West of the Moon, East of the Sun (Part III/Chapter 72/?)

[knifeedgefic]

Title: West of the Moon, East of the Sun
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Season: An alternate Season 5. Glory and Dawn (and any other characters connected specifically to that arc) do not exist in this universe. Story picks up almost immediately following the Season 4 finale "Restless"
Rating: Mature
Pairings: Buffy/Spike (eventually)
Warnings: Buffy/

Comments

[prophecygirrl]

If you kill me, you won't find out how it ends.

Point taken. But I'm still sending you the bill from the cardiologist. :D

All kidding aside, I love how the relationships shine here. It's beautiful. As are Spike's heart, and Buffy's soul.

Loved it. Thanks!

[frances_gumm84]

Noooooooo....

Okay, I've already expressed my discontent on ff.net, and was all ready to bring my strop over here, but now I have seized on a tiny ray of hope.

"How do you fight a shadow?" "In the dark..."

"You're going back to hell" "I'll take you and your vampire with me"

"The last thing I see are Spike's eyes staring into mine as we hit the ground and everything goes dark.."

All those sparring sessions in the dark had to be leading somewhere, right? They're gonna kick Louhi's icy litte arse in hell, right? And Spike's not gonna dust?

Right?

I mean ... ?

*sobs*

[knifeedgefic]

Damn... I wish I'd had that idea before I wrote the next chapter. It's pretty good, actually, but sadly not where I'm going...

*pats* Don't cry, though. There will be an update in the next twelve or so hours and then you'll know.

[frances_gumm84]

Slightly mollified now - thanking you!

In my formerly distracted state, I may have forgotten to mention the sheer awesomeness of this chapter, especially Tara's comment about naked cuddling and your description of Louhi in all her hideous glory.

Other things I loved--

The fact that Louhi couldn't focus on both of them at the same time, and the moment when Buffy came up behind and walloped her with the hammer. She really does have a new found love for constructive violence. Wonder where she gets that from?

Spike's fight with Jack Frost, esp. his comment about being shaky on the idea of mercy.

The seague between Buffy and Spike's pain in the passage where she came to her big epiphany.

And ... gulp ... the description of Spike thudding into her like a giant wrecking ball ...

Okay, deep breaths. I can wait twelve hours. I just need a distraction...

Oh yes. That enormously complicated mail merge I've been putting off all morning...

Deep joy.

[slaymesoftly]

Hee! Good fight! (to quote Buffy) I wondered, as things began going badly, if you were going to have a "canon" ending, but I'm hoping the combined strength they've got will keep them semi-safe. (or at least not dead) :)
ETA Forgot to say "And this-this is mercy," he says, withdrawing the sword. Jack's eyes open, staring up at Spike, bewildered. "I'm a little shaky on how it works, so don't be testing it, mate." I loved this line. So Spike.

[knifeedgefic]

Thanks!

I had this feeling when I posted this chapter that all the comments I was going to get would be death threats and begging, and that all the OTHER stuff I put in here would get summarily ignored in the face of the massive cliffhanger end. I appreciate that you took the time to point out some of that other stuff. :)

Also, Louhi is less "dragon" and more "giant harpy" if you're looking for a better visual. Still, it was fun having Buffy, Spike, and Bear kicking her ass.

Next update will be sometime tomorrow... unless I get super productive or can't sleep tonight.

[teragramm]

I trust you to take us on a wonderful ride with hopefully a happy ending, but damn your ending to this chapter is scaring the hell out of me.

Great chapter, scary but great.