Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not mine. The Jester, the Professor, The Librarian, etc. are all mine.

Thanks to Starway Man, my beta

The Iron Coin Chronicles: Season 1

By Alkeni

Teaser: Rewritten

How does one describe a phenomenon, a place, or even a being that the human mind simply cannot comprehend? How does one use words to paint a picture that cannot be processed by human senses? Cannot be grasped by the human intellect?

If a human were to observe the group of twelve-dimensional avatars of twenty-three dimensional super-space beings occupying a segment of nine-dimensional space discussing events all the way down on the third dimension, the best term they might use to describe the sliver of hyper-reality which their minds could process would be 'surreal'.

The limits of human understanding force inappropriate terms and descriptors on the events in question, but then, they are the only way to describe the events at hand.

"The events of the last mortal year in the theater infected by the Iron Coin's essence are unacceptable." A black-robed, elderly-looking 'man' said. He, or rather it, was known as the Librarian, with an iron book with pages of gold open in front of the avatar, floating in midair. "The ripple effects are already affecting plans for time and space far beyond."

"Granted, there are ripple effects, but the ones that spread beyond the theater in discussion have been accounted for and dealt with." Another being replied. It appeared as a tall, statuesque woman, her blonde hair cropped short, wearing chainmail armor underneath a red stylized tabard with an ever changing white emblem. A black cape flowed down from her shoulders, and a sword was at either hip. "The only issue remains the source of the infection. We are all agreed the coin must be removed from play. Your plan failed, Librarian. That leaves only my option."

"It only failed, Stratagem, because those two," the Librarian pointed two other avatars present, "stopped me from eliminating the mother of the coin-bearer, or others close to him. Otherwise, it would have succeeded with minimal impact on the grand design."

"You still haven't learned your lesson, have you? Such heavy-handed tactics will never work against that sort of mortal. I would have thought you'd have realized that by now, especially after the Jester's coin-bearer attacked you that way." One of the two avatars the Librarian had pointed to said. It appeared to be a man of late middle age, balding a little and gray at the temples. The avatar appeared to be wearing a suit with elbow patches; he had a wooden pipe in his mouth and was seated at a desk, surrounded by what appeared to be reference books.

The Professor, for that was what this being was known as to mortals, selected a book and opened it, running his finger down a list of names and entries within. "That has always been your failing, Librarian. You're too used to just writing whatever you wish done into existence."

"And I suppose you have a better plan, Professor?"

"The mortal wielding the Iron Coin, Xander Harris, can use it only with a limited capacity – months at best, and perceiving only the next thing written in the books of others. But you can write far faster than he can foresee and change things. And the Gazer's talents can ensure that what is written over whatever the coin-bearer changes achieves our intended effect, regardless."

"What has occurred due to that meddling mortal cannot be so easily rewritten as to conform to prior specifications. Not without...problems. The would-have-been seer, the dark slayer and her watcher – even the second witch. They are in play in ways and places they were never meant to be." The Librarian pointed out. "I perceive no viable tactic available to simply write them where they should have been at this point."

"This is true," the Professor agreed, "But there are still things to come that the coin-bearer will use his gift from the Jester to observe, and attempt to prevent. If he does pre-empt them, we can rewrite the events in question, change the course of his future. There are multiple paths to one end, Librarian."

"You propose subtlety? Against an infection of this magnitude? If the Jester is not shown the error of his ways in doing this, then we will see fragments of all five of his coins scattered across the mortal plane, in every universe and on every world!" the Stratagem argued, one hand flying to the hilt of one of her two swords.

"Perhaps, perhaps not. Nonetheless, I propose against more of the same as the Librarian's plan. Your plan is essentially the same as his, only on a larger scale. The Iron Coin cannot be taken away by any of us, or our agents. Only the Jester may take it back, or else the coin-bearer must willingly surrender it. Death will only transfer stewardship of the coin to other, possibly worse mortals." The Professor replied.

"Your tactic will only give the Jester what he seeks. 'Amusement'." The Stratagem countered.

"Anything we do will only give the Jester amusement, Stratagem." The Professor countered. "He is not the Hydra, a monster to be beaten back one head at a time. You cannot cut his strings and webs as you would those the Weaver, for he has none. He lives on chance, not on plans."

"Your plan is distasteful, but nonetheless it has been proposed. It must be given the due consideration by us all." The Librarian cut in, before the Professor and the Stratagem could resume an old argument – old, even by the standards of these beings. "What is the will of the collective of Fate?"

A moment passed, as the four avatars shared their thoughts – not only with each-other, but with the others of their kind present, but silent, and then the Librarian glared at the Professor. As he did that the Librarian noticed the Stratagem looked not just angry when looking on the Professor, but murderous, before he said, "Very well, Professor. We shall implement this plan you and the Gazer have crafted."

"And when it fails, as it inevitably will," The Stratagem told them all through gritted teeth, "I will take care of this problem with true finality, and deal with this mortal – the way it should have been done now."