Sunnydale-SL, the reboot.

Watch this space. It's coming back - in a very, very different and exciting form.

interesting article on rental contra buying in virtual worlds.

abovethecrowd.com

Interesting hyper-critical blog

Although very focused on business and investment, still some interesting views are to be had from (quite negative) business commentator on SL.

http://doctorcosmos.blogspot.com/

LAND: Terraforming - Second Life Video TuTORial

The Dawn of a New Day

"Not quite what I wished for when I wished for a pony .." It was Cordelia (Nashura) speaking. Buffy (Zeno) heard her voice as she pushed open the door to Spike's crypt.

Cordelia turned to Buffy. "She just called for Spike seeing me," she snitched.

Buffy stopped. Dawn (Doomdale)was indeed not herself. Well, from the waist upwards it was still Dawn, still wearing Buffy's blue sweater she had borrowed on her own initiative. But from below the waist she was pure equine.

"Dawn... !" cried Buffy, then an absurd thought came to her, "Now that sweater is well and truly ruined."

Dawn looked down and muttered, "I didn't cheat on another guy I swear." She pawed at the ground with her right front hoof. Her tail flicked.

Cordelia failed to hide a grin. She was enjoying this a bit too much.

"CORDELIA I SWEAR ONE WORD TO XANDER AND YOUR DEAD!" flared Dawn.

Buffy was at a loss. "How are we going to change you back?"

"Its been coming and going," shrugged Dawn, "just guess I wait it out."

"Xander?" asked Cordy, "Now why would I ? .. ohh .." She smiled understanding why Dawn was so concerned about what Xander thought.

Buffy sighed, "Well we can't sent you to school like that..."

Cordelia just couldn't resist, "Hmm .. is that a horsehair sweater?" she poked.

Dawn tried to grasp at Cordelia's shirt. If successful she would have pinned Cordelia to the wall behind and yelled at her.

"I'm sorry Dawn," countered Cordelia as she stepped aside, "but mostly Centaurs are supposed to threaten by their haughty and fearless behaviour, not the whiny nerve wracking threats."

"Okay, break it up you two," Buffy intervened.

"She started it!" hollered Dawn.

"Dawn.... not now," said Buffy firmly, "We will have to change the dining room into a stable..... a room for you until you change back. We can't risk you on the stairs."

She turned to her old high school rival.

"Cordy... are you in town long? I will have to head back to the school but it would be good to compare notes about Wolfram and Hart..."

Cordy gulped some chuckles down,"Oh I wasn't planning on staying that long after that dark dream .. but seeing this .. I might just stay a bit longer and hay-- ah help with solving the ponygirl issue."

Buffy was satisfied with the answer. She turned to her little sister. "Dawn... if you stray into the forest, please make sure you have your cell phone with you."

Dawn crossed her arms, "Can't I just stay in Spike's place till I change back..." She sighed, "I mean come on......This is...I'M NOT A PONY!" She tensed up fuming as she snapped, "ITS A MYSTICAL CREATURE CALLED A CENTAUR BUT AT LEAST MY FACE ISN'T PLASTIC!"

"Hrmpheeehee.." laughed Cordelia.

"Okay," conceded the Slayer, "you are probably safe enough here.... and at least the ceiling is high enough...

Dawn let out a sigh as she muttered, "well so far no beanstalk sis..."

Buffy opened the small refrigerator to reveal what nastiness Spike kept for a late night snack. "Ewww," she added "... and come home for meals."

-----

Later that night...

Dawn frantically called Buffy's cell, "SIS I NEED HELP I'M AT HOME!"

Water splashed into the bathtub with urgency.

She gripped the phone tightly, "BUFFY I WAS BACK TO NORMAL BUT SOME REASON I....I DONT THINK ITS KENNY ITS...!"

The phone slipped from her hand and fell into the tub.

"GREAT!" cried Dawn and she fell to the bathroom floor as her legs once again transformed beneath her.

The Return of Drusilla

"I wonder if Angel is home," asked Buffy (Zeno) as she gently pushed open the door to the mansion. "Angel?" she called.

"I'll wait here," remarked Faith (Alanna), "Give you two alone time."

The candles flickered. The fire burned merrily in the hearth.

"I don't see him," added Buffy, "But the candles are going. Angel?"

She passed by the sofa to the door of the inner chamber. Angel sometimes sat there reading.

She heard a giggle. A decidedly female giggle...

Buffy returned to the main room.

"Faith," she began "He's not..."

The vampire moved fast. He leaped across the room swinging a mighty sword.

-----

"You okay?" asked Faith as she rushed into the room.

Buffy held her side where she was struck by the sword. She waved off the other slayer. The vampire lay on the floor in the corner of the room. He was dressed in western gear much like the Gorch Brothers.

"You've gotten blood over my new home."

The voice came from the balcony. It was Drusilla (Patience). She pouted at Buffy.

"Drusilla," declared Buffy as she looked up, "I should have known."

"Who is she?" asked Faith, "The one that killed Kendra?"

"Spike's ex," replied Buffy.

"Oh," said Faith. And she said no more.

"Where are you keeping him?" demanded Drusilla, "Hiding him from me..."

"In my basement where he is safe," replied Buffy. She suddenly blushed. That came out wrong.

Reg (RegY) smirked. "She's with me now," he said proudly. "She likes to ride. She wants a cowboy."
The vampire got up, a little scarred, but feeling spiffy again, "You forgot to take my head off, Slayer."

Drusilla squealed and clapped her hands.

"Something about someone's head?" answered Faith, "I have a scythe for that"

Buffy looked at Faith, "You hold off Tex, I'll see to Drusilla."

"Good plan," replied Faith, as Buffy sprinted to the stairs.

Reg looked at Faith "Us again, huh?" They had fought before.

"Seems like it," answered Faith "...but this time I got my toy." She hefted her scythe.

-----

"Why did you come back Drusilla?" asked Buffy

"You're hiding him from me," sulked Drusilla, "We can't be happy again."

"I promised Spike you could get away," replied Buffy, "If he helped me against Angelus." It was only in May. It was five years passed. It was a life time ago.

Drusilla lowered her head a bit and moaned, "We'll never be a family."

Spider

A Crimslaw demon.

Basically, it was a massive spider. Anyanka had summoned them to avenge a young woman humiliate by a dozen or so frat boys at one of their parties. In tears, the girl had screamed, "Just once I wish you could all feel what it's like to have your hearts ripped out!"

Be careful what you wish for.

The demons had escaped. While Xander and Buffy hunted one in the woods near town, it was the witch Merissa Frost, the slayer Faith Lehane (Patience) and Willow Rosenberg (Bellarata), a vampire with a soul, to track down and kill a second one that had slipped away deep into in the sewers of Sunnydale.

----

Merissa Frost approached the doors of the school, rather glad for the Christmas break. She'd been on her way to the Hellmouth, but something warned her to bring her newly acquired magic axe. She hesitated momentarily suddenly getting a bad feeling. Turning back, she ran for the tunnels.

Meanwhile. below the earth, Vampire Willow stood watching the large spider blocking the sewer pipe.

"Hmm, isn't this interesting," she remarked.

The Crimslaw demon (Pepper) considered the two legged creature before her. It sensed that it was 'undead' and so without a beating heart upon which to feast. The vampire also did not attack at once. If not food, nor a threat, the demon was unsure how to respond. Maybe a little nip...

-----

The vampire and the witch struck the demon repeatedly with axe and sword.

The Crimslaw was not easily bested however and it nipped and jumped again and again at one threat, then the other, gradually wearing them down.

But before it could win over the witch, Merissa's weapon began to glow. The light both hurt and confused the spider.

The axe fell and the wound was deep. The spider almost went mad with the pain.

Suddenly it felt a tingle and the wound began to close. A goblin (Kaezin) , the same one that had been causing all sorts of chaos in town, had healed the demon which it's arcane knowledge.

-----

The spider hissed.

Merissa gasped and attacked.

Her axe spinning and chipping away at the unholy monster. The axe began to glow with power and with a mighty strike Merissa brought the blade down upon the beast.

The spider reeled back, stunned and dazed, bleeding for a piercing wound.

Merissa Frost sighed, wiped her own bloodied lip and went back on the offensive.

The spider demon fled back into the dark, damp sewer.

-----

In the tight confines of the tunnel, the Scoobies were pressed from two directions. The goblin approached from the direction of the Bronze. The spider demon closed in from the direction of the school.

The goblin swung his fist injuring Faith.

The spider sprang onto the group biting at Merissa, its fangs dripping with poison. She countered with a quick healing spell.

The demon turned. Willow stabbed with her ice sword but the weapon missed it's mark striking Merissa with a freezing wound.

Faith attacked the larger of the two demons and with a series of powerful blows, she struck the spider behind the neck breaking it's spine.

Willow summoned witch lightning and directed it at the goblin as it clawed it's way through the crowd of Scoobies. The beast again provided resilient to the blast. It's hands began to glow radiantly and it struck Willow, taking her to the ground.

The gray goblin then turned it's attention on Faith, clawing with fury. Faith countered using her mind to focus the lineage of the Slayers into her strike. But the small beast forced his attack and knocked her unconscious against the concrete pipe.

"oh my, you die, time to fly!" And with that the goblin scampered off down the tunnel.

-----

[ooc - Congratulations to the Goblin, Kaezin Freng, the last man...er, demon standing in our two-team elimination in-character roleplay. And thanks to Bella for the group picture!]

Slayage

The Dark Templar (Kaezin) attacks Faith (Alanna) for betraying the Mayor of Sunnydale. Buffy (Zeno) , Faith (W1cked) and Xander (Soara) rally to her side.

Buffy (Verlie) and Buffy (Zeno) looking for an Angel.

The last thing the vampire ever saw: Slayers on patrol. Faith (Patience) and Buffy (Verlie)

"Hey," said Willow with a shy giggle, "You're like me..... only, uh evil...." (Bella and Pepper)

Goblin

Previously in Sunnydale SL...

-----

"Did you see that?" asked Buffy with a frown. From where they stood in by the road, Buffy thought she saw a gray shape race behind the houses. It was too big to be a dog...

"Nope," answered Faith.

Suddenly there was a huge crash from Buffy's house.

"Did you hear that? from the house...." Buffy was off and running through the front door. She bolted through the house to the source of the sounds.

A skinny gray goblin clambered about the kitchen. It flung things from the cupboards and counter tops. Boxes of food spilled across the floor. The coffee maker crashed against the oven. Dishes broke against the wall.

"Hey!!" she yelled, "Scat!!BEAT IT!!"

The creature grabbed more items. Pots and pans tumbled to the ground. Joyce's favorite platter landed on the floor and broke in two.

"What happened?" Faith asked as she entered the room. "Whoa!"

The little gray beast rushed from the kitchen between the slayers and through the dining room leaving a path of destruction in it's wake.

"There!" cried Buffy.

"That is not a fricken' monkey," called Faith, "It's a menace! We goin' after it?"

"He trashed the house!!" raged Buffy, "I'm gonna kill him!!"

They could hear the voice of the goblin as it disappeared behind the high school.

"Too late, too late he he he...."

-----

Buffy picked up another small rock and threw it at the little beast. The goblin had led the slayers on a merry chase out to the frat house before doubling back. It moved with a blur and the rock sailed through a window on the school gym.

"Smashy crashy. someone breaky breaky," chattered the goblin.

"Evil monkey," cursed Faith.

The creature stopped and sniffed the air. "Oooooo...smell cats." and off it ran towards the Wiccan Academy.

Buffy fumed. "Get back here!" she shouted.

The slayers sprinted down the street. As they approached the old house that the Witches of Sunnydale called home, they saw the goblin hovering near the black cat sleeping by the steps of the Covenstead.

"It's okay pretty kitty," murmured the creature, "Iz friend. Sleepy sleepy."

The cat hardly stirred in the presence of the goblin. It had seen it all and was clearly not impressed.

"Hey! I wouldn't do that if I were you," warned Buffy.

"Find you own snack," grumbled the goblin, "I'm hungry."

Buffy grabbed a shovel from next to the house and walked slowly towards the creature.

"Hey goblin, goblin," she whispered.

The goblin hissed.

-----

It was quick. It was small and it proved to be an illusive target even for Faith and Buffy. The goblin's claws were strong and it seemed to have to power to quickly recover from any strike the slayers managed to land.

The creature fled into the Wiccan Academy.

Buffy rushed up the steps in pursuit. She slammed open the door and came to a halt, stunned by the vision before her.

"Willow!!" started Buffy.

"Buffy! that thing..."

"You're small!!"

Willow was still Willow, but now she looked like a child of about eight years old.

"yeah... I figured that part," answered Willow, "Remember that potion Amy left? The one who was a rat? Well, that thing you were chasing spilt it outta my hand. I think I must have swallowed some."

Buffy shook her head. She couldn't process what she saw.

"Buffy? say something!"

Buffy found her voice. "Wha...? you like drank potion...?"

Willow frowned. "I... I didn't mean to." she said with a pout.

"From here? Without knowing what it does?" Buffy had seen some of the potions that the Coven brewed here at the Wicca Academy. Foul smelling with questionable ingredients.

"Run run run...time for fun!" the creature sang as it fled from room to room.

"I was just smelling it to make sure it was the right one," explained Willow, "then that thing came in so fast, I was like 'WHOAH' and it was like 'Weesh', and the potion was like 'Sploosh'"

Buffy had no time to question Willow any further. The nasty little beast rushed into the room. Buffy swung her shovel. The goblin clawed at her madly.

"Knock knock boom," it said and lightning arced from the creature's hands.

Buffy saw a flash of white that faded to black. As she lost consciousness, she heard the goblin chatter, "Nasty shovel.."


-----

Buffy groaned as she shook herself out of her daze. She pushed her self up from the floor, the smell of ozone still in the air. "Where did it go?" she mumbled to herself.

In the distance she could here Willow call out, "Buffy help!"

Buffy held her head as she staggered out the door and down the steps.

Across the field in front of the hospital, she saw the goblin scampering after the small Willow.

"Yummy," it said, "Come back with my lunch."

"Went after the little cutey," Faith said with a harsh laugh.

"Stay back Willow," warned Buffy.

Willow panted, "Ghee, I may be small... but I still got my magic"

And indeed she had. Bolts of blue lightning crackled across the park from Willow's tiny finger tips striking the grey goblin.

"Ouch," it squealed, "Me know that trick. he he he"

The goblin waved his stick-like fingers and lightning shot back towards Willow.

"Watch out Willow!!" cried Buffy.

Willow shrugged off the attack."Good magic has no effect. He reflects it. Gonna have to try something different."

"Roasty, toasty," mocked the goblin.

Willow raised her arms and began to chant, "Hear me, Osiris. Keeper of Darkness... I command you, give me strength."

Instinctively, Buffy headed for cover. Once Willow started calling up ancient gods, things tended to get messy.

Where Angels Normally Fear to Tread

She was tired.

Buffy slipped on a pair of clean jeans and tossed her traveling clothes into the pile for laundry.

It was nice to get away for a few days, she thought. But for some reason the bus trip from L.A. had seemed longer this time. It might have something to do with Sunnydale being unstuck in time.

Time.

She looked at the clock. It was too early for patrol. She pulled on a fresh t-shirt and prepared to make her way downstairs. Maybe a little snack would help.

All at once, there was a great flash and a rushing sound of air displaced.

The light in the room was suddenly of a better quality and there was a sharpness to everything. Even the colors of the wallpaper seemed fresh and vibrant. The atmosphere itself felt vitalized as if she could fill her lungs for the first time. Her tiredness simply melted away.

Buffy turned and there standing in her bedroom was an angel... not Angel.... but rather an angel. The snow wing variety.

"Your destiny has only just begun, Buffy Summers!" declared the being. His voice echoed with a clarity that thrilled the blood, a quality of gentleness that dispelled doubt.

Terrific, thought Buffy, but just once I'd like 'Destiny' to knock and use the door.

Faith and Doubt

The broken ground crunched beneath her sandals as Buffy made her way to Angel's Mansion.

It had been over a week since the gang had confronted Ethan Rayne. Over a week since she had learned that one of the "Dark Cloaks" that Ethan served looked like Willow.

She wasn't sure she understood all of Ethan's cryptic riddles but it seemed as though these Dark Cloaks were playing both sides - good and evil - against one another. She wasn't sure what that all entailed, but she was sure about one thing: the human race was caught in the middle.

Buffy pushed door of the mansion and it swung open with a creaking sound. She could smell the warm, welcoming scent of a fire burning in the hearth.

She had planned to lay low, stay quite and wait until she had more information before she would act, but certain thoughts kept nagging at her.

Was this Dark Cloak really Willow? Had she turned dark again? Was this a new Willow? Or was it something that took her form perhaps just to engender these very doubts?

Buffy passed the kitchen, crossed the living room and entered the inner sitting room.

So now she was here in Angel's Mansion. She had come to meet the one person that more and more she found herself placing her trust.

"Hello Faith," she said.

There were many things Not Dead in Sunnydale. Irony, it seems, was one of them.

Hallowe'en Ball

Friday, October 30 our Hallowe'en Week Festivities came to a climax with the 2009 Hallowe'en Ball at the Bronze.

With Sunnydale DJ Isabelle Torok spinning the hot tunes, the fun and dancing got underway.

Even the evil floating pumpkins got in the act, drifting into the Bronze, causing grief and mayhem all in good fun. These pumpkins had been attacking the good folk of Sunnydale all week.

Everyone came in costume and Hallowe'en themed party dress. Vampires, witches, elves ... and one very real animal!

This event concluded a week of roleplay and pumpkin hunting. Prizes were awarded to players who found the black pumpkins hidden throughout Sunnydale.

Trick or Treat (Part Two)

VI. Kaezin watched Wicked Witch/Buffy stirring the cauldron. It was his idea that she prepare a potion. Clearly there was an enchantment upon the people of Sunnydale, and Kaezin believed they could use the potion to clear the heads of those befuddled by the spell.

Witch/Buffy had begun the potion earlier in the week but the vampire Veruca kept interrupting and distracting her. That was before the floating demon pumpkin heads showed up and kept everyone busy.

"It is ready," proclaimed Witch/Buffy.

"Hmm," he replied, "What should it taste like?"

She answered with a wild look in her eyes. "It should taste vile ... with a hint of peppermint."

"Does it taste right?" he asked slyly.

"Let me see," she replied. She took a sip of the potion. Kaezin watched her closely.

Witch/Buffy made a face. "Ugh!" But then for a fleeting moment she felt the oddest sensation of being two people before the enchantment began to re-exert itself.

"We... we must find the source of the madness," she managed to say. "Come."

VII. As the pair crossed the Sunnydale Commons, the nexus of pumpkin demon activity. These floating creatures, with their arcane chanting and deep dark laughter, assaulted anyone who happened to be close by.

Suddenly with a roar, one such beast appeared and slammed itself into the pair. Kaezin didn't hesitate. He jumped on the evil gourd and squashed it flat.

"Fine work," declared Witch/Buffy, "You crushed it."

"Yup," replied Kaezin modestly.

There came across the younger, unenchanted Buffy making short work of another pumpkin.

"Ah ha!" cried Witch/Buffy.

"Ah huh?" replied Buffy.

"I remember you." said the Witch. She had seen this one in the library the day before.

Buffy laughed sarcastically, "Nice trick witch... how'd you do that? Almost had me believe the pumpkin was alive."

"Hello Buffy," added Kaezin.

Witch/Buffy turned to Kaezin, "Are you finished with the beast?"

"Yes."

"Then we fly my pretty! We are off to find the source of this chaos."

The younger Buffy looked at her counterpart, "Are you feeling okay, Buffy? You sound a little like.... Dru!"

VIII."Can you counter its magic?" asked Kaezin

Wicked Witch/Buffy examined the pentagram and the statue within it. While the younger Buffy patrolled the cemetery, Kaezin had led Witch/Buffy came to the abandoned house and the shrine to Janus he had found.

"I'm not sure...." she replied. She chanted and waved her hands, using dispel magic. "Nothing..."

Kaezin stepped into the magic circle with her and said kindly, "Let's see what happens when I weaken it."

Bolts of electric blue fire shot throughout the room. Kaezin and Witch/Buffy combined their powers to the task.

"Yes that should do it...." said Witch/Buffy. she could feel the enchantment grow paler, still present but almost transparent. She could make out a name. The wizard who had worked this spell.

"Now to find the ..... Ethan....Ethan Rayne....." She shook her head a bit.

"Yup."

"I can smell him..."

Outside the house, Jedi Master/Xander Harris waited for them.

"Find the culprit yet?" he asked.

"We are on his heals," replied Kaezin.

"He is this way," said Witch/Buffy as she led the way.

Jedi/Xander paused, "Hmm....I sense this darkness...the dark side of the Force surrounds this....Ethan." He could make out the name too. The spell was indeed weakening.

As the three crossed the broken ground, they were joined by the younger Faith. Together they approached the obscenity of architecture known as the Wolfram and Hart building.

They would, however, not enter unopposed. In front of the structure, guarding it's access, stood a figure lithe and grey. She exuded violence and venom. It was Veruca. This time she was not there to taunt and tease. This time she wore her swords.

"I will deal with her," said Jedi/Xander, "You get to Ethan."

Buffy, Faith and Kaezin crossed the threshold into the building and climbed the stairs as outside the Jedi and the Vampire joined in combat.

IX. Kaezin slashed with his steel claws and Ethan finally fell to the cold, marble floor. His new spells and healing powers had made the battle a long one.

"This is just the beginning you git," snarled Ethan, "The time to choose between sides has begun."

Buffy rubbed her forehead feeling dazed, the persona of the Wicked Witch slipping away. It was like someone opened a curtain in her mind. "Wha... what's going on?"

"Choose sides?" asked Faith.

Ethan explained, "Either way good or evil will destroy the balance of the earth. Nothing in this world exists without good and evil. Don't you get it? That's why I'm with balance! My masters' will continue their plans...either way!"

"Ethan ...Ethan Rayne..." said Buffy as she started to feel normal again for the first time in days.

"And what are those plans?" demanded Faith.

"As for your costume spell....wasn't me.... I did the mojo but....the Dark Cloaks told me to do it...I get paid. The dark cloaks are planning everything for some purpose. I don't know how they are doing it but the story is...they were once on this earth."

"Meanwhile I spend three days looking for red shoes," remarked Buffy dryly.

"Rumor has it that a Dark Cloak was once in league with the Slayers. The only way to know for sure is to ask. Last I was relieved of duty I was followed by another Buffy, a dragon and him."

Ethan pointed to Kaezin.

"Kaez?" asked Buffy.

"The world traveler," confirmed Ethan, "I know about you. People talk."

"Yes they do," answered Kaezin, "Not really a secret though."

"So...tell them who it was under the hood," challenged Ethan.

"The Lady under that hood," began Kaezin, "was someone who looked like ...Willow."

"Oh great..." said Buffy.

"But was it Willow for sure now Kaez?" toyed Ethan, "or just a lookalike?"

"As I said, it was someone who looked like Willow."

"Be careful...Don't let them play their games," Ethan laughed. "Be on your guard...They don't just talk willingly you must fight them ...if you're not on our side anyway..."

Buffy looked at Faith, "Any of this make sense to you?"

Faith stared at something that isn't really there. "None."

Ethan continued speaking in riddles, "...then again I learned to fight through them. From what I've seen they don't die...I mean they do...but they don't die like us and they are not gods."

"Then we'll find a way to defeat them," stated Buffy.

Faith joined in, "Can't you just cut off their heads?I mean, that's a for sure way to kill something."

"No," replied Ethan, "...that stuff wounds them.... for some reason their powers keep them alive."

"They can live without a head?" asked Faith.

"Heads are relative," admitted Kaezin.

Ethan paused, "Oh you have company..."

The slightly younger Buffy burst into the room, followed by Xander, himself but still dressed as a Jedi Master.

"Oh there you are," said the older Buffy, "guess who we found..."

The younger Buffy sighed, "Well if it isn't Ethan "

"...and guess why I've been looking for red shoes for three days?"

"You've been to Oz?" asked the younger Buffy with a smile.

"Very funny."

Ethan dusted himself off, "Hmm....well...have to run...enjoy the rest of your...Halloween." He filled the room with his dark laughter.

"Get lost already," said Faith.

The older Buffy frowned at Ethan, then turned the the exit. "Well, I'm going home," she stated emphatically.

"Are we letting him go?" asked Xander incredulously.

"I've been in these clothes for three days and I need a shower," grumbled Buffy. And nothing short of another apocalypse is going to stop me, she thought.

Trick or Treat (Part One)

It began like any other Hallowe'en.. except of course, they had to explain the whole thing to Redy.. the dressing up and getting candies. Redy, being Redy, preferred the idea of nibbling on candles. Buffy thought this could lead to a whole lot of dark Jack O'Lanterns this year. "Dark" as it turned out, wasn't quite a strong enough word....

I. Somewhere a voice was chanting...

"The world that denies thee, thou inhabit, the peace that ignores me, thou corrupt, Chaos I remain as ever thy faithful degenerate son.... ...Come appear and show to us that which is infinite power, the mask transforms itself into flesh and blood... Janus take the day!"

II. Alice in Wonderland/Buffy ran out of the Magic Box, screaming her head off. The store was full of weapons. She ran down the street past hovering giant pumpkins, only to be confronted by another Buffy.... this one with green skin, dress in black, with a tall, pointed Witch's hat.

"You!" demanded Wicked Witch of the West/Buffy, "Bring me my shoes!" She recognized the other girl and thought maybe this was the elusive Dorothy.

Alice/Buffy backed off. "I don't have them!" she cried.

"Where did you put them?"

Kaezin, who had been observing the two Slayers, interrupted, "um...Buffy?"

Alice/Buffy turned to the friendly demon and asked, "Who's Buffy?"

Kaezin muttered a mild curse.

"I... I'm Alice ... and ... I don't know why I'm here," she turned to the Witch, "And I don't have your slippers."

"Alice. Of course," said Kaezin with a sudden understanding.

"Alice, eh?" Witch/Buffy struggled with her rage, "And your telling me that you didn't drop house on my sister?"

"No! I... I just fell asleep and woke up in this place... "

Witch/Buffy frowned and fumed inwardly.

"I just... I just want to find my sister and get out of here... wherever here is..." continued Alice/Buffy.

"I must find the girl who took my ruby slippers.." said Witch/Buffy, to no one in particular.

"Well... besides being red... what do they look like?" asked the girl.

"They are ruby red and never-you-mind! You just want them for yourself!" spat the Witch, a storm shaping in her eyes.

Alice/Buffy shook her head, "No! No I don't. I just figured I could help is all."

Kaezin felt obliged to add, "...and they're not my color."

III. The trio made their way through the cemetery. Despite the possession, the two Buffys had decided to join forces to find the Witch's ruby slippers and Alice's missing sister. Kaezin, fully aware of what was going on, joined them, and, as always, protecting and guiding.

Wicked Witch/Buffy paused and looked carefully at the path. "These bricks..they are the wrong color..." she said. They should be yellow, she thought.

"Yup," replied Kaezin. "Best watch your step too."

The three moved cautiously through the mist.

Alice/Buffy noticed the large metal structure ahead - the tower built by Glory's minions, "I know that place!"

Witch/Buffy squinted at the tower. "That place? Yes..." She felt a stirring of a memory too. The more she looked at the tower, the more she felt drawn towards it.

Alice/Buffy continued, "Well, you know... that thing. I've seen it before."

The group made their way across the broken and cracked ground to the base of the tower. After some deliberation they made a slow and uneasy ascent, until the two Buffys stood at the beginning of the platform that led to the place

Alice/Buffy spoke, "I... I don't like this."

Witch/Buffy said nothing but her mind was spinning. A house had dropped on her sister. The ruby slippers were stolen. But her sister, her sister was here.... drops of ruby red blood and this vortex had opened... the vortex whirled just off the edge of the platform. She was drawn even closer.

Kaezin interrupted, "Careful. There is water in that."

Witch/Buffy recoiled. "Water!!"

Kaezin continued, "Take you straight to the lake."

Witch/Buffy backed away.

Kaezin made a suggestion, "Let's look for your sister and the shoes someplace else."

The Buffys both nodded and the little group returned to the ground.

IV. Xena/Faith attacked the demonic floating pumpkin with vigor and aggression. Wicked Witch/Buffy stood by and watched. Despite the confines of the sewer tunnel, the warrior woman moved with innate skill and power, destroying the monster in a series of strategic blows. Witch/Buffy was impressed and found herself taking a liking to this one.

"What was that?" demanded Xena/Faith.

"It was a beastly spirit," explained Witch/Buffy.

"One of yours?" asked Xena/Faith.

"No, no," replied Witch/Buffy, "I prefer birds and monkeys."

Xena/Faith sheathed her sword. "Fair enough... so tell me what's going on around here... I should be somewhere else but I'm not."

Witch/Buffy proceeded to tell her about the missing slippers, Alice, and Kaezin the 'ogre smelling of barley and hops'.

Xena/Faith wondered out loud, "Who made those slippers... really good material... ruby .... must have been a creation of the god. But which one? Hephaestus? Seems like his work... god of arts and crafts."

"Can you call this god?" asked Witch/Buffy.

"Not from this area unless he is listening. He has a temple."

The pair could here sounds of fighting from the surface as another demon pumpkin attacked. Instinctively the two Slayers, possessed as they were, headed for the conflict.

V. After fighting a few more demon pumpkins, Xena/Faith and Witch/Buffy, now joined by a younger Faith, determined to discover the source of the chaos. Witch/Buffy had entered a trance and saw the image of a god with two faces. Eager to discover the name of this being, they went to the school library.

The doors of the library were open and in their path stood a man in tan clothes and a brown cloak. His manner projected both power and serenity.

"You in the library!" exclaimed the Witch, "Stand aside!"

Jedi Master/Xander Harris was undisturbed. "Sorry, I'm wondering what this place is."

Young Faith scoffed, "It's another kinda hell." Without a costume, this Faith was acting normally.

"Hell?" asked Jedi/Xander.

"Don't you know what hell is?" replied Young Faith .

Another Buffy entered the library from the book stacks. Without a costume, she too was free from possession. "Hey guys, what's up? Loving the costumes by the way"

"We are searching for the name of a god and I don't have time for trifles," declared Witch/Buffy. "I must consult the books..." And she headed into Giles' office.

Buffy eyed Witch/Buffy's shoes and held back a burst of laughter. She surveyed the rest of the group. "Whoah," she remarked, "Who's the Xander, but only much cooler-in an even geekier way look-alike?"

"Yes," said Jedi/Xander, "I am a Jedi knight and roam on a planet called Coruscant."

"Planet?" asked Xena/Faith

Young Faith rolled her eyes.

Xena/Faith took charge, "Okay...all...my guess is this is a time portal."

"Time portal? Hmm," pondered Jedi/Xander.

"Something....someone...a man put us here with a spell...I'm guessing dark magic?" Xena/Faith, a natural leader, looked around, "Yes? Agree anyone?"

"I smell magic here," confirmed Witch/Buffy having returned from the librarian's office, "All around."

"It's possible," added Jedi/Xander.

Young Faith looked at the Witch, "You can smell magic?"

"Dark magic?" asked Jedi/Xander.

"Yes... dark, light, beige...all kinds and colours."

"Do you guys hear that?" asked Young Faith."I heard another pumpkin."

The group moved out of the library just as a floating demon pumpkin crashed into the hallway. It's evil laugh flooded the school.

Patrol in Sunnydale

Buffy and Faith look at the body of the fallen werewolf killed by the other Faith only to find it is their friend Oz.

The vampires attack. Veruca and friend ransack the library looking for a magical spell book.

Merissa, the powerful Witch from the Order of Guardians, calls upon the Power of the Spider and transforms herself, in order to drive the giant spider demon into the sea.

Buffy and Buffy explore the crypts in Sunnydale hunting the recently turned.

Back to School

Lunch time at Sunnydale High

Back to School

-----

Buffy peaked her head into the classroom.

"Hello Casper," she called addressing the young man with his head buried in his book.

"Hello Buffy," he replied looking up briefly.

"Studying hard I see."

"Have to catch up," acknowledged Casper. "Been out a while."

"I see the early risers are here already," said a new voice. It was Miss Javelin the Fine Arts and English supply teacher. Buffy thought, she had an odd manner about her. They had seen her in the cafeteria the other day and she behaved like she had never seen human food before. Then again, the cafeteria food was questionable at best....

Miss Javelin eyed the book that Casper was reading.

Noticing her interest, Casper remarked, "Giles said it would help me get up to speed. I'm not sure this is the book he meant, but...its interesting."

The teacher walked up behind Casper and leaned over his shoulder "An interest in hieroglyphics? Peculiar."

"'Book of Night'... not sure what it has to do with English," said Casper in a puzzled voice.

Miss Javelin quivered as though feeling the presence of a familiar force.

Casper continued, "Some of it isn't even in English."

The teacher smirked awkwardly "Do enjoy your read... I look forward to seeing your book review."

"Um...cool," answered the student uneasily.

Miss Javelin walked up to the front desk briefly grabbing the side, but then flinched and immediately retracted her hand as a string of gum stretched thin between the bottom of the desk and her index finger.

"I... I..." she began. She paused rubbing the substance between her thumb and index finger. "Can I have a new table here please?"

"Oh! Okay...alright," Buffy was caught off guard. Quickly recovering she added, "I will have maintenance get on it."

The teacher nodded and smiled at Buffy, "Thank you very much." She picked up the duster and wiped the whiteboard clean, while Buffy slipped out of the classroom.

Deep Wounds

Three Weeks Ago...

Pepper dragged herself through the sewers. Her giant spider body oozing blood and bile from the deep cuts she received at the hands of the Buffy from the alternate universe (Buffy Falconer). She dare not shape shift back into her two legged form. She couldn't bare to see what the beating might have done to her.

What scared her more than the wounding however was what the long term consequences could be. This was twice now that she had been humiliated - once by the fiery breath of Redy the small dragon and now by one of the Buffys. Her mother, the demon lord Kailyn, was a conduit for the Senior Partners. What would they think about this failure?

What would they do to her?
------

[Doctor Siamendes, Xander, Redy, Buffy and Oz]

Now...

Internal Memorandum to the Sunnydale Chamber of Commerce

Concerned about the level of violence and delusional acting out among the youth of Sunnydale, the town elders have begun to sponsor the "Sunnydale Syndrome" Support Group. The activities of this group will be a combination of individual and group counselling along with organized recreational activities designed to encourage self esteem and sensible thinking, and to provide the young with the structures needed to develop into happy, healthy, well-adjusted adults.

The first meeting was held earlier this month. Seated on comfortable pillows on the second floor of the hospital, the attendees made their introduction and shared a little bit about themselves.

The support group is hosted by Dr. Pepper Siamendes. The doctor will soon become a familiar face to our community working both in the Sunnydale Hospital and Blood Bank and at the city morgue.

Dr. Siamendes reports, "Our streets and parks are full of young people crying out for needed attention. Delusional thinking is common. Such absurdities as the belief in the existence of vampires or that most people in Sunnydale have duplicate copies of themselves running around town points to the fragmented emotional condition of today's youth.

"Nevertheless, the young people who have attended our session have all taken the first step towards normalcy. If we can continue to reach out to these young people, and those like them, we can make a difference here in Sunnydale."

A Dragon's Tale

Redy, the little Dragon, was very concerned about Buffy. Since the Slayer saw her mothers ghost, she hasn't been the same. The weird insomnia Buffy had was not normal and had to stop. So Redy decided to walk to the hospital with hopes of finding something there which would help Buffy. The little Dragon rummaged in the sterile smelling closets and the different drawers she was able to reach on her tiptoes when she heard a familiar sound. She didn't believe what she just heard. It was a screech. Definitely a screech from another Dragon.

Carefully Redy peeked around the next door and froze. An ugly green kind of Dragon on two legs stood in front of the door to the hospital. He was much bigger than her and wrapped in iron. The small fierce yellow eyes glared at Jai and Andrew (Gabe). A heavy load of fire spit out of the Dragons (Kaezin) mouth and he ordered “Stay back, and no one gets hurt!”

He sniffed in the air and smelled what he was searching for. The ugly head was turning. “I want the Hatchie”

Redy still thought she is dreaming and looked carefully around the corner.

“What do you want here?” Redy asked. “And most of all, how did you get here?” The eyes of the small Dragon widened as she spoke, realizing if another Dragon was able to come to Sunnydale by will, there must be a way out too.

“I want you to come with me.”

Redy frowned again and took some steps back. “You aren't one of my race.”

“Oh … oh … yes I am” the ugly Dragon kneeled down and reached out a claw “I just want to take you home … your mommy sent me … she`s worried.”

Redy`s heart jumped. “You are a liar! My mom was the dragon who was killed by Angel!”

“Just get in the bag,” the stranger enticed.

The little Dragon sobbed, “she is dead …”

A fast claw came close to Redy's face as the bigger Dragon dived at her and tried to put her in his magical bag.

“Hey, watch it tough guy, or Andrew will show you what for!”Andrew took another step back, brandishing his knife “You better... go away, demon. I'm a mighty warrior”.

“Yeah, you show him, Andrew” Jai cheered. “He is mighty, you just brag. He doesn't need to talk tough, he is Andrew the Mighty!”

Andrew thought he looked mighty pale, at least.

The bigger Dragon stood up. “You're coming or your pets start dying”

“Nuuuuuuuuuuu! Don`t hurt them!”

“Then” … big claws opened the magic bag on his side … “hop in”

“Redy over here” Faith whispered but the Baby turned around and shook her head.

The little Dragon looked into the yellow eyes and the thought about having friends here suddenly disappeared in her mind. She reached out to touch the bright light in the bag and the world went black around her.

Faith, Jai, Max and Andrew weren't sure what just happened. It was only sure Redy disappeared and the green big Dragon was laughing evilly. He bowed with a farcical gesture and walked away towards the sewers, mumbling something about “payday”.

In the last moment Faith realized he was making his way to the Hellmouth and she poked the others hard and started running after the Dragon who was just escaping with her little friend.
Half on the way to the sewers they were able to stop him for a bit, but the Dragon was too strong. He ran and jumped into the Hellmouth.

Redy in the meantime was dreaming about campfires and marshmellows and happy storytelling for her and her little brothers and sisters, wrapped up warm by a tail of one of her Elders.

[text by Redy9 Shepherd; picture courtesy Alexandria Panthar]

Sunnydale Syndrome

[The following is an except from an essay by Jai Raghilda, student, UC Sunnydale. The condition Ms. Raghilda describes is of great importance to anyone concerned with mental health issues and the youth of Sunnydale.]

Sunnydale Syndrome, the new Stockholm

Thesis: People subjected to prolonged periods of severe stress become susceptible to suggestibility.

Location: Sunnydale High School, Sunnydale SL (158, 157, 28)

Subjects: Underground Vigilante group self-nicknamed the "Scoobies"

Note: Scoobie is 1960's drug culture slang for marijuana which persists today and popularized by a mystery solving cartoon "Scooby-Doo"

"Hi I'm Buffy"


"...and me too."


These two "twins" claim to both be Buffy Summers, although one is supposedly from another dimension. One Buffy has a sister named Dawn, but the other Buffy does not.

I introduce myself as a local student attending the community college, which had some exposure to Sunnydale High School. I inform them that I am doing a paper on Stockholm syndrome and related stress related denial mentalities, referring to bystanders naturally. I sprinkle my dialogue with urban contemporary vernacular such as "Sunnydale is whack." They are mostly too self-involved to notice that I am not adept at street slang.

Someone named Redy and Faith and yet another Buffy questioned Pepper, who said that there is some sort of a war coming. Pepper is supposedly a vampire-demon hybrid whose mom is the Demon-God Kailyn, this made possible because her dad is a lawyer.

Pepper wants a Grimoire which will allow her to alter her shape. Four Slayers, two Faiths and two Buffys, and someone named Redy found it. I am unsure if the multitudes of the same person are a club designation or the submerging of personality bonding to an archetype.

A lot of chatter about the grimoire and a key that would unlock it. Mostly about motivations and idle speculation about the contents. Pepper wants to enhance herself before the coming "War of the Demon Gods".

The key is a 15th century renaissance piece which induced a different temperature sensation to different people. The Buffy’s and the Faiths all said it felt cool, Redy said it felt warm, but it burned Dawn's hand. Unsurprising, nobody likes Dawn.

Key Insight

"This is the key to the book that's causing all the fuss." Buffy put the old silver key upon the coffee table. The Summers sisters sat in the living room reviewing the events of another day in Sunnydale. Today was particularly difficult as Dawn had been attacked by the cat woman who appeared in town demanding the grimoire be given to her.

"Oh, you have it? You should like hide it," said Dawn.

"Yes ... younger Buffy gave it to slightly older Buffy who gave it to me." Buffy continued. "Redy said it felt warm. Buffy said it felt cool."

"The key?" asked Dawn.

"What do you feel?"

Dawn picked the key up from the table.

"It's ....Whoa" Dawn tossed it in the air. "It's way hot - like fire"

Dawn looked at her hand. "Look, it burned me!"

"Put your hand under water," Buffy said quickly.

Buffy pocketed the key as Dawn headed for the kitchen sink and put her hand under the running water.

"What is that?" asked Dawn. "It hurts."

"Redy wondered if something was living inside the key," replied Buffy.

Dawn took her hand out of the water. Buffy looked at it closely.

"How does it feel?"

"It hurts like hell"

"Do you want a cold compress on that?"

"Nah. Thanks though. I'm gonna go to bed I think."

"That's a good idea. It's been a long day." Buffy smiled.

"Night Buffy."

"Night Dawn."