FF: Realms (8/?)

["sam stoltz" <shadowmage_draco@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

I would once again like to thank Coy for graciously beta reading my 
humble tale, making it possible.
......................................................................
Realms
By
Sam


Title: Realms: (8/?)
email: shadowmage_draco@xxxxxxxxxxx 
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own any of the characters 
associated with Buffy the Vampire Slayer; they belong to Joss. I am 
only taking them out to play for a while. This is only met to 
entertain, no copyright infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Everything is fair game 
Archive: Gary, Bill, Quin, Stephanie, all others feel free to post 
them just send me an Email to let me know.
Pairing: B/W 
Note: Ciarán seeks an ally, Giles and Joyce are in serious danger, 
Angel goes to the oracles, Buffy and Willow take an unexpected trip.  
As always feedback is greatly appreciated for it is the fuel that 
feeds the fire of my writing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Why have you come," asked the first oracle.

"What is it you seek," asked the second.

"I come because a warlock called Ciarán has kidnapped The Watcher and 
one slayers Mom and harmed the other slayer. I need to know what is 
going on and how I can help them," replied Angel as he presented the 
Oracles with a complete set of motivational lithographs.

"These are nice pictures,"

"Yes, nice indeed. So you wish to know of the warlock Ciarán"

"He is a very dangerous foe, who seeks to make a even deadlier ally."

"He must be stopped before the ally can be brought through the 
Hellmouth or the Outer Earth will be consumed in darkness as the wars 
begin again."

"What is that suppose to mean," inquired Angel as he tried to 
decipher what the oracles where saying. 

"Go to the Ultimate Slayer and the Mage, they will know," replied the 
first oracle.

"When you see them, you must tell them that the warlock has aligned 
himself with the Demon Prince," replied the second.

Before Angel could ask the oracles anymore he found himself back in 
his LA office. He looked to Cordelia who was waiting for him, "It 
looks like we are going to have to go to Sunnydale."
......................................................................

Giles and Joyce both awoke to find themselves bond and gagged in 
chairs facing one another, in what appeared to be the main room of a 
cabin.  

"I see your finally up Rupert," Replied Ethan as he walked over to 
the couple, "tell me how does it feel to know you have lost."

Ethan let at out a loud chuckle, "I almost forgot, you are unable to 
speak right now."

"Quite teasing my prisoners and prepare for the ceremony," demanded 
Ciarán as he walked into the room carrying the book Fey had sent to 
Giles. The warlock then walked over to Giles and tossed the book in 
his lap, "A very interesting book you have there, at least now I know 
who it is that stands against me. Now it is only a matter of getting 
an ally to distract the void so I can grab the power of the 
Hellmouth," replied Ciarán as he pointed to a makeshift alter in the 
far corner of the room, "The ceremony tonight should take care of 
that, unfortunately when it is over I will no longer be in need of 
your services."  

Ciarán removed the restraints from Giles and Joyce and motioned for 
Ethan to take them to the cellar, "Enjoy yourself Rupert, for the two 
of you do not have much time left on this earth."
......................................................................

Tara sat in the circle chanting as she reached out beyond the earth 
Realms into the Ethereal.  

"What is wrong child?" inquired Fey

"It's the warlock, He injured the second slayer, and Kidnapped The 
Watcher and the Ultimate Slayers mother."

"I was afraid something like this might happen. How are the slayers 
new powers?"

"She is still learning, she has already discovered her new physical 
abilities but has yet to unleash the full potential of her mind."

"I see, what of the young mage?"

"She still hasn't discovered her nature, and relies heavily on spoken 
magic."

Fey sighed, "This is not good, the warlock seeks an ally in the Demon 
Prince if that happens we will need them both at their full 
potential, other wise Outer Earth could be lost."

"What can I do to help," inquired Tara.

"I am going to go before the Powers that Be and ask for there help.  
I need you to return to the slayer and the mage and prepare them for 
the journey to the Upper Ethereal."
......................................................................

"How is she," asked Willow as she entered the room where Buffy was 
tending to Faith.

"Not good, she's not healing like she should."

Willow walked over to Buffy and placed her hand on her lovers 
shoulders, "What do you mean."

"I mean most of the smaller cuts and bruises should be gone by now 
but they're not, for some reason her bodies not using her slayer 
healing abilities."

Willow sat down on Buffy's lap and wrapped her arm around her, "Don't 
worry we'll figure something out," she reassured her companion.

"Maybe I can help," replied Tara who had been silently waiting for 
the two of them to finish talking.

Buffy looked at the blonde immortal and pondered if she wanted the 
girls help. She knew that Tara was there to help them but the girl 
had dated Willow for a whole year when it should have been her and 
she was finding that difficult to forgive.

Tara sensed Buffy's apprehension in wanting her help and knew that 
she was to blame for it, "B-Buffy...I know that my actions in the 
past have caused you pain but there is nothing I can do to change 
that....I would only ask that you forgive me and realize that I mean 
only to help the two of you."

Willow leaned over and kissed the slayer on the cheek, "It's OK 
Sweetheart, you can trust her."

Buffy smiled at the redhead before turning her attention back to 
Tara, "OK, Tell me what's wrong with Faith."

"Her wounds are not healing the way they should because the damage is 
magical in nature. Unlike you, she is only a regular slayer, her 
natural abilities are not enough to overcome the magic."

"Can the two of us heal her," inquired Willow.

"Yes, but I will do it. You and Buffy have more pressing matters."

Both the girls looked at Tara in puzzlement, "What is that suppose to 
mean," asked Buffy.

"Fey has gone to the Powers That Be on your behalf, if all goes well 
you will be going to the upper Ethereal soon."

Willow's eyes grew real wide, "But that's the home of the.....Gods 
and Goddesses."

"Yes....it is."
......................................................................

Buffy and Willow felt their mind's cloud over for a moment, before 
finding themselves standing side by side in a sacred grove. Before 
them stood an enchanting young woman with long flowing hair, she 
seemed almost translucent to the two of them. The woman floated 
gracefully over next to them, "Fear not Warrior of Light, We mean no 
harm to you or your soul mate."

"Who are you," inquired a very nervous slayer.

"I am called Brigid."

"Y-y-your the....G-goddess," stammered Willow.

The Goddess smiled at the two of them, "Yes I am, please join me over 
by the brook we have much to talk about."

When the three of them reached the brook Buffy protectively wrapped 
her arms around Willow, and demanded, "What do you want with us."

"Buffy try to be a little more polite, she's the Goddess," whispered 
Willow.

The Goddess gently smiled at them and spoke in the most comforting 
voice either one of them had ever heard, "It is all right young mage, 
your lover means no malice or disrespect, it is the protective nature 
of the warrior of light and her love for you that cause her actions 
here."

The Goddess then stood directly in front of Buffy, "I come to you as 
the head of the Powers that Be, to show you both your full potential, 
it is the only way you will be able to fight the warlock and win."
......................................................................

Ciarán stood in jet black robes before the alter, "Achin Wer Zorin 
Ta. Tursa God of Darkness I call upon thy name. Xa Ner JI Zor.  
Grant me an ally in my task so that I might serve thy cause. Mala 
Tore Vena."

A thick cloud of red smoke filled the room and a voice boomed from 
it, "I am Laoise, Lord of Demons. Why have you awakened me?"



To be continued..................