Haunted tree (revised)

[Viximon]

Title – Haunted tree

Author name - Viximon

Beta-Grimlock

Rating – G (is a AU)

Disclaimer – Pairing Willow/Tara of course . the great characters are own of Joss yada yada yada

Feedback- Please, this is my first T/W fic so I will love to know what you think

Summary- - Sunnydale is a place of magic and superstition. When night fall, dark creatures rise. It’s the everyday in the Hellmouth. But soon the Slayer is call to duty. Tara, her witch bestfriend comes with her to the town. They will found that legends are not so false there. They will found a weird friend at the graveyard, a ally who fight with them against evil. Tara will feel strange vibes around that odd and forlorn pal. A force will attract her to the infamous Sunnyday’s Haunted Tree, Willow.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



Welcome to Sunnydale



It is told that once upon a time there was a great fight. Good and Evil faced each other on the battlefield. The dark side seized with demons and warlocks, vampires and all night's creatures. There were hundreds of them, ferocious, blood-thirsty. The good ones chosen were only a small group of three people. Three friend blessed by the Powers that Be. Three simple humans against the mass of destructive beings.

A step in front of the other two stood proud the Slayer. She was thin and blonde. She had the strength, the courage. The Slayer was the brave one that stood by her friends no matter what, protecting them. At her right was the witch, a petite redhead. She had the brains, she was a smart quick thinker. As witch she hadn’t so much power, but she was the “pushing her limits to help” kind of person. Completing the army was the man. A young man a little goofy with black hair. He didn’t have any power, he was a plain human being,. His best weapons were his love and loyalty to his friends. He was the world’s peace dreamer. That time they fought for balance. Cries and growls, yelling and tearing sounds were heard, lightings were seen in the sky. The three saviours fought with all their might, until their last breath. The combat was rough but somehow the three friends were winning.



It is told that the witch was tricked and in that moment of doubt her male companion was killed. Not far away the Slayer was lethally injured. While the man died at the witch's arms, the slayer didn't give up. She fought and killed as much as she could with her last strength. Frozen in fear the witch saw how the slayer fell too . She was left alone, her friends dead, she could have saved them somehow but she didn't. The rest of the monsters went to finish her but she wasn't aware. Her loss and grief blinded her and when the witch saw again, all the dark soldiers had fallen, laying around the arena



The First Evil and its beasts were locked in Hell. But for the balance there has to be some bad in the world so scratches here and there remained open, they are know as Hellmouths. Evil didn't quit and its minions trespass the gates every night. Organized groups of humans fought them headed by the survivor who couldn't understand why evil continued coming. They had won so why, had her friends died for nothing? The Good had won but at a price that the witch couldn't take and it seemed that the triumph wasn't complete either. One night the witch questioned her Goddess. She felt rage over the injustice, she felt sad and terribly alone, she felt herself a failure who deserved punishment. She didn't want to fight anymore and she lost faith. The only chosen left of the three fell to her knees guarding the spot where her friends rested and cried out her misery. The inconsolable witch's sobs were heart breaking and the Goddess heard them. In their compassion, the Powers took pity on the witch and made a promise to her. A promise to compensate her for her suffering and her friends sacrifice. While the witch was still whimpering she was transformed into a tree. A strong tree to remind people of what had happened. A sad silent tree of hope. A crying tree that would be this way until the witch could be soothed. The tree was named after the witch, Willow.



***



“Well, here we go” said the gorgeous brunette entering her new dorm. She carried at last four bags and cases. Another young women, dirty blond and tall, stood behind with her own belongings. The two of them had just arrived in town. The blonde unpacked her things silently while her roommate did it while talking non-stop.

From time to time the shy one smiled at something the other had said. When they finished, Faith stretched her arms over her curly brown hair



"So, Tara. What about a little peek around our new home, that town not named on any map?” she said to her buddy.

“Sure” Tara responded with a timid smile.



The two women walked into the sunlight. Tara admired her surroundings. “It’s seems a quite place” she commented.

Faith grunted “Yep, T. All place is quite while the sun is up. At night hell will break lose”

Tara knew Faith was right, being the best friend of the slayer and all, she herself had seen things, bad things that wait for you in the shadows. She looked down hiding her face behind her hair, ashamed of her naivety sometimes.

“Giles has said that he’s positive that this town is a Hellmouth, a big one. Maybe we could pay him a visit.” Explained the slayer, her friend looked at her questioning.

“Look, this is his address” Faith’s smile was big, she waved a paper in front of her. Walking street by street, Faith and Tara began to seach for Giles house. Faith had thought that they would find him easily but began to curse when after a hour had passed they were still searching. Sunnydale wasn’t so small a town after all.



TBC...

Edited by: Viximon at: 1/3/05 3:34 am

[Nike]

Oh, that's a great idea! You turned the Scooby story into a legend, beautiful! I so can't wait to see Willow and Tara meeting. Poor Will, suffered so much, I wonder if she has a conscious mind even as a tree. Suddenly I have images of a tree babbling to herself. What about Buffy and Xander? Are they definitely off the story?

Great fic! Keep going!



Nike

"I'm perfectly normal, everybody is crazy anyway." - me.

[watersong84]

This is a great idea! Keep going!

[amazonaa]

Great job. I think this story is going to be really good.





More soon, please.





brittney







~Good friends help you move. Real friends help you move the body~

[angel of salvation]

YAY new fic! This a fantastic idea, . Legends....ahhh, greatness. Keep going, want to read more please.



Jess xxx

'You're my angel of salvation, and hope, and strength...your my multi-angel'-Jay (My baby)

.:~*My anime site*~:.

[Viximon]

Title – Haunted tree

Author name - Viximon

Beta-Grimlock72

Rating – G (AU)

Disclaimer –Pairing Willow/Tara of course . the great characters are own of Joss yada yada yada

Feedback- Please, this is my first T/W fic so I will love to know what you think. It's really apreciate it

Summary- Sunnydale is a place of magic and superstition. When night fall, dark creatures rise. It’s the everyday in the Hellmouth. But soon the Slayer is call to duty. Tara, her witch bestfriend comes with her to the town. They will found that legends are not so false there. They will found a weird friend at the graveyard, a ally who fight with them against evil. Tara will feel strange vibes around that odd and forlorn pal. A force will attract her to the infamous Sunnyday’s Haunted Tree, Willow.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



Meeting the graveyard’s guardian



“Faith” said Tara a little embarrassed at her friend’s behavior “. I think you should stop punching the door. I’m sure if Mr. Giles was at home he would have opened it already”. The brunette stopped for a second to look at Tara, she had almost broken down the door with her hitting. The slayer stepped aside. “Hope I haven’t attracted attention”. Fortunate from them nobody was around.

“I wonder where he has gone” Faith asked out loud. Tara only shrugged lightly.



“So, what’s now, T?” Faith was a active 24 hours girl.

“Mmm” Tara thought “I don’t know. I would like to see the rest of Sunnydale” the blond said “You know, be familiar with the terrain” smiled the blonde.

Faith laughed “You’re a smart one, Tara. Note that we know three parts of the town by now -all searching for damned Giles’ house- What about a little walk at the cemetery” commented the slayer with a wink.



***



When they arrived at Sunnydale’s graveyard, the two women perceived in no time that the place wasn’t like a normal rest-place. The chit-chat Faith was having with Tara had been caught up in her throat. They both stared in awe. Faith was the first to speak “Wow, Isn’t this the most lovely/romantic place you have seen in your life?” she joked. Tara didn’t respond. The place itself was huge and beautiful, a green and brown soil kaleidoscope, the tombstones popping up here and there with somber gray shades. At first sight there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary versus others cemeteries but, the atmosphere, there was a mood in the air. And it wasn’t one of peace.



Faith slayer’s sense was tingling. By the look on Tara’s face, Faith knew her friend felt the same. “I never was the perceptive one, but I can smell evil there. What about you and that witchy sensitive power of yours?” asked Faith in a more serious tone. Tara nodded.

“Bad bad vibes, aren’t they? So there’s truly a Hellmouth. Seems like I will have some action tonight” smirked the slayer.

Tara walked silently across the field the sensations left by the hellish creatures were everywhere, they made Tara nauseous. Faith had gone the other way so Tara was alone now and didn’t have anyone to help her deal with all these feelings. She stopped suddenly, feeling dizzy. The witch put a hand on the tombstone next to her, to support herself. She was about to be sick. Then a new wave of emotion met her radar and was so strong that shove away the bad feelings.

The blonde witch looked up, her blue eyes fixed to an unseen point. Her legs started to move by themselves. She was mesmerized. Every step she took, the more close to the core of the strange vibes she came.

Faith had seen in the corner of her eye the odd actions of Tara. “Ey, T. Are you o’right?” she yelled to her friend. Tara ignored her and kept walking. Faith ran to her side to see if something was wrong. “Tara?” questioned the slayer worried.

Tara become to a halt and her eyes brightened. Her mate followed Tara’s stare to found what interested the witch so much.



There in the lead stood high on one hill a large willow. Protecting the graves under it. Lonely. A breeze whispered and the tree’s leaves danced amid sadness. Tara gasped. Faith jumped taken aback, she had been too captivated by the hypnotic and mysterious tree’s moves that the unexpected sound of her friend had scared her.

“What?” demanded Faith “Is that shrub the source? The key to the Hellmouth?” Faith prepared herself to charge against the tree if the answer was affirmative.

Instead Tara looked at her like she had grown another head. “What? Nooooo” responded Tara quickly. “Not at all”. Faith was a little lost now. The witch took a few steps forward, admiring the willow’s beauty and gloomy peace. Somehow that was comforting, cradled amongst all that evil, the spirit of the tree called her.

“I think this willow is some kind of guardian, but it’s so by itself and sad, poor thing” explained Tara. Faith laughed out loud. “And it’s crying too. Ha ha ha, Tara It’s a w-i-l-l-o-w. For undeads’ sake” .Tara cut her with a frown “I’m not joking Faith. I fell…I’m not sure what but I’m positive it’s alive inside”.



Faith shut up and scraped her head sheepishly “Sorry T. Sometimes I forgot your wicca’s one with nature status” she apologized to her friend. Tara dismissed it with a tiny smile. She was about to touch the trunk when “ WAIT. Don’t touch it, fool. You wanna be damned?” Faith and Tara saw a man running to them. Faith didn’t like the tone that he had used, and called them fools as well. She frowned disliking the guy already. “You two are new in Sunnydale. Aren’t you?” he spoke. “Welcome to town, I’m sure you will like it here. Always follow some rules, like don’t mess with this” the brown haired male pointed to the willow with an expression between fear and awe. “I’m Raoul by the way” he introduced himself and put forward his hand to shake. The two girls looked at each other, then at the man. “Ok. I’m Faith, she’s Tara. And we too are a don’t mess with us or you will regret it kind of girls. Pleased to meet you” the brunette said dangerously. Raoul gulped. “What’s with the little tree anyway?”





They decided to go back to town center. Tara couldn’t help it, she looked back several times at the willow until it wasn’t visible anymore. Tara listened attentive now to what the resident had to say. She was really into that tree. “It’s Willow, its infamous. It’s Sunnydale’s living legend. -You know, the scaring ones.- We call it the Haunted tree” he said while the three of them walked outside the cemetery. Tara arched her brows. Faith rolled her eyes bored ‘cause Raoul tried to tell them a scary tale.



“How so?” was heard. The man looked over to the blonde like he saw her for the first time. The tall woman hadn’t opened her mouth until then. “Well…” started Raoul “the Haunted tree has been here since forever but it seems to never grow old. It’s the most weird tree in the cemetery too, it’s like its something supernatural. At night it’s all creepy and some people say that it whines and the sound freezes the blood. Some claim that it moves on its own, that at nights it leave its spot and comes around hunting souls.” He gave details “You know the juveniles in this day and age have to prove their braveness and want to have fun. So one time a couple picniced under the Haunted shadow. The lovebirds were laughing and having fun and the tree didn’t seem dangerous, instead it seemed to enjoy the company…” Raoul made a pause for dramatic tension. “And?” asked Faith impatient but not interested.





“But at that moment the boy had the most stupid idea, he aimed a pocketknife towards the trunk determined to carve into it’s skin his and her name” Tara gasped at that “Oh, my! Poor thing” she tought in horror . Raoul continued his story opening his eyes like he was seeing it all, Faith smirked, the man could be anything but a first-class storyteller. “ His girlfriend warned him, but he insisted saying that the Haunted was nothing more than an old cemetery tree which soon would be a little scarred by their names, this way all their gang would remember them as the fearless. Haunted’s branches moved slightly in presage despite the fact that there was no wind to move them. The instant the blade cut, the Haunted groan wounded, more like growled. Frightened the boy saw how out the cut oozed a red substance, BLOOD. The Haunted was freaking bleeding. The most scaring thing is that out of the blue a strange force, threw the couple a few meters away from the tree. They said that the spirit of the tree itself had done it. Terrified they ran for their lives, never again to come close to the gates of cemetery.” Raoul ended at that point.



Tara let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. The story depressed her, she pitied the poor willow; and angered it her, because somehow the poor thing became the big bad of the movie.

“ Nice fairy tale” spoke Faith. Raoul’s eyes widened “No fairy tale. It’s better if you two lock the doors of your house at night, strange things would happen otherwise, people disappear in thin air. A friend of mine didn’t believe me, one night he went out and that was the last we saw of him”.

To Faith and Tara that wasn’t new. “Vampires” Faith thought to herself, she wasn’t to tell the man that of course.

She looked meaningful to Tara who nodded in understanding. “Stopping now talking about the bad side of town. How about a drinks at the Bronze? It’s a really nice bar at this area. Very entertaining place. The sun is still there a couple hours so far. What do you say?”

Tara rested uncomfortable while Faith dispatched the man “No, thank you. We have to unpack some things before the day end. Maybe another time” Raoul seemed disappointed “Ok then, see you around, beautiful” .

“Sure” Faith waved goodbye with a smiley face. When he was out of sight, she grimaced. Tara giggled. “ Liar”

The slayer grinned “You know me far too well”

“House?” asked Tara a little tired of the day events. “Lead the way” offered Faith. Tara started to think about their new home, Sunnydale. How the quiet peaceful town was surely a Hellmouth full of vampires and demons that Faith as slayer had to slay, and she, as witch and best friend would help her. Then the image of the willow on the hill burst into her mind. That spirit inside the bark had something, the witch couldn’t put her finger on it.



***



“Ok. That was weird. I’m suddenly aware that the two newbies visiting means changes around here. Who in their sane mind would visit the burial ground the first day at town for no reason? Mmm they must have had a reason. I’m not sure about it if it is for good or if I will have to kick their gorgeous asses out of my village. Ey! What am I thinking? Gorgeous butts? Where did that come from? Maybe the brunette harsh one had nice bombs and she was quite pretty but nothing compared to the blonde goddess. She has that stunning body and the beautiful hair and lovely blue eyes and exquisite lips and…Oh my god! I was checking her out! Well sorta as I haven’t eyes. Again. Oh my god! I’m attracted to her, sure it is understandable because she’s so much beautiful...but she is female and I’m a girl too. No wait. I’m not. I am currently a tree.” Willow paused and sighed mentally. “Well at last I think I can trust the quiet newbie. She looks as if she could feel me, like if she understood…and cares”



“Willow” the real voice distracted her. A figure came to the side of the willow tree. She looked up at her plant friend and hugged it. Willow smiled internally . “Sometimes I feel a little silly talking and hugging a tree” whispered the person.

“Oh, no, sweety. I’m sorry I can’t do more” A few leaves wafted and caressed a young face and ended up laying on the teen shoulder. A soft giggle lighted the mood. “ I know” the human said. “I love you, Willow” smiled the young woman. Willow smiled proud and affectionate “I love you too, Dawnie”

And it was true, thanks to the feelings the girl had awoken in her, the curse had begun to be broken.



TBC...

Edited by: Viximon at: 1/3/05 4:10 am

[Viximon]

Ey there everybody. I like to thank all of you readers and the reviewes of my fic. You mean so much:



Nike: Thanks for you review. Tara just meet Willow, but there is story ahead (I doubt anyone could fall in love with a tree ). I like your idea about the babbling willow so I insert it. I’m not sure if its ok. It is? Do you like?

Oh! I hadn’t though about Xander and Buffy how rude of mee. Sorry there. Maybe they pay a visit later on



watersong84: There’s more. Hope you like it



amazonaa: Well… I don’t think this will be a best seller, but I will do my best. I want to you to enjoy. Merci for the feedback



angel of salvation: Pleased you like the idea. There’s a little more. Dawn comes in the show

[amazonaa]

Awww. That was sweet at the end. And it's so like Willow to be a tree and talk to herself. That sounded a little crazy. Anyway....



Great job. More soon, please.





brittney



P.S. Are you french?







~Good friends help you move. Real friends help you move the body.~

[Viximon]

Tahnk you at all of you that read the fic. Although the review factor is so poor that I cry 'cause I think anybody likes the story

Well, I don't give up so easy so There is another chapter 8 in few minutes I upload) .

amazonaa I'm so grateful for your review. Thank you.

I'm not french, but close enough. Spanish. two or three hours away of France I think. It's that obious?

[Nike]

Omigod! I'm so inconsiderate! *slaps forehead* I should have send more feedback much sooner! So sorry!

I love your story so much! The idea is so different from most of the fics I've ever read, so creative! And the babbling Willow Tree, it's perfect! Even as a tree our Willow is still the unique babbling fiend we all know and love. And Dawnie! I must say, she's one of my favorites Buffy characters and me thinks she's going to have a major hole in bringing and together!

Please, don't give up on this wonderful story. I'm bouncing around giddily at the thought of an update!



Nike

"I'm perfectly normal, everybody is crazy anyway." - me.

[Viximon]

Title – Haunted tree

Author name - Viximon

Beta-Grimlock72

Rating – G (AU)

Disclaimer –Pairing Willow/Tara of course . the great characters are own of Joss yada yada yada

Feedback- Please, this is my first T/W fic so I will love to know what you think. It's really apreciate it

Summary- Sunnydale is a place of magic and superstition. When night fall, dark creatures rise. It’s the everyday in the Hellmouth. But soon the Slayer is call to duty. Tara, her witch bestfriend comes with her to the town. They will found that legends are not so false there. They will found a weird friend at the graveyard, a ally who fight with them against evil. Tara will feel strange vibes around that odd and forlorn pal. A force will attract her to the infamous Sunnyday’s Haunted Tree, Willow.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



A Slayer, a witch and a girl





Tara and Faith had ordered take-out food at their first night at Sunnydale. The two of them talked about this and that and time passed by. When the dark of the night fell, Faith put on her black jacket and armed herself with a couple of stakes, a cross and other ‘fighting bad night creatures’ weapons. Tara took holy water and other stuff herself and followed her friend outside.



They walked silently across the somber streets. No one seemed to go out at night-time, the slayer and the blond witch were glad with that.

“How strange, this is too calm. Too calm for my liking. Even a no Hellmouth city, a normal one, isn’t that quiet” fumed Faith. “Bored aren’t we?” smiled Tara. “Maybe the cemetery?” the slayer asked hopefully, she missed action. Tara seemed to think for a moment “First we should contact Mr. Giles, I consider is the most save.”

Faith grunted but deep down she knew Tara was right. “Ok, we kick a visit to G-man, but if he’s not home again, we go smash to ash the little country vamps” smirked the brunette.



***



“Faith! Tara!” Giles let them into his apartment. “When did you arrive? I thought you wouldn’t until tomorrow”. Tara hugged the man as he paternally returned it. With Faith it was more awkward because the young woman wasn’t used to showing that kind of affection.



“So…” interrupted the slayer “ we’re facing a Hellmouth there?” Tara looked to Giles for answers too. The British man didn’t blink, then he took his glasses off and began to clean them. “It seems so. Bumped into two vampires myself. The council had been right. I’ve been searching information ever since and I found quite unexpected things” Giles put his glasses back “Sunnydale is not a hellmouth, is more like The Hellmouth”.

“Uh?” said Faith, Tara only stared blinking. “What the heck does that mean?”

“It means that Sunnydale is the original vortex, the true Hellmouth” Giles tried to explain and began to mention antique books and stuff which his slayer was oblivious to. Tara seemed to catch on though briefly. “Giles, translate all the bullshit to English” demanded the slayer. “Faith, what Mr. Giles is trying to say is, I think, that here is the Big as in B-I-G Bad tremendous Hellmouth the legends talk about”

“The one you mean?” Giles nodded. Faith dismissed the topic like it had no significance. She laughed “Well, my job is the same. Isn’t? Go to beat vamp asses…” The slayer frowned slightly “…but Giles. If this is such a dangerous Hellmouth the bad guys should be running lose all over town. I only felt them on the graveyard” she said confused.



Well, here comes the strange part. The rumors speak about a guardian figure at night. Some people close to the cemetery say they see fireworks in the sky over the mortuary grounds. That could be anything but my two pens …” “Magicks” jumped Tara “You think there’s a witch, or a warlock here? They are fighting the good fight, aren’t they?” Faith looked at her friend amazed, Tara wasn’t an easily excited person, maybe the option to meet one of her kind was that important to her. “Wow wow, Tara calm down” hushed the slayer. Giles too was a little perplexed by the outburst of the shy blonde. “Well, yes, but we can’t be sure. What makes you think there is some magician in Sunnydale, Tara?” the watcher asked curiously. Tara hid herself behind her hair, a tint of blush on her checks. “I do-don’t know. I fe-feel it. Or something like this. I’m not sure. I ….”

Faith looked at her watch, midnight was four minutes ago. “ Ey! Can we speed up the chat or leave it for later, I’m missing the slaying time” Giles gave her a disapproving look. “Faith, you can’t go out there without knowing what’s there. Besides, until now the vampires have been kept in check. More or less.” “But it’s my job and I’m tired of talk, I wanna kick those bad guys to pulp and save the day..or night or whatever.” Faith stood firmly at the door. “I’m going with or without you”

Tara looked at Giles and followed Faith. Giles sighed, he wasn’t going to leave his surrogate daughters alone. He took his coat and closed the door behind him.



***



“Groaa” the ugly face of the vampire twisted with pain. The next second he was dust.

“Cool” squealed the teen. Dawn went out of her hiding place behind a grave to stand beside the petite figure of a woman. The woman had red hair and was panting. She looked at Dawn and smiled. “You’re the best, Willow” said Dawn hugging the frame of the other female. Willow hugged her back. Tonight had been calm, they had hit into a lonely vampire. Willow was relieved, she didn’t like to expose Dawn to this dangerous ground but since the first time, the girl had stubbornly followed her. “Dawn” she said with a muffled forced voice. The brunette teenager turned to her with a big smile plastered on her face. Willow coudn’t resist. She couldn’t say no to the girl. When they had met, Willow had known, had sensed, had bonded… She had to protect this adolescent, she had to. Not only ‘cause who Dawn was and the promise she had made to herself. The girl meant a lot to her, she adored and loved her. That Dawn was Buffy’s successor was only a plus. A huge addition.



***



“And there is that Sunnydale boogieman, the Haunted tree they named it. Have you heard of it, Giles?” Faith commented. The three vampire hunters had been patrolling heading towards the cemetery. They had discussed the topic but Tara had not really beenpaying attention till now. “Willow” she thought, she felt that weird sensation in the pit of her stomach. “Yes, I learned a little about” he responded, Faith smiled “You figure, vampires feeding all over the place and they blame it on a walking bush eating-souls… do you believe it? Well…There’s no demon out here or on any place like a walking shrub that eat souls or something like that.Is there?” The face of Faith changed of mocking to a pale worried expression. Giles though for a moment “No, I don’t think so”

Tara spoke her mind too “Yeah, the willow tree isn’t bad, only misunderstood.” Faith and Giles stared at her.



“Yeah, Giles. I forgot to mention we’ve visited it already and Tara here was attracted to the willow”. Said Faith as a matter of fact. While Giles looked at the witch suspicious, Tara shrugged uncomfortably. She tried to explain herself, her trust in the Haunted “I believe there’s something about it. I feel like it posseses a soul Mr. Giles. That make sense?” Giles was about to speak when a shadow moving through the cemetery gates distracted him. “Faith!” he called. The slayer was already on her way. Tara running after her. The man sighed, “I’m too old for that” he said shaking his head slowly. He began to follow them at his slower pace.



Faith approached the runaway “That little vamp sure know how to sprint” she said while passing like a blaze crossing the street. Indeed the figure was fast but nothing the trained slayer couldn’t handle. She increased her speed and with a jump the rough female grabbed her prey. The timing wasn’t so good and both fell rolling to the ground. “Ouch” yelped the vampire. Tara arrived at the scene, preparing herself to cast. When she was about to voice the spell, she stopped when she saw the vampire’s face. She was a kid, well more like a very young woman, a simple teenager. Faith composed herself, coming to her knees she readied a stake. “Faith NO!” screamed Tara. At mid swing the slayer stopped. “What the…”



***



Dawn waved goodbye to Willow, the redhead witch had insisted about the teen’s departure, she should go to school the next day so she needed her rest. Willow had accompanied the cheerful girl to the gates, the witch doubted if she should go any further, she only wanted to keep Dawn save, but she had to guard the place of vampires and demon kind. Seeing Willow’s stressed expression, Dawn had decided to go home on her own. She reassured Willow “Don’t worry, I can take care of myself. See I have crosses too. A little insurance” Dawn winked. Willow smiled but she wasn’t so sure. “See you tomorrow” Dawn squeezed Willow. “Take care” was the short, raspy reply of the redhead. Dawn looked either side of the road, and began to run to her house.



A street ahead, she noticed two strangers following her. She panicked, she ran as fast as she could but soon a firm grip toke her by the back. The two fell. “Ouch” she yelped as she landed harshly on the ground and rolled over. The next moment and before she could do anything, she found herself with a very fearsome and violent brunette ready to stake her. Dawn eyes widened full of fear. “Faith NO!” the scream had saved her. Dawn saw her savior, a tall blond woman. She had a worried and caring expression. So she can’t be too bad. The aggressive Faith person was far more frightening than any vampire. “What the…” Faith had stopped but she continued to aim the pointy wood at Dawn.



Tara seeing fear in the eyes of the captured hesitated, the witch decided to see the aura of the teen. “Faith, she’s human” the witch spoke slowly. Faith frowned at the girl “What are you doing at that time here, kiddo?” her voice more ruthless that she pretended. Dawn didn’t open her mouth. Tara approached her and gave her hand to help the young to her feet. “Sorry we startled you. Are you ok?” Dawn look at the offered hand, then into warming blue eyes. Dawn took the hand.



“Well, I’m waiting for an answer” said Faith. Dawn stared her way with an angry look. Ignoring Faith, Tara continued with the girl, building trust “She’s Faith, my name is Tara. We will not hurt you, we confused you with a… with another person. Sorry again. What’s your name?” Dawn smiled to the woman, her caring way reminded her somehow of her own mother and there was something of Willow too, but Dawn couldn’t say what. Just then, Giles arrived. Dawn stirred uncomfortable. Tara noticed “There is our mentor, Mr. Giles. He’s a good man” but then the witch’s eyes widened. Giles wasn’t what Dawn was afraid of. Behind Giles four vampires came grinning like idiots. “Mr. Giles, look out!” she yelled. Giles turned around in time to see the first vamp and dodge him. Faith threw her stake killing another and in no time was on her feet running to a female one, fists ready to punch her.



Tara positioned herself in front of Dawn protecting her from any harm. Giles was fighting a vampire without any luck. The vampire held him by the neck and Tara could swear he was turning blue. “ Incendiare” she cast, the next moment the vampire had turned into flames crying. Giles fell choking to the ground as Faith dusted the female vampire. But the last vampire appeared behind the slayer and taking her by surprise send her flying meters away. Then smiling with her pointy teeth and with those evil yellow eyes jumped to the stunned Tara and Dawn. Tara clung Dawn to herself to protect her. But when she thought the sharp pain would come, she was met only with ashes falling on her. She blinked. Dawn separated herself from Tara and looking at the end of the street, close to the cemetery, she saw a thin figure. Dawn smiled knowing.



Giles was gasping for air, Faith was cursing foots away and coming to her feet. Tara wondered who had saved her. She had sensed the magic, a magic that wasn’t hers. “um.. Tara?” the blonde turned surprised to the girl. “I have to go…thanks for helping” and before she could respond, Dawn had gone down running.

“What a party” remarked the slayer “This sure is a hell of a first impression”. Giles said nothing. Tara was a little surprised still. “Ey! Where did the bratty go?” pouted Faith, her friend smiled guilty “She escaped?” she said simply. “Well, it’s not fair… Otherwise, congratulations T, we’re even. Two vampires each” smiled the slayer. Tara made a troubled face. “No Faith, I took only one down” “What?” Faith couldn’t believe her ears. “But…” “The last one wasn’t me” the witch affirmed. The three kept silent



***



“Uff that was close” Willow thought. At last she had confirmed her suspicions. The two newbies and the man knew about vampires and fought them. The brunette chick was a slayer. The man presumably her watcher. The blonde goddess was a witch. She was a witch! Maybe that was why she liked her so much. She had protected Dawn with her life, and that had touched Willow’s heart, the blonde witch was such a noble being. Willow sighed. The redhead had been just in time to save the blonde’s life together with Dawnie’s and the other two’s. Well this way she had no debt with the vampire hunters.

A itchy sensation coursed through her body. “It’s time” she whispered sadly, she had little time. She stood at her spot, prepared. Willow closed her eyes sensing, her breath calm. Suddenly it came, all her muscles tensed. Bearing the curse was her price.



At dawn’s early light a drowned scream is heard, and a human figure is transformed into a tree.





TBC…



>>>>



I know this chapter is a little down, sorry I try to make it better next time.

Nike: Thank you. Well, Dawn is indeed a key (not “the” key ) in the story to pairing the two witchies. Hope you like it. If you had ugestions or something to said, please, be free to review me



<<<<

Edited by: Viximon at: 1/3/05 4:09 am

[onyxsundrops]

Great idea for a story, looking forward to more.



Yvonne

Edited by: onyxsundrops at: 12/1/04 12:28 pm

[Viximon]

Hello there again. I has been overloaded with work but at last I'm here. I had a little time to reread what I had posted and I was absolutly horrorified. There are errors really 'Oh my! I wrote that?' My English really sucks. I'm still searching a beta, but I must be the most unlucky person in the kitten world .

However, I try my best still to all you, dear readers.

( uff , someday I will write a decent fic)



onyxsundrops. Thank you, I update in a moment. Thank you again, really. It mean a deal to me you read anf enjoy the fic. Hope you still like it .

[Viximon]

Title – Haunted tree

Author name - Viximon

Beta-Grimlock72

Rating – G (is a AU)

Disclaimer –Pairing Willow/Tara of course . the great characters are own of Joss yada yada yada

Feedback- Please, this is my first T/W fic so I will love to know what you think

Summary- Sunnydale is a place of magic and superstition. When night fall, dark creatures rise. It’s the everyday in the Hellmouth. But soon the Slayer is call to duty. Tara, her witch bestfriend comes with her to the town. They will found that legends are not so false there. They will found a weird friend at the graveyard, a ally who fight with them against evil. Tara will feel strange vibes around that odd and forlorn pal. A force will attract her to the infamous Sunnyday’s Haunted Tree, Willow.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



Just something, just someone I'm familiar with







Tara was the first to wake up the next morning, like usual. She went to Faith’s room next door, to find the slayer fast sleep. “Faith, Faith.” She call softly but firmly “Wake up, it is nine ‘o clock in the morning already”. Faith grumbled and turned on her side, she never had been a rise and shine type of person. Tara knew better than to push harder so she left the room and went to the kitchen smiling. Few minutes later the sweet aroma of warm pancakes reached Faith’s nostrils and groaning, the slayer got up to join Tara.

The witch was humming absentmindedly and a mischievous half smile appeared on her face when she saw the brunette sit down.



“You’re evil” mumbled Faith trying to kick the sleepiness out of her as Tara put a plate full of not-so-round pancakes in front of her.

During breakfast Tara wondered how they managed to live on .They fought evil forces at night and during the day they behaved like the night never had existed. Cought up in her thoughts Tara almost missed Faith going back to her room after she finished her meal. She followed her. Faith climbed into her bed and put the back sheets on. “Faith” Tara sighed bemused. Faith looked at her for a moment. “Look Tara, anyone in their sane mind wouldn’t start their lives before midday. I mean, yesterday was patrol, the things are unpacked mostly so not too much to do. I’m sleepy, we don’t have class ‘til tomorrow. I want to enjoy a free day ok?” the slayer retorted making herself comfy and closing her eyes.



Tara sighed at her friend’s concept of ’carpe diem’. “But Faith”

The laying figure grunted “Did I mention I’m sleepy? Don’t wake me until lunch time” said Faith with a yawn. In no time the slayer was snoring not so softly.

Frustrated the witch gave up. She decided to go for a walk by herself.



***



The day was luminous and warm, Sunnydale was really a nice place if you didn’t count the Hellmouth fact. Tara walked taking pleasure in the surroundings. She passed by shops, happy walkers, a school… suddenly the woman stopped. At the school’s patio many kids and young ones were playing enjoying their leisure time. She smiled but soon a brunette teenager grabbed her attention, surprised Tara recognized her as the girl they had met the night before.

Tara went towards the girl, just then their eyes met. The girl’s eyes widened as a somehow troubled expression came to her face. In the blink of an eye, Tara saw hopelessly how the girl took off running. Very fast. In no time she had disappeared out of sight. The dark haired girl she was talking with a moment ago was left dumbfounded.



Tara approached the girl “Excuse me”. The schoolgirl turned and looked at Tara suspiciously. “Who are you?” she asked. Tara presented herself friendly. “The name is Tara. Forgive my intrusion. Your friend…” “Dawn?” the girl interrupted raising her eyebrows “she’s not my friend” at this Tara was shocked.

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good girl, but she’s nuts. Believe me. I don’t think you want to adopt her”



Tara frowned “Adopt?” The girl wasn’t aware of Tara confusion and obviously was that kind of girl who likes to speak her mind “I’m her roommate at the orphanage. If someone has seen her do crazy things… it’s me. She sneaks out almost every night. God knows what for. She told me about a friend she has, she speaks of her as family or sorta. But really, that person is not real. She’s only holding on to illusions to keep going. I saw her one time at the cemetery, picnicing under the Haunted, she was happily reading a book out loud to nobody.

Later on she told me she was teaching Willow, that’s the name she has given her fantasy-friend, because ‘she’ was behind with the modern stuff. It was uncanny. I mean she spoke so high and surely of ‘her’ . I pity her. I suppose after her mom’s death, she was left alone with the pain. That might have been too much for her and she has lost it.”



At that moment the ring rang, all the girls and boys went inside the building. Tara and the girl looked up. “Sorry miss, duty calls. Sorry about Dawn chickening on you too. She’s only afraid of getting along with people again. You know, the love and be loved only to be hurt. My advice, there are others at the orphanage that will be more happy and grateful than Dawn. So take your time and choose wisely” winked the girl and went running to school.

Tara stood there a few moments more. All that new information left her with a rage of emotions battling inside. Shock, confusion, compassion, sadness, remembrance…



***



Giles was working in Sunnydale’s library as he meant to since the Coven put him there. It was a cover, he did like his job though there were days like this one he was absolutely bored by it. Such luck he had that puzzle about the night before playing in his head. There were so many things to count. Hellmouth, magicks, vampires, that girl who wasn’t so surprised at the demons of the night…

Tara walked towards him. The man smiled thinking a break would do good, plus talking with Tara was pleasant. They had that foster-father/daughter relation but he frowned at Tara’s troubled expression. “Tara, what’s wrong?”



***



“..and there she was, coming my way. I don’t know what came over me. She just saved me last night and then I see her again and kind of panicked.” Dawn was explaining to the tree.

“Oh, yes. Way to go, Dawn” the frustrated teen cried out.

“That’s my girl. Ummm I think I am a bad influence on her” thought Willow with a proud and guilty inner smile. She had been surprised when Dawn had gone to her out of breath at that hour. She had freaked out thinking the worst and going babble mode until Dawn told her what had happened.



“ I like her, Willow. She’s so cool. And she’s a witch too. Maybe you could pair to eliminate the vampires and stuff” suggested the brunette. Luckily for Willow, being a tree, Dawn couldn’t see her blushing hard with that “stuff” statement.

“Ummm, I’m more calm now. I don’t think she will be waiting for me at school but I need to apologize to her” Dawn rested shifty on Willow’s trunk “Do you think I will have the chance? Will we see her again? You have too meet her, she’s so nice and sweet? She’s cool too. Did I mention she’s a witch too?” said the teen eagerly.

Willow sighed and that showed as a breeze coming out of the tree. Dawn stood looking at her/it disappointed and visibly a little mad. “What was that, Willow? You want me to leave? Am I that boring? You only had to say so” fumed Dawn. “Dawnie it’s not that” spoke Willow but it was futile while she was in tree form. “Ok, I’ll leave. Don’t know if I will pay a visit to you tonight if I annoy you so much. See you later, Willow. That’s it.” And withhout another word the girl went away. Willow sighed again, this time worried.



“Damn teenager’s hormones” she cursed. But there was pain in her sentence, for Dawn. If only Willow was able to be human at the day too instead of only at night. She could be what Dawn needed.



***



Tara arrived at Faith and hers apartment at lunch time. “Ey T! Where were you? I was getting starved” Faith’s shout came from somewhere. The slayer popped her head by the frame door. “Oh! Hi Giles” she added as she saw the man behind the blonde. Giles pushed his glasses up. “Faith, why are you still in your… night clothes ?”



Later on they discussed the tree, Tara’s news and the old information they had. Nothing came out of that. There were few answers and a bunch of new questions. “ I’m going to research more about that.” Giles looked at his pupils. “I’m going to look out for Dawn, she could help us or have clues or… be in peril or….I got to find her”

Faith looked at Tara pensive, the quiet calm witch always had cared for people, it was in her nature, but that Dawn character had connected with her. Maybe because they had things in common….



TBC...

Edited by: Viximon at: 1/3/05 4:22 am

[Grimlock72]

I have to say the idea is original, Willow truly as a tree... poor Willow. Your english does make it somewhat hard to read though. I seldom read the beta-request thread so if you posted your request there I probably missed it. Besides, keeping up with daily updates is kinda hard work Feel free to mail me though.



I'm not entirely sure why I didn't respond/see this story back in october, must have missed it. So Dawn is descendant from Buffy in what way ?? Sister or child ? (now there's a new concept ;-)



Oh yeah can I smash the boy who carved Willow ? The idiot, just to proof he's soooo brave .



Grimmy

--
"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[Viximon]

Hello to all. Thanks for keep reading this story.

At last I meet someone kind enought to be my beta, so this post is mostly to thank Grimmy. Thanks mate



So to here and on the text will be more decent. the comments and that stuff is my own so the mistakes can hurt sensible english eyes still.



Anyway. there's another chapter. Enjoy guys



Grimlock72: Well about what's exatly Dawn of Buffy.. you will see in time. Don't worry

[Viximon]

Title – Haunted tree

Author name - Viximon

Beta's name-Grimlock72

Rating – G (is a AU)

Disclaimer –Pairing Willow/Tara of course . the great characters are own of Joss yada yada yada

Feedback- Please, this is my first T/W fic so I will love to know what you think

Summary- Sunnydale is a place of magic and superstition. When night fall, dark creatures rise. It’s the everyday in the Hellmouth. But soon the Slayer is call to duty. Tara, her witch bestfriend comes with her to the town. They will found that legends are not so false there. They will found a weird friend at the graveyard, a ally who fight with them against evil. Tara will feel strange vibes around that odd and forlorn pal. A force will attract her to the infamous Sunnyday’s Haunted Tree, Willow.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>





Blowing in the wind





Tara had gone out looking for the orphan brunette girl. Dawn was her name. A beautiful one, thought Tara. She felt something towards her, a maternal love maybe. She didn’t know. The fact was Tara had to find Dawn. Besides, that girl possessed answers they needed to defend the town. Lost in thought while walking, the witch found that her steps had lead her to the graveyard.

She couldn’t help it, Tara walked towards the so fearsome Haunted. She observed it from a distance. Considering again and again if that beautiful tree was really a threat. But each time, she didn’t see any menace in it…or she. That girl had said Dawn spoke of Willow as female,. so female she must be. Tara smiled, “Willow” she murmured tasting the name over her lips as went closer to the tree.



“Oh my! She’s here. She’s coming. Oh my! She has whispered my name, did it sound so nice before? Agh! She really is coming towards me. Why I’m so nervous all of sudden? Ok, I know now Dawn’s outburst !… Ahhh, she’s so goddess –y. Crap! She’s closer, she’s closer than closer…” Willow began to ramble flabbergasted when she saw Tara come her way. The cursed woman was so cought up in her jabber she lost track of Tara until the blonde was just beneath her.



Tara toke a deep breath. With a serious but serene face, Tara brought her right hand up. Her pulse trembling lightly, her fingers almost touching the woody superficies. A burst of courage and she put her palm on the brown trunk. At the moment of the contact, Tara felt like a spark made her gasp. A tinkling sensation traveled all through her body coming from her hand. It wasn’t like anything she had sensed before. It was like a warm shivering. Magic.



“Woooaa!” exclaimed Willow. The touch had taken her by surprise, the flicker of magic shudder wasn’t expected at all.



Tara stepped away slowly, resting her hands on her lap. She looked at the willow intently. She was still trying to understand what just had happened. At last she smiled “Hi, Willow” “Hi yourself my beautiful witchy stranger” responded the tree out of habit. As tree no one heard her really, but she liked to speak the same for her sanity, to behave like a human being. Tara was a wicca however, she could not hear her but the blonde woman could feel the warm welcome waves emanate from the tree. Tara’s mood lit up. “Do you mind if I sit under your wing?” She politely asked the tree. Willow was surprised “Sure! I mean of course you can. I don’t mind at all. More than don’t mind. I like the company” Like Dawn, Tara was of course feeling quite stupid and crazy talking to a tree at the time, but she seemed to pull it off. Willow was happy.

Tara saw the leaves jump microscopically from joy. Taking the reaction of the magic willow as a invitation she sat on the grass resting slowly her back to the tree. It was a nice place, warm but refreshing, quiet but moving, it was rare. Rays of sunlight shone into Tara eyes, sneaking through the branches. Tara held her arm up to shield, but then those branches (which had let the rays pass) moved by themself covering the gap, protecting Tara from the blinding beams. Tara looked taken aback by Willow’s kind gesture. She was now more than ever convinced Willow wasn’t evil. “Thank you” Tara said timidly.

“My pleasure” Willow blushed. There was a moment of silent contemplation. Willow admiring the fairy princess who so gentle spoke to her. Tara on her part, reflecting. She felt save there. Was who was Willow, her spirit gave Tara a calm peace and sense of home she only had dreamed about.



Time passed by and woman and tree-woman enjoyed each other’s company. Tara had forgotten all her worries and was put at easy, a calm sweetness invited her to sleep. Willow cleared her mind for that moment of all her pain and heartbreak She felt truly and fully content, a reaction she didn’t remember since… since so long that she didn’t want to remember. The tranquili mood endeded with a cracking yell. “ YO! Tara!” Tara’s bubble popped and the witch looked up a little upset to the source to see Faith coming with a smirk.

“Knew I would find you here” grinned the slayer. Tara sat up dusting dirt off of her clothes. “You did?” said the blonde more to herself than anyone else. “Have you found something?” She asked Faith. The brunette shook her head “Nopes. You?”

Tara sighed. “No, I had come here hoping Dawn would show up. Her mate had said she comes to Willow usually-but …” her sentence traded off at the mischievous look Faith was giving her. “What?”

Faith grin grew. “So you came to wait for yesterday’s brat. Uhuu. Yep. Sure” Tara didn’t know where the conversation was going but she could guess .

“So T, I don’t know if it’s the magic he posses or the cursed jailbird soul that attracts you. But I think it is not Dawn we’re talking about here. It’s him, Willow’s appeal has caught your interest.” Tara stood quietly while Faith continued her speech “Though the little girl has bonded with you too already. My point, Tara, is you are taking this personally and that is never a good thing.”

Again there was silence. Tara thought about this. “Faith, are you doubting my judgment?”



Willow above them was protective of Tara. If the slayer tried something or hurt the witch she would take action.



Faith looked at Tara dumbly for a moment. “No, no . Is not that. It’s that you’re letting your heart overrule your mind and I don’t want you getting hurt by that” she apologized. Tara’s expression softened and she smiled to her friend. “I know Faith” and she did, it was the same feeling that she herself couldn’t bear it if something upset Faith.

Feeling edgy and uncomfortable Faith looked everywhere but at Tara. She looked up and down the willow.

“And it is a she” Tara spoke unexpectedly. The slayer stared at the witch completely taken aback. “Eh?”

“Willow” said the blonde “is a she” Faith could swear Tara’s cheeks were a brighter shade of pink. Then eyed up the Haunted “Oh” was all the brunette said as reply. “Oh?” she repeated while furrowing her brows. Tara saw confused how Faith went close to Willow looking for something and was shocked when all of a sudden the woman jumped into the tree and began to climb up.



Willow meanwhile was panicking. She was torn between using magic and take off the slayer or trusting that woman. Willow wasn’t sure. She decided to first warn maybe she would back off.



Faith tightened her grip when she noted a slight shake which stopped her in her tracks. Tara was worried now. “Faith, you’re scaring her. Get down” she pleaded anxious, nervous for both their safety, Faith’s and Willow’s. But Faith was stubborn. So the witch changed strategy, she would leave Faith on her own to concentrate on more appreciative ears. “Willow, don’t do anything to her, please. She means no harm.” Tara reassured the tree. She focused on comforting the restless soul. She caressed the husk “Calm down Willow. I’m here. I won’t let anything hurt you, I promise.” Tara felt how the anxiety and fear the Haunted was showing subsided slowly. Tara smiled “That’s it. Hush. You’re safe. Don’t worry. I’m with you” The witch continued her soothing, it was working, she could sense it.



Warmed by the blonde’s words, Willow sighed. She forgot about the woman searching onto her branches. When Tara embraced her, resting her cheek on her, closing her gorgeous blue eyes Willow wheezed. She could feel the soft breath of Tara on her skin. An eddy surrounded them, the soft wind cherishing Tara’s body, her hair dancing in the wind. A few leaves touched her briefly but with so much tenderness Tara thought she was going to cry.



“Woo, Cowgirl!” Faith bawled. The magic was broken. All turned to normal and Faith let herself fall to the ground like a cat. Being slayer–strong and agile she could do it effortlessly. Then Tara stepped away of the tree. Willow was disappointed, and irritated with Faith who had caused the separation. Tara too, missed the contact. “What was that? What have you done?” asked the slayer. Tara found herself angry at her friend “What was that? What have *I* done?” the witch repeated “Faith; What have YOU done? What were you thinking? Were you thinking at all? You could have hurt Willow…She could have hurt you!”

Faith was again surprised by Tara’s outburst. That wasn’t like Tara at all. But soon that shock became anger. “Geez Tara. What’s with you?”

Faith waved a bundle of fabric she had in her hand while peaking at Tara. Tara took notice and raised her eyebrows. “Faith what do you have in your hand?” before the blonde could realize, she had voiced the silly question forgetting they were arguing.



Faith looked down at the stuff, raising her brows curious. “That?” she raised the bunch eyeing it closely “That’s what I want to know. Seems like clothes, don’t they?. It was between some branches” the brunette pointed out the spot up on Willow.

She began to unravel the bundle of material and the two saw they were in fact clothes. “Whose insane mind would put those on the Haunted?” Faith made a face holding in front of her a creamy sweater with three black lines at the bottom and a penguin skating at the chest. “Tsk, tsk, What a taste. A loon teen, surely” Faith commented. Tara gave her a disapproving look. “Faith, don’t be this way” the witch took the jersey and smile ashamed “ I think it’s cute”.

“Ewws, gross!” Faith exclaimed disgusted as tossing a bra that passed flying over Tara. There were panties too. “That’s sick” grimaced Faith. Shirt, pants, sweater and underwear, there was all but the shoes. Faith grunted. Tara was speechless. What were doing those cloths there? She frowned in thought. Maybe… she looked up to Willow. No, no way. With a shake of her head Tara wobbled out her wishfull thinking.



“I don’t think that Dawn comes here anytime soon” Faith said while Tara collected the clothes together again. “Maybe we should go back to Giles place. He might have found something useful. Tonight we stop over at your tree-friend spot again if you want. Ok?”. Tara sighed and nodded.





Willow watched them leaving. “My clothes! Tonight. No clothes. Uh oh”



TBC…

[kindagay]

Hi



I just noticed this fic today, & I read it right before the thread fell off page 1 and I just had to leave you feedback.



I just have to say - WOW! This fic is wonderful, I read it all in one go and just kept repeating 'wow' the whole time, I'm loving it! It's wonderful & beautiful and, uhm, wow!



I can't wait to read more.

Keep up the great work



Hugs

Jeanne

----------



Tara: “Let me guess – you want me to lie on your lap while you feed me grapes, but my sweet, shy, precious, honey you’ve been too shy to ask – yes?” - GROWW by WannaFriendsBe



My very own Willow & Tara website

[Stormforce]

Hey there, I just got around to reading this fic, and I have to say I really like the idea of Willow being a tree. I can't wait to see Tara finally meet Willow in her human form Or how Will is going to keep herself hidden since Tara and Faith took off with her cloths.



Anyway, great fic, please continue

To be forgotten is worse than death.

[pipsberg]

This is very different! Keep going!

-pipsberg



"We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep - it's as simple and ordinary as that."

Michael Cunningham, The Hours

[CrazyTaraWitch]

been reading ur story for a few weeks now, sooo glad u updated! there haven't any updates in any of the fics i'm reading for like- a week and half, so this made my day!





p.s.: great chapter! faith's a bit annoying tho'!

grosses bisses

~jas

[viximon]

I'm so ashamed Really. It took me like ages to update. I had been to death. Besides my computer broke down for months .
Now I'm here again though.

To
kindagay:I got a Wow from you. That sure mean a great deal to me. Thank you very much

Stromforce: Well Tara finally meet humanWillow. The cloths is still a problem though. Thanks for review me.

Pipsberg: Yep, it’s quite a old fic. Isn’t it? Thanks for you support

CrazyTaraWitch: I’m sorry it took so long. Are you still here? Yep, Faith can be really annoying sometimes. Not to mention when she comes between our two witches.

[viximon]

Title – Haunted tree

Author name - Viximon

Beta's name-Grimlock72

Rating – G (is a AU)

Disclaimer –Pairing Willow/Tara of course . the great characters are own of Joss yada yada yada

Feedback- Please, this is my first T/W fic so I will love to know what you think

Summary- Sunnydale is a place of magic and superstition. When night fall, dark creatures rise. It’s the everyday in the Hellmouth. But soon the Slayer is call to duty. Tara, her witch bestfriend comes with her to the town. They will found that legends are not so false there. They will found a weird friend at the graveyard, a ally who fight with them against evil. Tara will feel strange vibes around that odd and forlorn pal. A force will attract her to the infamous Sunnyday’s Haunted Tree, Willow.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


Rescue me


“Taking the facts. What do we have?” Faith asked while chewing her chinese rooster. Giles looked up to her over his ‘big dusty magic book’, as Faith liked to call it.
They were all back in Giles’ apartment, this time in research mode.
“Let’s see. We know the town is on the mystical Hellmouth. Though the supernatural activity isn’t that high, really intriguing.” Giles paused to wonder. “Then there is that girl, Dawn who seems to go to scary dangerous places at most peculiar hours. She may be a friend or a foe seeing as Faith sensed vampire on her the other night. Possibly it was just that she was really close to one. That only brings up more questions . Does she know something?. By the way she acts, she knows more that she tell us” the English watcher said. Turning to Tara he continued. “ We should locate her and find out.” Tara nodded.

“What about Willow?” Faith said frowning “Did you found something about that damned tree?”
Tara frowned slightly at Faith’s tone. Giles noticed. “Well, lets see” he answered adjusting his glasses. “ I have found little about it. I’m still waiting for some books from the council, to make sure”.
“Willow isn’t dangerous. I’m positive. She can’t be. Willow’s soul isn’t bad, it’s trapped inside the tree…” Tara’s speech drifted away at the look of the watcher. Giles sighed and nodded at Faith who match his concerned expression.
“Faith was right. Tara, I ‘m afraid that you are getting too involved with that spirit. We don’t know what it is yet but your connection is getting dangerous”. Under Giles words, Tara couldn’t help but feel like a reprimanded child. But she hadn’t done anything wrong. She only felt drawn to Willow, wanted to be with, to free Willow’s gentle soul. Was that so bad? Willow wasn’t evil. Of that much, she was sure.
“Your behavior has changed lately. I think you’re under some kind of spell. That Haunted Tree is controlling you. You have to realize that, Fight it” Giles said and Faith nodded again “Yeah. Come on T. You are a powerful Sabrina, just do it!” the slayer cheered.

At first Tara was confused, then she realized. Were her friends accusing her from being under the influence of magic? That Willow was toying with her? She only liked the aura Willow had. Tara just wanted to help the presence living along within the tree. Was that so bad? Really., was it?
“I’m not” Tara said in a whisper “I’m not under any spell, Mr.Giles.” her voice higher now “Faith, you said you trust me” Tara looked at her friend, feeling betrayed. The Slayer and her watcher had been obviously speaking about it for some time now, behind her back. Faith looked away ashamed, something she rarely did.
“We are trying to help you” Giles spoke to their favor. “You’re acting out of character these days. I mean before Dawn. We know you could easily bond with her because your background are pretty similar.” Giles stopped at the witch’s sad blue eyes. That was right, Dawn’s story, Tara had suffered the loss of her mother at the same age, there was so much Tara could related to in the young girl. The memory was too fresh on sensitive Tara’s mind.
“We are worried about you” murmured Giles. “Besides, you like to think that spirit on the Haunted is blameless and harmless. But Tara how did that soul get there in the first place?” Tara got silent, the man had a point, these kind of things didn’t happen casually.
“Listen Tara, it’s not like we’re affirming the willow as the evilish ghoul of the village” joked Faith disliking the tense atmosphere around them “We only want to make sure. Can you wait ‘till then?” Tara looked at Faith and couldn’t help give the brunette a tiny smile.

“Furthermore…” Giles spoke again not convinced Tara giving up on Willow so easily, when Tara made up her mind, she could be stubborn “…I read a while ago something about trapped souls. Not the lost dead’s witch turn to poltergeists. Living ones’. There is the torture method of black witches and magicians, trapping one’s soul inside things to be sure they would suffer for eternity.” Tara and Faith grimaced. Giles continued “ But lock in the soul into something living’s…that requires a large amount of power .” Between While Giles told the tale, Faith and Tara exchanged glances.
“Back in the first centuries, heretics were punished by powerful forces. Those whose sin crossed beyond their world had to pay for it. If the Haunted Tree is one of them…I don’t think it is so safe to be around it.”
“Wow, bad big mojo your Willow might mess with, my friend” Faith whistled a little impressed to Tara. The witch just stared at her friends. She knew no-one, no Willow or anyone else by the matter, could be innocent as newborn but the tree’s amura couldn’t be of someone capable of offending the gods that much, she was too gentle. Or maybe she was letting herself be blinded because she liked Willow, a kindred spirit to her own.
“If that’s the case… Has she not payed enough?” she thought out loud. Giles sighed. Tara was too kind for her own good sometimes. “Tara that’s not our decision to make”.
If she wasn’t so mature, Giles would bet she pouted.
Faith came to Tara putting an arm around the witch shoulders. “Don’t worry blondie. We’ll find out who Willow was, what the hell she did and… whatever. I promise you., If she doesn’t deserve being stuck there anymore. I will help you to free that bush myself.”

***

“Bored” moped Willow. After the slayer stole her Tara’s time, the witch-tree had been really lonesome and quiet. Lately her life was nothing near boring but at the time she felt this way.
She had been awakened from her long lethargy .
As tree she was aware sometimes of what happened around her, in the village. Sometimes she had helped out even. But time passed at weird speeds then. It was like she was dreaming. Seemed yesterday when she went to Buffy’s and Xanders’ graves. Seemed yesterday when she said goodbye to little miss Summers as a human the last time. The day when she was cursed, and blessed at the same time. She had felt like the guilt, the numbness went away with the spell, but so did everything else. She was awake and she wasn’t.
Elisabeth came to visit her sometimes and then Elisabeth wasn’t there anymore. She sometimes would wake up suddenly to find herself still a tree surrounded by vampires and stuff, she would help vanish the evil and would fall asleep once more. To be awoken again on a different time and again and again.….
She had thought she didn’t care anymore but who was she fooling? She cared, she still cared. After the hurt, the helplessness, withdrawal. She still cared. The day Elisabeth came again, she knew. But the Elisabeth who came wasn’t Buffy’s little sister, the Summers’ girl who had stayed behind but her descendant. Strange things happened and she was able to become human again. Only at night however. That Elisabeth, the current ’ one was named Dawn, she was the same as Willow remembered except for her darker hair and eyes. It was a miracle. Dawn gave Willow a new purpose in live. She had to learn to let the past go, she had to move on…
After Dawn’s appearance in her life, existence had gone crazy. Vampires went out more frequently. A new slayer had arrived at Sunnydale, together with a witch. A beautiful witch who Willow’s thought of constantly.
That day though had been the most tiring and confusing since Willow’s return. The quarrel with Dawn (more like a one-sided quarrel of Dawn herself), then Tara, the annoying slayer again, Tara making all better on and on … “Tara” Willow whispered. She liked the name. And the person it belong it made her felt so…alive, human…

Since the departure of her visitors Willow had felt left out, alone, bored. The twilight in the horizon however, warned Willow the boring time was about to end.


***

“Do you think I’m acting weird, Faith?” Tara said softly. Faith stopped in her tracks looking back to her friend. They had been patrolling silently since leaving Giles’ house. The slayer furrowed her eyebrows but said nothing. “I have to respond to that?” the brunette questioned at last a little too harsh, it was obvious Faith was heated about Tara’s behavior recently. Tara ducked her head, hurt.
Faith expression changed immediately, she took a step towards the witch to comfort her. She opened her mouth several times trying to find a good apology. She wasn’t so good at that. “Tara, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so…mean” she smiled uncertain.
The blonde looked at Faith, the tiny lopsided smile on her face indicating she had forgiven her friend already.
There wasn't much time fort a proper explanation for either of them because right then a bunch of monsters jumped on them. There were five vampires and two monsters of the undead kind.
“It’s a welcome party I think?” Faith smiled confidently after avoiding the two vampires swinging at her. She made them crash into each other. Tara held her own, fighting one vamp and a monster. The two women were good but soon enough the evil beings had the upper hand .Witch and slayer were surrounded. Both went back to back panting. Things didn’t go so well for them. There were now three vampires and the monsters, despite the fact that one of them was howling really wounded-this one wouldn’t last long-but was a strong enemy still.
“Faith” Tara called, an echo of fear in her voice but she put on a brave face. Faith looked up over her shoulder to see Tara trying to not lose her ground in the battle. Meanwhile the demons closed in on them. The spark in Faith’s brown eyes said to Tara the slayer had a plan or something sort of. Faith’s ideas were, it situations like this one, crazy and suicidal but it was better than nothing.
“How many do you think you can take?” asked Faith with a whisper to Tara. Tara just stared at her. “Ok, You take the monsters, I take the vamps” the slayer explained softly. “You open a exit in the circle so we can move. I go east you west. Divide and you succeed” Faith smirked giving Tara a reassuring wink. “We would go separate too” the witch thought but seeing the serious expression on Faith she said nothing.
Tara understood. She set the plan in motion. With a spell she directed to the weakened and wounded monster, the witch succeed. She and Faith ran to the opening where the now dying demon was.
Too stunned the others were slow to react. Faith suddenly turned around and charged against one of the remaining vamps, stake at hand and battle cry. Tara finished off the already dying demon, then made a gesture challenging the other one. While the vampires were distracted by Faith, Tara ran away with the demon growling at her heels.

Tara got a last look back, Faith fought the last two vamps running the opposite way . That would be easy for the slayer, two lonely vampires. Tara smiled but she reminded herself she had a monster of her own to take care of too. She could feel the hot breath of that beast getting closer at each stride. She didn’t have the time to cast a spell, she was at the time too busy running for her life. The demonic being was faster than it had seemed. A skinny scaled arm pushed her from behind. Tara ate the dirt literally, crashing into the ground face first with a yelp.
Tara rolled up with frightened wide eyes, all magic forgotten when she found herself pinched at the grass beneath that ugly evil creature. The demon made a gargling sound, Tara assumed to be laughs as the beast showed its pointy teeth. The witch knew that was her end when that humanoid thing bended to her opening its mouth wide. She wanted to scream, to close her eyes and turn her face away, but she couldn’t. She was morbidly fascinated by what was going to be her own death.

Out of the blue a rock hit the creature hard at the head. “Groaarg” it roared angrily spinning her neck to see who had thrown the object. As Tara sensed the demon weight on her lessen she came to her senses. The blonde slipped away from the monster grip quickly while chanting at the same time.
When the demon noticed it was too late, a sunny yellow bolt went through it making a hole on its chest. The rest of it disintegrated around, scales falling silently at the ground and turning mud. Tara stared at the sight for a moment as she tried to calm her breath and pulse. When the monster was completely gone Tara got to her feet. She was sore all over but she was alive once again. How many times had she escaped a deathly situation like this one. Since meeting Faith she had lost count. At last she had the slayer, and the slayer her, to keep each other’s backs. Tara looked around smiling expecting the brunette to be there. Faith surely had rid herself of the vampires and had come to aid her. But there wasn’t a slayer anywhere.
“Faith?” Tara asked wrinkling her brows unconfident. A timid movement cought her attention. The witch walked slightly limp to the place. A figure hid behind a large tombstone hurriedly but Tara had seen it already. “Faith? Is that you?” spoke again Tara, but she knew it wasn’t her friend. Whoever it was, they had thrown the rock at the demon, they had saved her. “Hello?” Tara got closer. She saw again movement at the rear of the gravestone. It was like the person, if it was a person at all, was hiding from her. But why? “I won’t hurt you. Please, show yourself” Tara said softly don’t wanting to scare or push the shadowy rescuer.
The witch could shape it as human. They got very still, then moved up. Tara saw two slender hands rest on the top of the stone, then a head popped up shyly. The moonlight was bright and Tara could see almost perfectly. She frooze . Her heart skipped a beat, or two. There, in front of her was the most beautiful woman Tara had ever seen. Her hair was darker because of the shadows of the night but definitively it was red, framing a pale face. Her nose was cute and she had the most charming mouth smiling coy. The redhead wore a look like the one kids got when the adults got them after a prank, and something else.
But her eyes captivated the blonde witch, eyes which sparkled in the dark, meadow’s green. Time had just stopped on Tara’s world. Her mouth was ajar articulating nothing, like a fish. Any of them made the first move. They gawked at each other. Finally Tara made her legs move. One step closer and then she stopped again. Tara frowned confused now. Was that woman nude? She couldn’t see it before, but closing distance she could see now peeks of the other woman upper chest skin.
“Oh my God” Tara exclaimed blushing deeply.

...TBC

Hope you like it

[kindagay]

Woo hoo! An update

Do you know, I'm sorry to say that I'd forgotten about this story, but then, I saw the thread on the first page of Pens today and I instantly remembered it again & I remembered that I absolutely loved it, so, I said - "Oh, yay, update" - then rushed to read it

That was wonderful definitely deserving of several wow's.

Poor Tara, she must have felt like Giles & Faith were ganging up on her, but, as long as she continues to believe that Willow's soul is good, then everything will be okay. Right?
& I have a feeling that things are gonna get very interesting now that Tara's actually SEEN Willow (although, a little more of Willow than is appropriate for a first meeting - ).

Will our girls actually get a chance to talk now? or is something gonna happen that leads to Willow running away?

I eagerly await the next update - don't leave us waiting so long this time okay?

Hugs
Jeanne

[CrazyTaraWitch]

yay, yay, yay!!!
it had been so long seen i'd read any of ur FABULOUS fic, i started re-reading it last night after i saw that u had updated, and i think i like the story even better the second time, though i have now decided that Giles, too, is annoying, with his 'Willow-might-be-evil', though in truth, i can't really blame him for worrying about Tara, can I?
anywho, this story is great, please don't wait 4 1/2 months to update this time!!!:)