When I read about this challenge the idea stuck in my mind. Then it generated an image which was soon joined by other images. Finally, when these images were all settling down for a roaring party, I decided to write them down in order to get a decent night’s sleep. Any concepts in this story are therefore the product of the perversity of the known world combined with a deranged imagination.Buffy Unbound
by Forrister
Email address: forrister@hotmail.com
Feedback: Feedback is nice but no hitting please.
Distribution: Please don’t distribute or archive my story without my permission.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I know Joss owns them all. I know I don’t. (A little knowledge can be so damn frustrating.)
Summary: Willow and Tara bring Buffy back, sort of.
Thommo’s Challenge #8
1) You must mention the phrase "Oh Goddess!" somewhere. I don't care who says it, but you should you know...everyone else does.
2) Tara should play with her crystals. It's essential. I don't care what kind of crystals they are, but I want playing. Spells if you wish.
3) Please for the love of god, please mention the Buffybot. There just aren't enough good Buffybot stories around these days...
4) Tara must stutter. Willow must babble. I say must, children.
5) Your story must end with a cliffhanger.
**********
“Tara.”
Tara looked up from where she was playing with her ritual crystal collection.
“Yes, Willow.” She gave her small piece of Amber a polish.
“We don’t have much time. The ancient prophesy of Toreophaeses says clearly that ‘When the Slayer shall give her life to close the gate that shatters worlds. The two who walk with the goddess shall return her to the living before the moon is new.’"
Willow practically bounced with frustration. Tara just looked at her for a minute and then picked up a small ball of hematite which she rolled in her fingers.
“Yes, I know. I just don’t feel comfortable with the idea of raising the dead. I’ve always believed that it is an evil act.” She rubbed at a piece of lapis lazuli.
“Not if it’s on the side of the good guys it isn’t.” Willow protested.
Tara put the crystal down and looked her in the eye. “Sounds like that came out of M-m-m-machiavelli.”
Willow frowned. “This really bothers you that much?”
Tara hung her head. “Yes, I‘m not s-sure about this p-p-prophesy thing. It all sounds a b-bit d-dodgy to me.”
“Trust me, I’m sure. It won’t take long and I have everything we need right here.”
“If you’re sure – then I trust you.”
The two witches prepared their circle and went through the steps of the ritual. Nothing happened immediately and Willow began to wonder if they had failed. Tara began to get more relieved with each passing minute. Then there was a knock on the door which echoed in the silence.
Willow stood and slowly opened the door.
“Oh G-g-goddess!” The words burst out of Tara before she could stop them.
Willow’s eyes widened. For a moment words totally eluded her. Then she found her voice.
“B-buffy? You’re Buffy, right!? Ah… Er… Well…, not so much in a buffy herself type way but more in an electronic machiney way. Oh! Not that it doesn’t look good on you. Ah…Nice to see you by the way. Er… it is you in there isn’t it? … Can anyone else smell something burning?
“Hello Willow.”
“Hello Tara.”
“I closed the portal. “
“I was dead.”
”Now I am back….”
“Hello!…”
There was a small spark and the smell of ozone in the air
“Hello!…”
The Buffybot smiled insipidly.
THE END
[This message has been edited by Forrister (edited August 19, 2001).]
