Author: GP gpref@aol.com
Rating: R
Summary: The Scoobies in a Fairy Tale?
Disclaimer: All characters and aspects of the fictional environment are property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox, et al. There is no intent, or remote possibility, of anyone profiting from this.
Distribution: The Willow Tree (http://www.angelfire.com/sys/popup_source.shtml?Category=) , if you'd like it ask and I'll let you take it.
Feedback: Please
~Part: 1~
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Princess and her name was ….."
"Willow, just like mine," the little girl said quickly.
"Named Willow, " the storyteller agreed, " who lived in a magic kingdom full of wonderful things."
"Like handsome Princes and good witches, " the girl added.
"But in the same kingdom there also were some bad things."
"Boo, I don't like the bad things," the girl exclaimed.
"There were bad things like trolls and goblins and things that go bump in the night."
"What happened next?" the girl demanded.
"To begin with, the Princess's father and mother, " she saw the little girl frown, " the King and Queen were very busy travelling throughout the kingdom dong their Royal duty. That meant the Princess was all alone in the castle, all alone except for her Lady in Waiting and her loyal and faithful knight.
~~~*~~~
While Buffy and Xander explored the 'fridge, Willow read the neatly printed note again.
'Willow,
I must go to my seminar group a few days early. Dr. Richards is ill and needs me to prepare the retreat site. Your father decided to travel with me and then go on to San Francisco for his conference. I will join him there next week and we will return home the following Saturday.
There is cash in the desk in the study, use your credit card for any other expenses.
Mother'
"Whatcha reading Will? " Buffy asked.
She put the paper down, " just another heartfelt message from the parents." She handed the letter to her friend.
"I guess it's a little formal, but it's neat and there're no spelling mistakes," Buffy offered.
"Yeah, " Willow said bitterly, " lucky she signed it 'Mother' so it didn't get confused with a letter from "lawyer' or 'accountant'."
"Cheer up Will, for the next week we can stay up late, eat tons of ice cream and go Bronzing whenever we want."
Willow continued in her dark mood, " sure I'm on step eight of the twelve step magic addiction program, my girlfriend left me and I'm so far behind at school.."
~~~*~~~
"It happened that the Princess was enchanted so that her life became very difficult. Her castle had become a very unhappy place."
"And only a handsome Prince can make her better right?" the girl asked.
Without waiting for an answer, she continued, " there is a handsome Prince?" she pleaded.
"Yes there was a handsome Prince in the kingdom. His name was William and he liked the Princess, but he couldn't tell her. He wanted to prove himself first by doing some brave deed. So he hid his feelings and joined the Princess's court."
~~~*~~~
"Bloody hell, where's the funeral?" Spike said as he came through the kitchen door.
"Will's in a bad mood, " Buffy said.
"What's new?" Spike asked with a grin, " Red's been moping about for the last two months."
"Like you liven up the room, " Xander said sarcastically, "oh, that's right you're dead you can't liven up anything."
Spike turned, " listen chubs …."
Willow rolled her eyes and gave a disgusted look.
"Ok boys, " Buffy interrupted picking up a leather satchel, " time to patrol."
Grumbling at one another, Xander and Spike followed Buffy into the night.
~~~*~~~
"The Princess was alone. Her protectors were away guarding the kingdom. They were trying to protect the Princess against its many dangers, but they had forgotten about the evil little trolls who sneaked and skulked among the shadows."
~~~*~~~
The sound of a bell made Willow look up from her homework, " who could be at the back door at this time of night?" she muttered to herself.
She went to the closet and took out a cross, a bottle of holy water and a sharply pointed wooden stake. She slowly approached the door, put on the security chain and turned the knob.
She peered through the crack and frowned, "what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, " Jonathan mumbled, " I know you're angry…"
~Part: 2~
Willow looked at her nervous visitor and fumed, " angry you bet I'm angry, after all that Buffy's done for you and you and your weasel friends try to…"
"I know Willow, everything just got out of hand. It's Warren. Andrew and I thought we could do some cool stuff and maybe get .. you know .. close to Buffy and…"
Willow's expression of disgust stopped him short.
"But Warren, he went too far and now with Harris, I think he might really do something bad."
"Hold it, " Willow closed the door and slid off the security chain then joined him on the porch.
"What's this about Xander?" she asked with concern.
Jonathan tried to avoid her eyes, " we were going to shadow the Slayer on patrol. Warren wanted to try out a new weapon."
Willow glared.
"It wasn't going to hurt her, just slow her down a little. We hid on the main path through the cemetery and waited. Then we heard someone coming. Before we knew what happened, Andrew jumped up and pulled the trigger, but it wasn't the Slayer, it was Harris. They must have split up and we hit the wrong person, but he hasn't got the Slayer's strength so it hit him a lot harder and…"
"What did you do? Where is he? I swear if anything happens to him, I'll personally …."
Jonathan cowered hearing words he would have bet Willow hadn't even known describing an intensely painful and life changing procedure to be applied if any harm befell her friend.
" … and then I'll make you eat them!"
"That's why I came, I don't want anything to happen to Harris. I'm afraid of what Warren might do if we don't get there right away."
"Wait a minute, " Willow said as she retreated back into the kitchen.
She hurriedly wrote a note and stuck it to the front of the fridge.
"Ok, let's go, " she said closing and locking the door and following Jonathan down the back steps.
~~~*~~~
"The troll told the Princess that her faithful Knight was in danger and only she could save him. The Princess being very brave and a true friend followed the troll. Brave and true she was but also foolish to trust a troll.
~~~*~~~
Things had been quiet on patrol and Buffy, Xander and Spike had become separated. Buffy was about to turn back in search of the others when she was knocked flying by two vampires rushing from the shelter of some nearby trees.
She quickly regained her feet and faced her attackers. One more rush and a quick side step and arm motion and the first vampire was dust. She turned, concentrating on the remaining one who was slowly circling to the left. Maybe she was concentrating too hard or the third member of the group was especially fast and quiet, but she heard nothing until he slammed into her from behind pinning her arms at her side. He lifted her off the ground as she struggled vainly to free herself.
Her original opponent walked slowly toward her, " Harry, " he said to his companion, " it hardly seems worthwhile to kill her now, but what the hell, first come first served."
Suddenly the vampire holding her disappeared in a cloud of dust and she was free. She shot forward and grabbed the second vamp before he realized what had happened.
Shaking her captive violently, she shouted, " what did you mean by first come first served? What's going on?"
Her captive seemed not to hear her and continued to struggle.
"You're welcome, " a familiar voice said from behind her.
She looked around to see Spike picking up the stake he used to dust the other vamp.
"You're not going to get anywhere that way, " he said in a bored voice.
He walked past her and pulled the captive away. Putting a friendly arm around his shoulder he continued walking him toward the trees.
Looking back, he said, " amuse yourself, I'll be back soon."
She watched as the two vampires moved off. She could see that Spike was smiling as he whispered into his companion's ear, but judging from the trembling of the captive's legs the message wasn't very pleasant.
"Buffy, what's up?" Xander said as he rounded a turn on the path and could see Spike and his 'friend'.
Buffy told him about the fight and her attackers' strange attitude and words.
Spike listened intently then nodded and looked back. He saw that Buffy and Xander were deep into conversation. He nodded toward the edge of the woods and released his prisoner who, without a backward look, faded into the trees and disappeared.
Spike returned and when Buffy and Xander looked up made a show of brushing imaginary dust from his hands and clothes.
Buffy frowned, " did you find out what he was talking about before you dusted him?"
Spike's smile faded, " you were right, there's something going on and your three wet little friends are behind it."
Buffy and Xander looked puzzled.
"Wet, " Spike said with exasperation, " you know pocket protectors, bad skin, virgins.."
"Jonathan and his pals, " Buffy said.
"Right in one, " Spike replied.
"What are the dork brothers up to?" Xander asked.
"I'm not completely sure, " Spike said.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He tossed it to Buffy.
"Call red, I think it may have something to do with her."
Buffy punched in a number and waited.
"Hi, Dawn, is Will there?"
" Where is she?"
"Ok read it to me."
" Ok I understand."
"You stay there, I'm sending Xander."
"I know."
"Ok, bye"
She punched a key and returned the phone.
"Will's not there. She left a note, Jonathan told her that Xander was hurt and captured and she went to help."
She turned toward Xander, " please go back to Will's and stay with Dawn."
"Are you sure, " he asked.
"I'm sure, please hurry."
When he was gone, she turned to Spike, " where have they taken her?"
"If our late friend, " he said nodding toward the trees," was telling the truth, I think I know."
Spike started down the path toward the street, Buffy followed.
"Turn in here, " Jonathan directed Willow down a deserted street.
They walked up a path and he knocked in some complicated code on a plain metal door.
They waited and he knocked again. After waiting for another few minutes. He kicked the door several times.
"Open the damned door Andrew, that was the right knock code. Open the damned door now!"
The door swung open and Jonathan followed by Willow pushed past his friend .
"You didn't do the double knock in the middle," Andrew complained. "You definitely waited 5 seconds too long."
"Listen you idiot, 5 seconds still means…"
"Boys, " Willow shouted, " cut it out, where is he?"
They led her to a door, opened it and she entered a dimly lit room.
~~~*~~~
The Princess not only forgot that you couldn't trust a troll, but she also forgot that there were worse things in the kingdom than trolls.
~~~*~~~
Willow turned when she heard the door close and lock behind her. She looked around the room and spotted a figure slumped in a large chair on the other side of the room. She hurried across but stopped before she reached it.
"Come closer, " the figure said, " Mother won't bite, at least not yet.
Drusilla smiled and held out her arms.
~Part: 3~
"The Princess had followed the troll and fallen into the clutches of the evil Goblin Queen. The Goblin Queen was jealous of the Princess because .."
"She loved the handsome Prince too!" shouted her audience of one.
"Yes, and she thought that the Prince would love her too if she could only get him away from the Princess and her friends."
"What's next?" the girl asked, " what will the Prince do?"
~~~*~~~
"It's just down this way, " Spike whispered as he turned down the dimly lit alley. Buffy followed silently, intent on rescuing Willow and putting an end to the career of three very annoying boys.
Spike held up his hand as they approached a lone metal door. Spike took the knob and gave it a vicious twist accompanied by the sound of snapping metal.
He slowly pushed the door open. The room beyond was pitch black.
"Hold on, " he whispered taking her hand, " remember I can see in the dark.
He propelled her deeper into the room. She felt the cold steel on her wrists and heard the snick of two locks closing before she realized what was happening. She blinked as the lights suddenly came on and she found herself chained by the wrists to iron rings set into the wall.
"Slayer, welcome to my little party, " Drusilla said with a cold smile.
"It's a shame about your date, it seems he's otherwise engaged," she said putting her arm around Spike.
"I think you know everyone else, " she said.
Buffy looked around the room. Warren, Jonathan and Andrew stood behind a wooden chair holding a very confused looking Willow. Flanking Drusilla and Spike were four vamps including the one that Spike was supposed to have dusted earlier.
Buffy's gaze returned to Spike and Drusilla, " Spike, I knew trusting you was a big mistake. Chip or no chip, you're still the same…"
"Now now Slayer, don't say something you'll regret, " Spike interrupted.
"No, I think she might have a point, " Drusilla said turning to Spike.
She nodded and two of her vampire minions pulled hand crossbows from under their coats and held them leveled at Spike.
"Wait a bloody minute, didn't I bring you the Slayer? What else can I do to prove myself?" Spike complained.
"I've been following things here in Sunnydale, and I've heard some very disturbing things about you. You've been helping the Slayer against your own kind and you've been spending all your free time with her friends."
"Of course pet, " Spike explained, " with this damned chip, I can't attack humans. So I fight what and when I can, so what if it's demons?" And hanging with this bunch, that's how I managed to deliver the Slayer tied up with a bow."
He lowered his voice and leaned toward Drusilla, " plus I could always get the odd shag in," he winked.
"You lousy son of a ….." Buffy kicked out nearly clipping Spike's shins.
"Pardon me sweetheart, I usually don't shag and tell, " Spike said bowing toward the enraged blonde.
~~~*~~~
"Oh no, " the girl said wide eyed, " the Prince can't be bad. He can't really like the Goblin Queen."
"The Goblin Queen wasn't so sure either, so she decided to test the Prince."
~~~*~~~
"Very interesting," Drusilla said, " but I have a way to test your true feelings."
She snapped her fingers and one of her minions handed her a small leather bag closed with a drawstring. She opened it and removed a smooth glass ball.
She motioned toward Willow, " bring me the witch," she ordered the two vamps not employed in covering Spike.
~Part: 4~
"Do you know what this is?" Drusilla asked Willow.
She shook her head.
"Do you?" she asked turning to Spike.
He frowned and nodded, " a Pallas stone, a truth stone."
"That's right Spike. Now we'll all know the truth," she said with satisfaction.
"Wait, " Spike said, " just because you have the stone doesn't mean anything. For it to work, you need a ….." Spike stopped in mid sentence.
"You need a witch, " Drusilla completed his thought and handed the stone to Willow.
As soon as she touched it, the stone began to glow with a soft golden light.
~~~*~~~
"Why did the Queen need the Princess? " the child asked.
"Because she was a real Princess, she could tell the difference between the truth and a lie just by hearing it."
"What was the test, what did the Queen want?"
"The Queen was sure that deep inside the Prince really loved her and not the Lady in Waiting, the Princess or anyone else."
"She thought she was the fairest one of all, right?"
The woman nodded and continued.
~~~*~~~
"Let's start with an easy one, " Drusilla said nodding at Spike.
"Are you William the bloody?"
Spike hesitated for a moment, " yes," he said finally.
Everyone looked at Willow, the stone still gave off a golden glow.
Drusilla gave a chilly smile, " haven't you been my lover for most of the past century?"
Spike glanced at both Buffy and Willow, but couldn't meet their eyes.
"No, I haven't…."
Willow gasped as the stone turned a bright red.
All eyes turned to Spike.
His face was grim, " yes, it's true."
The stone returned to gold again and Drusilla smiled with satisfaction.
"Are you in love with the Slayer?"
Buffy colored and looked away.
"No, " Spike said in a flat voice.
The globe was unchanged.
"Now, " Drusilla said in triumph, " who are you in love with?"
Spike didn't reply.
"Answer the question," Drusilla demanded.
He remained silent.
She motioned to the vamps holding the crossbows. They took careful aim at Spike's chest. His lips formed a bitter grin, but remained closed.
Drusilla gestured again and the crossbows swiveled to bear on Buffy and Willow.
Spike shrugged.
Drusilla smiled to herself and waited.
Spike cleared his throat and looked around the room, " I'm in love with Willow."
The globe remained unchanged.
~~~*~~~
"Now the Princess knows the truth, that he loves her and not the Queen, " the girl grinned with relief.
"But remember they're still at the mercy of the Queen, who by now was very angry with both of them."
~~~*~~~
"You're in love with who?" a furious Drusilla demanded.
"I think you heard me pet, " Spike replied calmly.
She turned her furious gaze on the equally shocked Willow.
"Hold on, " Spike said taking Drusilla's hand, " before you do something you'll be, " he looked into her eyes and corrected himself, " something I'll be sorry for, I have a proposition for you."
~Part: 5~
"If you'll agree to let these two go, " Spike said nodding toward Buffy and Willow, " and leave Sunnydale today, I'll go with you."
"You'll go with me? For how long?"" asked a suspicious Drusilla.
"As long as you want, " he replied.
"No, " Willow said, " you can't…."
He turned and took her hand, " it's the only way, " he said softly
At that moment, Willow knew that she loved him too.
~~~*~~~
"So he agreed to sacrifice himself to save the Princess. He had fulfilled his promise to perform a brave deed, but in doing so had lost the Princess forever at the very moment they had found one another."
"No, he can't go away and leave her. There must be something they can do, " the girl pleaded."
~~~*~~~
"What a touching sight, " Drusilla said sarcastically, " the witch and her vampire sweetheart."
She turned to Spike, " did you think I'd take her leavings?" she said gesturing toward Willow. "You think I'd have so little self respect?"
"I should have noticed straight off, you're not what you once were, between the chip and living among these 'humans', " she made it sound like some form of semi intelligent slime, " I wouldn't have you if you begged."
She looked around her, gaze settling on Buffy and Willow, " I still deserve to have some fun and I suppose that means goodbye to your little friends."
With a nod from her, two large vampires grabbed Spike's arms and held him fast.
"You can watch, " she said with a laugh, " it's probably all you're capable of now."
"Wait, " Willow said, " I have something to say."
"Beg if you must, " Drusilla said without interest, " but please make it fast."
Willow approached the vampire and leaned toward her, she began to whisper.
Drusilla's expression remained unchanged for the first few moments, and then a slight smile began to form on her thin lips. As Willow continued, the smile broadened.
Finally Willow pulled back, " do we have a deal?" she asked the vampire.
"If what you say is true and," she said vaguely, " I'm satisfied with the goods, yes the rest of you may go."
Willow held out the stone and the golden glow remained constant.
She gestured to the two unoccupied vampires, " bring me those three, " she said pointing to Warren, Jonathan and Andrew.
She stood with Willow looking down on the three boys, " the witch claims that you are all three very rare commodities, male virgins."
She pointed at Warren, " is this true?
He let out a strained laugh, " me, you must be kidding. " I've had plenty…"
The red glow from the stone lit the entire room.
Warren swallowed, " not plenty, but I'm no …."
At this point, the stone's color deepened to a dark blood red.
Warren stood head down and silent.
The other two admitted their condition with embarrassed nods.
Drusilla smiled. She whispered to one of her minions and opened a door that had been hidden by a dark curtain. Through it they all could see an ornate antique four poster bed draped in white silk hangings.
She entered closing the door behind her.
In a few moments, one of the vampires cocked his head as if listening to something. He straightened and took Warren by the shoulder. He opened the door, pushed him inside, and closed it behind him.
Some faint noises came from the room; they heard a few squeaks followed by a howl from Warren then nothing.
The door opened and Warren walked out red faced holding his pants up with one hand.
They heard a cross sounding Drusilla call out, " witch, things are not going well, not well at all."
Jonathan was ushered in next. Again they heard similar sounds, a few squeaks and a yelp from the boy.
Jonathan also made an embarrassed partially dressed exit.
"Two down and not a real man among them. Witch, things are looking very dark, " Drusilla called out.
Andrew stood and entered the room without any prompting.
A worried Willow turned to Spike, "I took a chance that it might excite her enough to make a deal."
Spike looked disgusted, " wouldn't you know they couldn't do anything right."
The squeaking noises started again.
"Please just shoot me now, " Buffy said only half kidding.
They listened as the squeaking continued and increased in speed. In a few more minutes they heard low moaning. It increased in pitch until they realized that it wasn't the boy.
Finally, there was one sustained wail and then silence.
Both Willow and Buffy were red with embarrassment and Spike was smiling.
One by one the four vampires seemed to lose interest in them and left the large room. The last one tossed a set of keys to Spike who unlocked Buffy's manacles.
All three turned toward the door. They heard soft footsteps approaching it from the inside.
The door opened a crack and Andrew put out his head, " she said you could all go now." He caught Willow's eye, "she said to thank you for everything."
With that, he closed the door. They could hear his steps fade as he moved away from the door. In a few moments, the squeaking started again.
"Please, " Buffy said, "let's get out of here. There's got to be something better to do than to listen to …. That."
"There is, " Willow said slipping her hand into the front pocket of Spike's jeans, " and I can't wait to start."
~~~*~~~
"But how did the Princess convince the evil Queen to let them all go?" the girl asked.
"Why don't you tell her luv, " a voice said from behind the reader's chair.
"Uncle Spike, " little Willow said with excitement.
"Aunt Willow was telling me a story about a Princess named Willow and a Prince named William," the girl looked back at the red head in the chair.
"Did they live happily ever after?" she asked.
"Did they Spike," Willow repeated.
"They bloody well did, " he said putting his hands lightly on her shoulders, " they bloody well did."
END