are you Willow?" she said while suddenly pulling her face up to look directly at the redheads eyes. "Come on Will; give me more credit than that. I have all of Buffy's memories, that means I know you just as well as she did, it also means I know why she really left that night." This last comment managed to shake Willows concentration some. "Ah, knew that would get your attention. You really want to know why she left that night?" Strengthening her resolve Will sought to ignore the demons voice. "You know already don't know? She left because of you," the demon said simply. "You had been with her the whole way, through every little demon to her own deaths. When you deserted her she had lost her greatest support and for the next nine months she wanted nothing but to die." Seeing a soft glow begin to form in Willows crystal the demon knew she needed to disrupt the witch's concentration somehow. "If you do somehow get Buffy's soul back in this body do you have any idea what she will see in her memories? That scythe she got worked wonders for her depression. She didn't feel a single sad thought, didn't feel much of anything really, even when she began killing humans," licking her lips at the memories, "For being a protector of humans she sure did think up some interesting ways to kill them." The light in Willow's crystal flickered then held once more. The redhead shook her head and continued to stair directly at her crystal. Once it reached the point of glowing as bright as a candle Willow switched her focus to Buffy's. Glairing at her the demon stood up and began pacing. After a moment it continued with it's sharing, "I'm not sure if you saw my first human kill, rather tall woman with long dark hair. Her blood tasted so sweet. Funny thing is Buffy always wanted her dead." The light in Buffy's crystal nearly winked out, Willow managed to retain some of her concentration as the sweat ran down her brow. Smiling evilly the demon sat down cross-legged, "isn't this great Will, being able to sit together again after so long. I mean it's kind of sad how much the stupid human loved to be with you. If any big bad were intelligent in any sort of way they could have easily destroyed her had they seen how much she relied on you. Seeing her memories I can also tell that she cared for you in more than just a friend way..." Letting her voice trail off to watch the witches face as she tried to stay focused on the task set before her. "It's almost as if she were..." Willow's eyes began to flicker between her normal hue and black. "in..." Finally setting on black Willow lifted her hands to point at the opposing crystal. "lo..." and her voice was cut off by the sudden surge of light from Buffy's crystal. With both gem's shining brightly a stream of energy flowed through Willow's crystal into Buffy's and from there strait into the chest of the demon. With the steam of energy a strong wind followed opening the blinds on the window enough to let a beam of light fall on Willow. As the energy slammed into the vampire's chest she threw her head back and let out a soundless scream and shifted into her demonic visage. When her eyes changed to their amber color they glowed with a strange golden light. Willow watched as Buffy slumped backwards to the ground unconscious which she mimicked shortly after.
Reviews please. And happy new year.