Title- Admissions of Guilt 3/?
Sequel to- Admissions
Author- Veronica
E-mail- roni.s@sympatico.ca
Pairing- G/W
Rating- G, for now
Disclaimer- Joss owns all in the Buffyverse, I just use them like Barbie's for my own twisted fun.
Spoilers- post Grave
Distribution- If you like it, take it… just let me know where.
Summery- An old nemesis is back, and is seeking revenge on Giles and Willow.

The small group remained silent as they watched the young woman disappear before they're eyes. Horror gripped each one of them, as Xander was the only one to find his voice and scream her name.

"Willow, nooooooo!" The young man desperately looked to Buffy and Giles in hopes of someone doing something… anything to stop his best friend from doing the self-sacrifice that she had talked about with someone they couldn't even see.

"Giles, you heard her, right? Was she talking to herself? Do you think she meant what she said? We have to do something!" Buffy finished, hoping her mentor could shed some sort of light on this situation. She watched as Giles mentally shook himself, and saw the gears in his head begin to turn.

"Yes, Buffy, I heard every word. And by listening to the way she was speaking, I do believe she was quite lucid… she was talking to someone that we were not meant to see."

"But, how could a Goddess ask someone to sacrifice themselves… just to prove they're loyalty? It's just not right!"

"Buffy, if you look back into the bible… I assure you, it happened quite frequently."

"Okay, ya know… I'm real glad you two want to get into some sort of philosophical or theological conversation, but now is not the time for it! My best friend just left and is about to kill herself to please some God, and all you two can do is talk about how often this stuff happens!" said Xander as he turned his head to look at Giles. "You promised me you would never let anything hurt her… well get your ass in gear `cause I'm holding you to that promise!"

* * * *

After the dust settled from Willow's appearance, the young woman was able to see the horrid reminder of the monster she had allowed herself to become not so long ago.

"You know what to do, my child. I am here for you."

"Yes, Goddess, I understand." She replied and closed her eyes.

She could feel the power rising up within her and forced herself to relax. Arms held out in front of her and palms facing the ephigee, she began to softly chant. A rumble from deep within the ground told her that ephigee was doing as she wanted… the grotesque monument was slowly sinking back into the ground where it belonged.

"Stop. You will take it no further."

Willow stopped what she was doing and opened her eyes, only to see that the pitchforks that sat atop of the ephigee were still there… totally exposed. Willow turned questioning eyes to the sky in hopes of an explanation.

"It is a necessary reminder for you, my child."

"But, I don't want to remember."

"It is better this way… to remember what it is that sets you apart from the beasts you fight. When you look upon this, it will remind you that once; you were no better than they. It will also give you the strength you need to make sure that this will never again happen. It is the way I wish it to be, for you will need all the strength you have… as well as from those around you." She finished.

"I don't understand what you mean. Strength for what?"

"Tis not the time for you to know… but soon, my child, soon you will be in battle, a battle for your very soul."

"But, who will I be fighting?"

"You, my lovely one. Never fear, for I am always with you… I will be there when you need me most. You are never alone."

"But when will this happen? How can I fight myself? I don't understand what you want of me." She said in a small voice, "I'm sorry."

"In time, little one, in time. After all, time is like water, and each ripple holds infinite possibilities. Each choice you make causes new ripples to appear." Said the dis-embodied voice, which only caused a look of confusion to cross Willow's features.

"Yes, I know you do not yet understand. It is connected to all things, it takes and it gives, and bends with the flow of the tide. It appears to run in a line, yet it also seems to run circular. You mortals have this saying… What goes around comes around. Tis a simple explanation, but quite accurate. Time… such an easy concept, but one that is hard to explain to such an inferior race. No matter, your race will figure it out for themselves one day."

Willow could think of nothing else to do but nod her head.

"You know what it is you must do."

"Yes, Goddess."

"I await your sacrifice. You may begin."

* * * * *

The three sat in the car as Xander sped his way down the streets of Sunnydale, desperately hoping to get to his friend before anything could happen. He was scared to death and didn't care who knew it, but the look on Giles's face made it worse.

"Giles? Don't worry; we'll get there in time. She's only been gone for about ten minutes, not much time for anything too bad to happen." Said the slayer in the hopes of calming everyone down.

"Buffy, you don't understand. I can feel her emotions." He stated as he looked to the blonde woman sitting beside him. "Within these last ten minutes, I have felt a variety of emotions from her. I've felt confusion, fear, and now…"

"And now what?"

"An almost tranquility has come to her." He said softly. Neither spoke another word as Xander pushed the gas pedal to the floor. `Cops be damned' he thought.

"Oh god!" was all Buffy could manage to squeak out.

* * * * *

Though she could see nothing, it felt as though someone's palms rested against hers as she spoke quietly to the unseen entity.

"My pride and humility, my heart and my soul. I am your servant, I am your daughter. In your hands, my life do you hold. From air to earth, and fire to water. I give the purity of life, for you to behold."

Willow felt a warmth spread around her, as though someone was wrapping arms about her body as if in a gentle embrace. And it was comforting in a way she never thought possible.

"I accept your offering, my child, with happiness in my heart. I will leave you now to continue what you must finish. Remember, Dearest, you are never alone." The final words faded and the red head knew she was once again by herself.

Slowly she turned away from the pitchforks and again closed her eyes, and as she began to chant her body lifted from the ground and was suspended about five feet off. So absorbed was she in what she was doing, that she didn't notice the audience that had approached.

* * * *

Relief flooded the three of them as they stood there watching the young woman as she began to levitate off the ground. Giles recognized the words she spoke, and held off the other two from going to her.

"It is a simple incantation. Sh-she is bringing back life to the area she destroyed." He explained. "It is a renewal spell. Watch and see for yourself." He said a little breathlessly.

The three stood in awe as they're gazes settled upon the beauty that floated in mid-air. If it weren't for the fact that they knew her so well, they might not have recognized her, for the way the sun shone on her hair, it cast a fiery glow around her head. The paleness of her skin and the white of her dress almost seemed to glow with the rays of the sunlight. It was as though they were looking upon the beauteous wonder of an ethereal being… not the Willow they had come to save.

And as they watched, a yellow mist began to rise out of the ground, almost like a fog as it hovered. They saw the colour of the dirt change from a charred black to a lighter shade with grass beginning to poke out.

"For that which I had taken, so shall I return anew. That which I destroyed, so shall I give it life. So mote it be."

They stood motionless as they saw the entire thing… grass was growing all around, and wild flowers making their way up to the light, and rewarding them with the sight of their first bloom.

It was absolutely breath taking, and Giles couldn't help it as his mind traveled back to England… to the place where he had first seen her do this. To the moment when he realized that he was in love with her.

The three watched as Willow smiled and opened her eyes to take in the sight of what she had accomplished. But as she looked on, a frown twisted her features… she couldn't take her eyes away from the life below she had created.

"Something's wrong." Giles said, causing the other two to look at the worried expression on his face, but he continued to stare at Willow. Buffy and Xander looked back, not understanding what he was talking about, until Willow's frown turned back into a smile. But something wasn't right, the smile looked almost… sinister?

Hollow sounding laughs emerged from the red head's lips as everyone saw that what she had just created, whither and die before their eyes. Looking back to Willow as a scream escaped her lips, they watched her fall to the ground in an unconscious heap.

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