FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 38: Worlds' Dilemma - Slayer's Strength)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Greetings one and all,
This is the end my friends. The Worlds' Dilemma storyline is the grand
finale of Two Worlds, that will tie up lose plot ends and set the stage for
the sequel that's coming this Christmas. Enjoy and please Read and Review
this goes out to everybody that have been following the story these past six
months,
Yours faithful bard,
Cilia


-Two Worlds-
Cilia

Chapter 38: Worlds' Dilemma - Slayer's Strength

Buffy opened her eyes slowly as the sun starting spilling through the
windows of her room. She felt an arm around her body and something warm and
soft pressing against her side. Her right arm was numb, but still not
uncomfortably so. Her sleep-hazed mind raced. Maybe it had all been just a
long, weird dream and she was back with her Willow, but as she fully awoke,
the dim memories of the previous night came back to her. Turning her head
slightly to view the woman beside her, she sighed.
What am I going to do now, she thought to herself as she looked down
at Cordelia's arm covering her breasts. Reaching out slowly, she started
playing with a lock of the Ranger's hair with her free hand.
Maybe I should just start over... run away with Cordelia. Or maybe
just go back home with Spike, her mind wandered. Why do I feel so guilty?
Carefully untangling herself from the Ranger's hold, she dressed slowly,
never taking her eyes of the other woman, while in her mind, she argued for
and against leaving the Ranger like this. In the end, her love for her
unborn child and her devotion to Willow won out. She tied the last bootstrap
and left the room, but not before casting a long, final glance at the
sleeping Ranger from the door. Cordelia was her security net now; she knew
that if she were to fall again, Cordelia would be there to catch her. She
snuck down the stairs and out the door into the chilly morning air. It was
still early so the only people she passed on the wet streets were the
fishermen heading for the docks to begin their day.

She started with a trip down to the docks in order to retrieve her wedding
ring, but that proved to be a futile effort at best and only made her
sadness and guilt worse. Had she really been that close to the brink of
despair the night before? She pictured herself flattening the ring in her
hand, and it falling to the ground with a splash and then. somebody came
walking by, bent down, and picked it up.
Spike? How did he... she thought, but then shook her head and chalked it up
to her mind playing tricks on her. She walked on.

Her wanderings, in the end, brought to the gates of the Mage Guild. There
she stood, looking through them at the towers and gardens within. There were
still puddles on the streets from the rain the night before and she looked
down into the one at her feet. She felt as if her eyes were older somehow,
and her face, although it bore no mentionable scars, showed that she had
battled and pulled through, barely.
Maybe I can pull through this as well, she thought. She was pulled
from her musings by the crackle of energy that accompanied a magical
teleportation.
"I asked you not to return here," the familiar voice of her wife
said firmly.
"Well... I wouldn't be much of a wife if I... didn't at least try
one last time," she answered and stepped through the gate.
Looking her up and down, Rosetta appeared deep in thought, finally snapping
her fingers as she turned on her heels. "Walk with me," she ordered and
motioned the Slayer to follow.
Nodding slowly, Buffy followed the mage into the gardens. They walked to a
small reflecting pool where Rosetta sat down and gestured for her to do the
same.
"Look into the water, Slayer, and tell me what you see?" she asked
calmly.
Buffy looked into the pool and saw what she had seen earlier in the puddle,
only clearer. Her hair, held in place by a long braid, a few loose strands
sticking out here and there, was showing its light brown color. Her blue
eyes were open and alert. She looked at the tiny scar on her chin that had
been caused by a chipped piece of metal. She touched her tanned yet weather
bitten cheeks.
"I see... the Slayer, Elisabeth Anne Summers, former General in the
army of Queen Piratess. Wife to Willow Rosenberg and... the mother-to-be of
June Xare Summers," she answered.
Rosetta nodded with a thoughtful look in her eyes, then she, too, looked
down into the pool. Buffy studied the others image in the pool, the short,
dark red hair, the beautiful green eyes that were mysteriously flecked with
red, her soft cheeks with the light freckles and the thin scar running the
length of her cheek.
"I see a stranger. A warrior of great strength and skill that truly
believes her wife can be returned to her," Rosetta said and looked up at the
Slayer. "I am not your wife, Slayer Elisabeth Anne Summers. Perhaps I once
was, but... that life is forgotten to me now."
"But, I could help you remember," Buffy said with a small, pleading
smile.
"I'm sure you would and, maybe, not long ago... I would have
accepted your offer," Rosetta said with sad smile. "But, please try and
understand that I have a life here now and. I have love," she said and past
her palm over the water and an image of her lover came into view.
"But..." Buffy stammered.
"I am sorry for your loss, Elisabeth, I truly am," the Mage said and
stood. "Your wife... is dead and only I remain," she explained. She bent
down and kissed the Slayer's forehead, and with a crackle of energy, was
gone.
"Rosetta... wait-" Buffy started. Alone again, she looked back into the
pool as her tears start forming circle on the clear water as they hit.
"This is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into kiddo," a voice that she
had known for longer then she could remember said from behind her.
"Mom?" she asked and started slowly turning around.
"Hello, dear," Joyce greeted her daughter with a smile from where
she stood. Buffy was on her feet and hugging her before the avatar could
register movement.
"Oh, mom... I thought you were... I mean I had."
"Written me off? I figured as much," Joyce said as she held her
daughter at arms length.
"Why... um, where... how did you get here?" Buffy asked
suspiciously, cocking her head slightly. "And what's with the eyes?"
"I've been into the great beyond and, well, lets just say I picked
up some new tricks," Joyce explained. "As for the why, I sensed that you
were about to make a mistake and..."
"Wait, a mistake?" Buffy asked, "What mistake?"
"You slept with Cordy, honey, and since I didn't arrive until
after... well, it makes things... complicated," the Avatar explained.
"Complicated?" Buffy asked very confused.
"I can. well, I could have made things better, but now it won't be
so eas-"
"Wait-wait-wait... are you saying you can return Willow to me?"
Buffy asked with wide eyes.
"I... could have, yes... But now, I believe, the results would not
be..."
"To hell with results! If you can bring back my wife, then do it!"
Buffy shouted, pleaded.
Joyce gave her daughter a long, hard look. "I have already been to see
Cordelia. But before I make a decision, I must speak with Rosetta," Joyce
explained. "And you, young lady, need to go talk with Cordelia," she added.
"Mom, I'm..." Buffy choked on the words as she reached out to touch
her mother. "I... blamed you and..."
"I know, honey, I know. And I forgive you. It's okay. But now, you
really must go," she said as she drew a flaming line in the air with her
finger. "Be here at midnight and I'll try to do what I can," she offered as
she stepped through the rift. Buffy stared at the rippling air before
turning and making a run for the inn.

To be continued in Worlds' Dilemma - Avatar's Fire