The Return of Magic 3/?
Disclaimers can and notes can be found in chapter 1
'Ships: Don't know, but there might be one here eventually.
******
"HOLY SHIT, TERRA CAST A SPELL!" Locke bellowed.
Everyone in the house looked up, shocked.
Celes paled. "What!? How is that possible?" She rushed up the stairs to find Locke laying her down in the bed next to Willow's, who was now awake, and looking around groggily. "What happened?" she demanded. "Buffy, Xander. Your friend is awake too!"
Xander and Buffy rushed into the room. "Willow! Are you ok?" Xander noticed Terra in the other bed. "What happened to Terra?"
Locke looked at the three of them, and noticed the others trying to crowd into the room as well. "Terra asked me about Willow, and then asked to come up here. She looked at you," he motioned to Willow, "and starting mumbling about how it wasn't right or something about you being still asleep. She started mumbling the words for a Cure spell, and before I could remind her it wouldn't work, it DID! She then just fainted dead away."
Buffy sighed, "So we trade one unconscious person for another?"
"I wonder how she was able to cast that spell though." Celes wondered. She peered at Willow. "Hmm, that is strange. You do seem to have a type of energy coming off of you, I think. It's really weak, but it is there."
Locke turned to Willow and looked at her. "I don't sense anything from her."
Willow looked at the both strangely. "Uh, I don't really wanna just be looked at like a piece of meat or something like that and have you poke and prod at me to find out what energy you think is coming off of me and why only she" Willow pointed to Celes, "can sense it and I really don't want to be a guinea pig for any tests to find out why she can and you can't."
Now Sabin was looking at Willow oddly. "Did you even take a breath during that one?"
Xander chuckled. "Willowbabble. Gotta love it. Anyways, how are you doing Willow?"
Willow smiled at Xander. "I'm doing ok now, but where are we? Last thing I remember is a portal opening up at the hospital and sucking me in."
"That's the thing. The portal sucked us in as well, and while this world isn't anywhere close to heaven, it isn't hell either." Xander told her.
Willow looked at Xander. "I don't know why. I did the soul curse the way I was supposed to, but it had a green thread in it. Then a few minutes later, portal comes and I'm here."
"Soul curse? XANDER!"
Xander flinched. "Uh, Buffy, listen to me. You wouldn't have fought all out if you thought that Willow was going to restore his soul. Then Acathla would have been brought to life normally and it would have sucked hell onto our earth. Just because we're here doesn't mean it would have sucked here into our world."
Buffy just looked at him, with dead eyes. "He told me that he had been given his soul back. I didn't believe him, thinking it was another trick. All the time, you knew he actually did. You were jealous, weren't you? Admit it. You told me Willow said 'kick his ass' instead of telling me about the curse because you wanted Angel gone. Then you would have had a chance with me." Buffy started stomping up to him. "I have half a mind to kill you right now."
Sabin went up behind her and grabbed her. "Now hold on a second, he had a good reason from what I can tell. He didn't want Hell on your earth. You really think he'd be that petty?"
Buffy just elbowed him in the gut, sending him back a step. "Yes, he's wanted me for years now. He did it just to get a chance with me. Saving the world was just icing on the cake to him." Buffy turned back to Xander, and threw a punch at him.
Xander's mind short circuited at seeing Buffy's fist coming at his face. His eyes then glazed over, and he made a half step back and to the side, bringing his hand up and spinning Buffy around.
Locke stared at Xander. "Oh shit. He's in a rage."
Buffy regained her footing and laughed. "Him? Rage? Never gonna happen. He just got lucky blocking that punch. He's really level headed, although it's not gonna help him now." Buffy threw another kick at him, which Xander managed to roll with and didn't seem to be hurt.
Setzer shook his head. "No not a berserker rage, but that might be better than this. A friend of ours named Gau can do this too. It's a form of self possession, based on creatures he used to live with."
Xander took that moment to attack back at Buffy, and threw her out of the room and into the wall in the hall.
Willow looked scared. "Self possession? Oh shit, it's either the Hyena, or the Soldier, and looking at his moves, it's the Soldier. How do we get him to snap out of it?" She looked around at the other people, almost begging them for an answer.
Sabin sighed. "We don't. Until either Buffy gives up, kills him, or she dies he's not gonna switch out of this if it's like Gau."
"I just have to kill him huh? Not a problem. I was gonna do that anyways. Stupid bastard, trying to interfere in my life." Buffy stormed back into the room, and swung again at Xander.
"NO. STOP" Willow shouted at them, and then whispered something under her breath.
Buffy kicked out at Xander again, while he made to do a knife hand to her throat. Both hit a barrier between the two of them.
"Buffy, give up the fight. Let him return to normal, and then we'll talk it out."
"Never. He can stay like that for all I care." Buffy smirked at Xander, who was now pacing around the invisible cage.
Xander looked at Buffy, then at Willow and grinned. "I thought you'd make a good mate, but after this? I'm gonna rip you to shreds bitch, and the boy's agreeing with me right now."
"Uh, guys. Tell me something. Are there any Hyenas in your world?" Willow looked around nervously.
"Hyenas? They died out a while ago. There are jackals though, why?" Celes asked.
"Xander is too calm about this. I think he's gonna get some help. He's using his connection as pack leader to summon a pack of the closest animals that are like him here." Willow looked at Xander, who was now alternating between staring at Buffy and concentrating on something else and losing focus.
"So? Not like I can't take a bunch of crappy little animals. I'm the Slayer, I'll walk right through them." Buffy sneered at Xander. "No matter what you're bringing, you are going to die today asshole. For killing my Angel."
"Uh, Buffy? Maybe you should ask us about that first." Sabin looked at her. "If the punch you hit me with is as strong as you can hit, they'll tear you to shreds. They're really vicious. A group of them almost took out me."
"Nope, not my full strength when I hit you." Buffy looked at Sabin and sniffed. "Had I done that, you would be dead now."
Turning to Willow, Sabin asked her, "Can you let me into her box? I think she needs to learn a few things." Willow shook her head. "Trust me, she caught me by surprise the last time."
Willow sighed and nodded. "Buffy, don't kill him please."
"As if. The only one I'm killing now is Xander."
Willow concentrated, and then looked at Sabin. "Alright, you can go in, but only you. And once you're in, you can't come out until I drop the field completely, alright?"
Sabin nodded and walked past the invisible barrier that held Buffy back. "So, you think you're strong huh?" Sabin drew back his hand, made a fist, and struck at Buffy and hit her in the stomach.
The force of the hit picked her up and she flew back against barrier and grunted. Buffy staggered on her feet, but didn't fall down. "Damn, you hit like Luke on steroids. Oh well, I dusted him and his Master, I can beat you. Then I will take care of Xander."
Cackling laughter was heard from the other part of the room. Everyone turned to look at the source, and saw Xander standing there. "Thank you guys, you've given me the time I needed to summon the pack. Give them a few minutes. And now, I hand control back over to the Soldier. Have fun." The glow faded from Xander's eyes, only to be replaced by a hardening of them. "Ah, good to be back. Now to business. Willow, you are walking a fine line between friend and foe here. Locking me in here came close to getting you dropped into the foe category, but you did it thinking you were protecting me." He looked at Sabin. "You tried to help, you I label friend." His eyes moved over to Buffy, who had recovered from Sabin's attack. "You are so far up shit creek that a paddle wouldn't save you. Attacking me because I tried to save the world and you thought it was over some pitiful feelings for you? As FUCKING IF. I've got my priorities straight bitch, something you don't seem to. Consider yourself dead. The Hyena should have never chosen such a flawed woman such as you as a potential mate." Xander looked again at Willow. "Sorry, but this is going to hurt you." Xander made a fist and punched the barrier separating him from Buffy.
Willow shuddered with the hit. "Buffy, you have to get out of here now. For some reason, he's a HELL of a lot stronger than you, he might break the barrier."
Buffy started at that. "What? Shit."
Just then, they heard a sort of barking laughter from the outside.
"Ah, the pack is finally here. Alright Slayer, take your pick. Me or the group outside. Myself, I think you have a better chance with them. That is, if you can get out."
Willow looked at Xander stunned. "Xander, I'm going to drop the barrier on Buffy. She needs to get away."
Xander nodded. "I know. I'm not labeling you foe for that. She's the only one I want now." Xander sat down in the middle of his area.
Willow took a deep breath, and dropped Buffy's part of the barrier while using the energy to strengthen the one holding Xander. She then nodded at Buffy.
Buffy grinned, and ran at Xander, striking at his barrier as hard as she could. Neither Willow or the barrier shuddered. Buffy stared at Xander then.
"I figured you would try that, just to show me that you could have broken out. Nice try bitch, but I knew you couldn't. The pack has orders to let you out if you get past them within the next five minutes and you don't harm any of them. I'd take it." Xander shook his head. "Times a ticking, Slayer."
Locke looked at the both of them. "Xander," he started carefully, "I'm gonna go with Buffy. She doesn't know her way around here, so she'll need a guide for a while at least. I'm not taking either of your sides in this though."
Xander looked at him. "Agreed. You are granted leave to go through the pack without harm at anytime, so long as you don't get between me and Buffy."
Locke grabbed Buffy's arm and drug her out the room, and down the stairs through the front door. After the front door slammed shut and nothing was heard from anything outside, Willow gave Xander a weak grin.
"You're not going to attempt to break out are you?"
"Nah, but you might want to keep on your toes for a bit. I'm having the pack leave. As soon as Buffy is out of sight of both me and the pack, you'll have your Xander back."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A few minutes later, Xander sagged where he sat and then looked up.
"Uh guys, what's up? Why are you all staring at me? Willow, are you ok? Last thing I remember is you saying something about the... oh shit. You said something about the soul curse and Buffy was in here. I was hoping to break it to her a little more gently." He stood and tried to walk to Willow, but bounced off the still intact barrier.
Willow looked at him. "Are you sure you're you Xander? I'm not dropping the barrier until I know."
Xander looked puzzled. "Why would I not be me, Wills? I'm fine, if a little tired. But you know me. I'm exhausted at the thought of work." He grinned at her.
Willow just shook her head at him and smiled wanly. "OK, it's you." She waved her hand at Xander. "Alright, it's down. You can move around again."
"OK, I've got a couple of questions. First of all, what the hell happened to me?"
"Well, youkindagotintoafightwithBuffyandyouregressedbacktothehyenabutyouwerecoheren tandswitchedbackandforthtothesoldierguytooandnearlybrokemybarriertogetatBuff ytotrytokillherfortryingtokillyou." Willow took a deep breath.
Xander looked at her, and puzzled through it. "HOLY SHIT?!?!"
"Yeah, they said you went into a Rage and self-possessed yourself but you're able to break out of it when a fight is over."
"Okay... I'm just gonna repress that one and move on. I don't even want to think about that."
"But Xander, Hyena you summoned a pack of real hyenas and told Buffy that if she didn't leave, it was going to be a choice of getting killed by you or the hyenas or whatever they were."
"Nuh uh Wills, I told you. I'm repressing this. I'll deal later, once I can break down. I want an answer to my second question first. They told me magic was dead in this world. Yet you cast a spell to separate me and Buffy, quite forcibly. How?"
Celes nodded in agreement. "That's the most powerful Safe spell I've ever seen. How did you do it? Terra was barely able to cast Cure on you, and it knocked her into a coma! How do you get away with casting like that after just waking up and nothing happens to you?" Celes demanded of Willow. The rest of the group nodded.
Willow just looked at her strangely. "Knocked her into a coma just casting a healing spell on me?" Willow looked to Terra lying in the other bed. "She's brimming with magical power. She should be able to resurrect someone with that much power, and not even break a sweat."
Celes shook her head. "Not possible. Magic was destroyed in this world. I can understand you being able to do it, but not Terra. Our magic power source was destroyed."
Now it was Willows turn to stare at Celes. "Destroyed? How do you destroy a source of magic? You've even got some magic in you. Not as much as this Terra here, but you do."
Locke looked at Celes and then back to Willow. "Magic was destroyed here when a really insane guy got a hold of the three goddess statues, and drained them of their magic. We had to destroy the statues to get to him, and then we killed him. There wasn't anywhere for that power to go, so it blew up all magic."
Willow just shook her head. "Magic like that can't be destroyed. Celes, can you do me a favor? Cast the easiest spell you know, one that you know quite well." Willow watched Celes.
She nodded her head. Easy spell I know huh? How about first spell I ever learned. Ice Mumbling the words under her breath, Celes attempted to cast the spell. Nothing happened. "See, it's gone. Terra's spell must have been a fluke."
"No, try again. And this time try. You didn't think it was going to work, but you need to at least try hard this time. Concentrate on it."
Celes grimaced, and then spoke the words again, this time with a measure of force behind them. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees, and Celes feel to the ground, panting from exertion.
"Interesting. You can't really use that type of magic anymore I don't think. You took a huge well of energy, and converted it to a much smaller form that barely had the power to make that spell. My magic isn't like that, so maybe that's why I can do spells easier than you can. My magic uses a form that is closer to natural. Watch."
Willow focused on Terra, and spoke a single word. "AWAKE." Terra moaned and then sat up.
Everyone looked first at Terra, then to Willow and back to Terra again. "Terra, you're awake!" Celes looked about ready to cry.
Terra looked at Celes, then over to Willow. Seeing her awake, she jumped out of bed and moved to her and knelt down at the foot of the bed. "Sister. I am glad to see that you are awake now. I wondered why you were still asleep, but I see it did you good."
Willows eyes went slightly black. "Hush little one. You know that is not where you belong. You know that you belong next to me. I am glad to see that he did not do as much harm to you as I feared he had."
Xander, Celes, and Setzer just stared at them, wondering what they were talking about.
Terra then spoke. "Neither of our forms are strong enough yet, we have to return."
Willow nodded. "Yes, and remember. It is their choice if they want to take up the mantle. It is good to see you again though." Willow and Terra hugged, and then sagged together. When they looked back up, Willow's eyes had returned to her normal color.
****** Post fic comments: Sorry, I need some time to figure out what to do with Xander. That's why he said that. Next chapter I promise that I'll address the question of him.
Feedback, it's the coin of the realm. Make me rich people.
Disclaimers can and notes can be found in chapter 1
'Ships: Don't know, but there might be one here eventually.
******
"HOLY SHIT, TERRA CAST A SPELL!" Locke bellowed.
Everyone in the house looked up, shocked.
Celes paled. "What!? How is that possible?" She rushed up the stairs to find Locke laying her down in the bed next to Willow's, who was now awake, and looking around groggily. "What happened?" she demanded. "Buffy, Xander. Your friend is awake too!"
Xander and Buffy rushed into the room. "Willow! Are you ok?" Xander noticed Terra in the other bed. "What happened to Terra?"
Locke looked at the three of them, and noticed the others trying to crowd into the room as well. "Terra asked me about Willow, and then asked to come up here. She looked at you," he motioned to Willow, "and starting mumbling about how it wasn't right or something about you being still asleep. She started mumbling the words for a Cure spell, and before I could remind her it wouldn't work, it DID! She then just fainted dead away."
Buffy sighed, "So we trade one unconscious person for another?"
"I wonder how she was able to cast that spell though." Celes wondered. She peered at Willow. "Hmm, that is strange. You do seem to have a type of energy coming off of you, I think. It's really weak, but it is there."
Locke turned to Willow and looked at her. "I don't sense anything from her."
Willow looked at the both strangely. "Uh, I don't really wanna just be looked at like a piece of meat or something like that and have you poke and prod at me to find out what energy you think is coming off of me and why only she" Willow pointed to Celes, "can sense it and I really don't want to be a guinea pig for any tests to find out why she can and you can't."
Now Sabin was looking at Willow oddly. "Did you even take a breath during that one?"
Xander chuckled. "Willowbabble. Gotta love it. Anyways, how are you doing Willow?"
Willow smiled at Xander. "I'm doing ok now, but where are we? Last thing I remember is a portal opening up at the hospital and sucking me in."
"That's the thing. The portal sucked us in as well, and while this world isn't anywhere close to heaven, it isn't hell either." Xander told her.
Willow looked at Xander. "I don't know why. I did the soul curse the way I was supposed to, but it had a green thread in it. Then a few minutes later, portal comes and I'm here."
"Soul curse? XANDER!"
Xander flinched. "Uh, Buffy, listen to me. You wouldn't have fought all out if you thought that Willow was going to restore his soul. Then Acathla would have been brought to life normally and it would have sucked hell onto our earth. Just because we're here doesn't mean it would have sucked here into our world."
Buffy just looked at him, with dead eyes. "He told me that he had been given his soul back. I didn't believe him, thinking it was another trick. All the time, you knew he actually did. You were jealous, weren't you? Admit it. You told me Willow said 'kick his ass' instead of telling me about the curse because you wanted Angel gone. Then you would have had a chance with me." Buffy started stomping up to him. "I have half a mind to kill you right now."
Sabin went up behind her and grabbed her. "Now hold on a second, he had a good reason from what I can tell. He didn't want Hell on your earth. You really think he'd be that petty?"
Buffy just elbowed him in the gut, sending him back a step. "Yes, he's wanted me for years now. He did it just to get a chance with me. Saving the world was just icing on the cake to him." Buffy turned back to Xander, and threw a punch at him.
Xander's mind short circuited at seeing Buffy's fist coming at his face. His eyes then glazed over, and he made a half step back and to the side, bringing his hand up and spinning Buffy around.
Locke stared at Xander. "Oh shit. He's in a rage."
Buffy regained her footing and laughed. "Him? Rage? Never gonna happen. He just got lucky blocking that punch. He's really level headed, although it's not gonna help him now." Buffy threw another kick at him, which Xander managed to roll with and didn't seem to be hurt.
Setzer shook his head. "No not a berserker rage, but that might be better than this. A friend of ours named Gau can do this too. It's a form of self possession, based on creatures he used to live with."
Xander took that moment to attack back at Buffy, and threw her out of the room and into the wall in the hall.
Willow looked scared. "Self possession? Oh shit, it's either the Hyena, or the Soldier, and looking at his moves, it's the Soldier. How do we get him to snap out of it?" She looked around at the other people, almost begging them for an answer.
Sabin sighed. "We don't. Until either Buffy gives up, kills him, or she dies he's not gonna switch out of this if it's like Gau."
"I just have to kill him huh? Not a problem. I was gonna do that anyways. Stupid bastard, trying to interfere in my life." Buffy stormed back into the room, and swung again at Xander.
"NO. STOP" Willow shouted at them, and then whispered something under her breath.
Buffy kicked out at Xander again, while he made to do a knife hand to her throat. Both hit a barrier between the two of them.
"Buffy, give up the fight. Let him return to normal, and then we'll talk it out."
"Never. He can stay like that for all I care." Buffy smirked at Xander, who was now pacing around the invisible cage.
Xander looked at Buffy, then at Willow and grinned. "I thought you'd make a good mate, but after this? I'm gonna rip you to shreds bitch, and the boy's agreeing with me right now."
"Uh, guys. Tell me something. Are there any Hyenas in your world?" Willow looked around nervously.
"Hyenas? They died out a while ago. There are jackals though, why?" Celes asked.
"Xander is too calm about this. I think he's gonna get some help. He's using his connection as pack leader to summon a pack of the closest animals that are like him here." Willow looked at Xander, who was now alternating between staring at Buffy and concentrating on something else and losing focus.
"So? Not like I can't take a bunch of crappy little animals. I'm the Slayer, I'll walk right through them." Buffy sneered at Xander. "No matter what you're bringing, you are going to die today asshole. For killing my Angel."
"Uh, Buffy? Maybe you should ask us about that first." Sabin looked at her. "If the punch you hit me with is as strong as you can hit, they'll tear you to shreds. They're really vicious. A group of them almost took out me."
"Nope, not my full strength when I hit you." Buffy looked at Sabin and sniffed. "Had I done that, you would be dead now."
Turning to Willow, Sabin asked her, "Can you let me into her box? I think she needs to learn a few things." Willow shook her head. "Trust me, she caught me by surprise the last time."
Willow sighed and nodded. "Buffy, don't kill him please."
"As if. The only one I'm killing now is Xander."
Willow concentrated, and then looked at Sabin. "Alright, you can go in, but only you. And once you're in, you can't come out until I drop the field completely, alright?"
Sabin nodded and walked past the invisible barrier that held Buffy back. "So, you think you're strong huh?" Sabin drew back his hand, made a fist, and struck at Buffy and hit her in the stomach.
The force of the hit picked her up and she flew back against barrier and grunted. Buffy staggered on her feet, but didn't fall down. "Damn, you hit like Luke on steroids. Oh well, I dusted him and his Master, I can beat you. Then I will take care of Xander."
Cackling laughter was heard from the other part of the room. Everyone turned to look at the source, and saw Xander standing there. "Thank you guys, you've given me the time I needed to summon the pack. Give them a few minutes. And now, I hand control back over to the Soldier. Have fun." The glow faded from Xander's eyes, only to be replaced by a hardening of them. "Ah, good to be back. Now to business. Willow, you are walking a fine line between friend and foe here. Locking me in here came close to getting you dropped into the foe category, but you did it thinking you were protecting me." He looked at Sabin. "You tried to help, you I label friend." His eyes moved over to Buffy, who had recovered from Sabin's attack. "You are so far up shit creek that a paddle wouldn't save you. Attacking me because I tried to save the world and you thought it was over some pitiful feelings for you? As FUCKING IF. I've got my priorities straight bitch, something you don't seem to. Consider yourself dead. The Hyena should have never chosen such a flawed woman such as you as a potential mate." Xander looked again at Willow. "Sorry, but this is going to hurt you." Xander made a fist and punched the barrier separating him from Buffy.
Willow shuddered with the hit. "Buffy, you have to get out of here now. For some reason, he's a HELL of a lot stronger than you, he might break the barrier."
Buffy started at that. "What? Shit."
Just then, they heard a sort of barking laughter from the outside.
"Ah, the pack is finally here. Alright Slayer, take your pick. Me or the group outside. Myself, I think you have a better chance with them. That is, if you can get out."
Willow looked at Xander stunned. "Xander, I'm going to drop the barrier on Buffy. She needs to get away."
Xander nodded. "I know. I'm not labeling you foe for that. She's the only one I want now." Xander sat down in the middle of his area.
Willow took a deep breath, and dropped Buffy's part of the barrier while using the energy to strengthen the one holding Xander. She then nodded at Buffy.
Buffy grinned, and ran at Xander, striking at his barrier as hard as she could. Neither Willow or the barrier shuddered. Buffy stared at Xander then.
"I figured you would try that, just to show me that you could have broken out. Nice try bitch, but I knew you couldn't. The pack has orders to let you out if you get past them within the next five minutes and you don't harm any of them. I'd take it." Xander shook his head. "Times a ticking, Slayer."
Locke looked at the both of them. "Xander," he started carefully, "I'm gonna go with Buffy. She doesn't know her way around here, so she'll need a guide for a while at least. I'm not taking either of your sides in this though."
Xander looked at him. "Agreed. You are granted leave to go through the pack without harm at anytime, so long as you don't get between me and Buffy."
Locke grabbed Buffy's arm and drug her out the room, and down the stairs through the front door. After the front door slammed shut and nothing was heard from anything outside, Willow gave Xander a weak grin.
"You're not going to attempt to break out are you?"
"Nah, but you might want to keep on your toes for a bit. I'm having the pack leave. As soon as Buffy is out of sight of both me and the pack, you'll have your Xander back."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A few minutes later, Xander sagged where he sat and then looked up.
"Uh guys, what's up? Why are you all staring at me? Willow, are you ok? Last thing I remember is you saying something about the... oh shit. You said something about the soul curse and Buffy was in here. I was hoping to break it to her a little more gently." He stood and tried to walk to Willow, but bounced off the still intact barrier.
Willow looked at him. "Are you sure you're you Xander? I'm not dropping the barrier until I know."
Xander looked puzzled. "Why would I not be me, Wills? I'm fine, if a little tired. But you know me. I'm exhausted at the thought of work." He grinned at her.
Willow just shook her head at him and smiled wanly. "OK, it's you." She waved her hand at Xander. "Alright, it's down. You can move around again."
"OK, I've got a couple of questions. First of all, what the hell happened to me?"
"Well, youkindagotintoafightwithBuffyandyouregressedbacktothehyenabutyouwerecoheren tandswitchedbackandforthtothesoldierguytooandnearlybrokemybarriertogetatBuff ytotrytokillherfortryingtokillyou." Willow took a deep breath.
Xander looked at her, and puzzled through it. "HOLY SHIT?!?!"
"Yeah, they said you went into a Rage and self-possessed yourself but you're able to break out of it when a fight is over."
"Okay... I'm just gonna repress that one and move on. I don't even want to think about that."
"But Xander, Hyena you summoned a pack of real hyenas and told Buffy that if she didn't leave, it was going to be a choice of getting killed by you or the hyenas or whatever they were."
"Nuh uh Wills, I told you. I'm repressing this. I'll deal later, once I can break down. I want an answer to my second question first. They told me magic was dead in this world. Yet you cast a spell to separate me and Buffy, quite forcibly. How?"
Celes nodded in agreement. "That's the most powerful Safe spell I've ever seen. How did you do it? Terra was barely able to cast Cure on you, and it knocked her into a coma! How do you get away with casting like that after just waking up and nothing happens to you?" Celes demanded of Willow. The rest of the group nodded.
Willow just looked at her strangely. "Knocked her into a coma just casting a healing spell on me?" Willow looked to Terra lying in the other bed. "She's brimming with magical power. She should be able to resurrect someone with that much power, and not even break a sweat."
Celes shook her head. "Not possible. Magic was destroyed in this world. I can understand you being able to do it, but not Terra. Our magic power source was destroyed."
Now it was Willows turn to stare at Celes. "Destroyed? How do you destroy a source of magic? You've even got some magic in you. Not as much as this Terra here, but you do."
Locke looked at Celes and then back to Willow. "Magic was destroyed here when a really insane guy got a hold of the three goddess statues, and drained them of their magic. We had to destroy the statues to get to him, and then we killed him. There wasn't anywhere for that power to go, so it blew up all magic."
Willow just shook her head. "Magic like that can't be destroyed. Celes, can you do me a favor? Cast the easiest spell you know, one that you know quite well." Willow watched Celes.
She nodded her head. Easy spell I know huh? How about first spell I ever learned. Ice Mumbling the words under her breath, Celes attempted to cast the spell. Nothing happened. "See, it's gone. Terra's spell must have been a fluke."
"No, try again. And this time try. You didn't think it was going to work, but you need to at least try hard this time. Concentrate on it."
Celes grimaced, and then spoke the words again, this time with a measure of force behind them. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees, and Celes feel to the ground, panting from exertion.
"Interesting. You can't really use that type of magic anymore I don't think. You took a huge well of energy, and converted it to a much smaller form that barely had the power to make that spell. My magic isn't like that, so maybe that's why I can do spells easier than you can. My magic uses a form that is closer to natural. Watch."
Willow focused on Terra, and spoke a single word. "AWAKE." Terra moaned and then sat up.
Everyone looked first at Terra, then to Willow and back to Terra again. "Terra, you're awake!" Celes looked about ready to cry.
Terra looked at Celes, then over to Willow. Seeing her awake, she jumped out of bed and moved to her and knelt down at the foot of the bed. "Sister. I am glad to see that you are awake now. I wondered why you were still asleep, but I see it did you good."
Willows eyes went slightly black. "Hush little one. You know that is not where you belong. You know that you belong next to me. I am glad to see that he did not do as much harm to you as I feared he had."
Xander, Celes, and Setzer just stared at them, wondering what they were talking about.
Terra then spoke. "Neither of our forms are strong enough yet, we have to return."
Willow nodded. "Yes, and remember. It is their choice if they want to take up the mantle. It is good to see you again though." Willow and Terra hugged, and then sagged together. When they looked back up, Willow's eyes had returned to her normal color.
****** Post fic comments: Sorry, I need some time to figure out what to do with Xander. That's why he said that. Next chapter I promise that I'll address the question of him.
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