FIC: Lost Worlds of the House of Scooby

["cdreramius" <o163210@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Lost Worlds of the House of Scooby
Authors: Mike and Tony McD
Rating: mild R
Category: House of Scooby/Shannara crossover
Pairings: B/X, W/X, B/W, B/X/W
Summary: Changes to the House of Scooby-verse have had effects in 
other universes. 
Distribution: Anywhere, just let us know.
Disclaimer: We do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer nor do we own any 
other characters. This is a work of fiction written for fun and 
enjoyment. Terry Brooks owns the Shannara universe; we just like to 
screw around with it.
Authors' notes: This is a collaborative effort between Tony and me 
due to Tony's illness. Feedback is appreciated.

*-*-*-*

"There's a balance between good and evil that has to be maintained. 
When your universe fell to evil there had to be another universe 
where good wins otherwise it would start off a chain reaction with 
one universe after another falling to evil. That's why the Powers 
That Be opened up the portal between that world and this. With what 
you knew of the other universe you'd be enough to tilt the balance 
here in favor of good." 
? Shadow Plays for the House of Scooby: Endgame

*-*-*-*

A current theory in modern quantum cosmology is the concept of the 
multi-verse. At the instant universe was created, at the very instant 
of the separation of space/time, all the energy in the universe 
(matter and energy are pretty much the same thing at this point) 
underwent every interaction possible. Every set of interactions had 
it's own unique wave phase which still echo to this very day in the 
multi-verse. 

`So what's this got to do with the price of monkey's paw in the Magic 
Box?' I hear you ask.

Everything is pre-ordained. Everything that has happened, is 
happening and will happen has already happened at the start of the 
uni/multi-verse.

Anyone who says that they know the destiny of the all the infinite 
number of universes in the multi-verse is talking out their ass. Even 
the PTB can only a limited amount of the multi-verse. That's why they 
get surprised every time shit happens.

They just shift the blame for it to us with that `free will' crap.

There are an infinite number of universes, each different from all 
the others. Sometimes the difference is as small as the movement of a 
single quark, sometimes it's something on a universal scale.

There are universes where Buffy and Willow walk The Road to Recovery, 
Xander and Buffy make Nonsense, and Willow and Xander have 
Indiscretions. Where there's Willow Rosenberg CIA, Alexander Harris 
FBI, and Buffy the Cookie Dough General. There's even universes where 
Faith is Sated, Buffy has a Cris de Coeur, Xander's Chasing Tara, and 
Willow has Trinity's Child.

Science says it's impossible to see or interact with these different 
universes because they have a different phase to our own.

But what science thinks is impossible, magic knows it's not only 
possible but also highly entertaining.

*-*-*-*

Sucky-verse (the universe Xander left)

Tara sat exhausted on her makeshift cot, her long hair matted with 
dust and demon gore.

After Xander had defeated Dark Willow and Dark Buffy, Tara had 
returned their bodies for burial. That done, she had gone out in 
search of the remaining Scoobies.

She had found Giles, Anya, and Dawn leading a group fighting against 
the demons that now ruled this world and made it their hell. With 
Buffy and Willow dead, the First Evil had lost its corporeal form and 
some of its control on this world and gave hope to all those who 
battled to reclaim the world from the darkness.

The forces of good were still fighting.

They had made some gains. Their stronghold in the mountains provided 
a place of relative safety to fight their war from. They had begun to 
assemble the remaining forces of good and shape them into a powerful 
force to be reckoned with.

Tonight they had raided Spike's stronghold. Spike had been one of a 
number of figures to fill the leadership vacuum left by Buffy and 
Willow. Tara had lead a small group whose jobs was to create a 
distraction in order for the others to attack the main target.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Anya who came into the room 
supporting a badly wounded Giles.

"Anya! Giles! What happened? Where's Dawn?"

Giles was ashen faced as Anya eased him onto one of the other cots in 
the room.

"We were inside Spike's stronghold when we got caught up in the 
middle of a turf war between Spike and Angelus. All hell broke loose."

Tara paled a little.

"Where's Dawn?" she asked again, afraid for the answer she'd get.

"We got separated." Giles choked back the tears and the pain while 
Anya did her best to comfort him. 

"Giles, what happened to Dawn?" Tara insisted.

The tears flowed freely down the cheeks of all of them now.

"Spike took her."

*-*-*-*

Waldo-verse (the universe the replaced Xander went to)

It was a massively different world he had awoken to that morning a 
year ago.

He had awoken in a world where Xander Harris had never existed. A 
world where Buffy and Willow were way older and in college. A world 
where Willow was dating a girl named Tara.

It was a bizarre world, but a world he was, at the moment, very happy 
to be in.

"Mmmm.. Summers lips." Xander murmured.

"You like?"

"Oh yeah. Loving the lips." He told her as they kissed on her bed.

"What the hell are you two doing in there?" a voice yelled from the 
other side of the locked door.

"Go away! It's none of your business Buffy!" Dawn yelled back. She 
looked at her boyfriend in frustration.

"Just because her love life sucks don't mean she has to make mine 
suck too." She grumbled.

*-*-*-*

Shannara-verse

He drew his cloak closer about him as he gazed upon the four lands 
from the windy spires of Paranor.

It had been over a hundred years since Walker Boh had made him the 
offer to become a Druid. Giles had accepted what he had thought at 
the time to be a great honor.

After all, he would become only the second Druid to walk the halls of 
Paranor for nearly 200 years.

Giles knew now that it was less of an honor and more of a great 
burden.

A burden he felt grow heavier as the time approached for him to go 
out into the four lands and gather those needed to defeat the growing 
evil that threatened the lands.

He mentally went through those he would need.

Willow Ohmsford. Wielder of the magical heritage of the Shannara 
needed once again to save the land. Undoubtedly she would refuse to 
go any where without her childhood friend Xander Leah. The bond of 
friendship would see the Prince of the newly restored Highland 
kingdom follow in the footsteps of his ancestors who helped the 
Ohmsford's with their quests for over a thousand years.

Then there was the matter of Buffy Jax. Descendent of the great 
weapons master Garet Jax and former childhood friend of Willow and 
Xander. Her relationship with them was a potential major problem. But 
Giles needed her to help safeguard them in the dangers that lay ahead.

All this would be a matter for another day, Giles told himself as he 
turned and descended into the Keep.

There was still much to be done before that quest could start.