Really loved this story, had to stop and google a couple of bits because I'm more familiar with the movies than the comics but I still managed to follow and enjoy it all. Looking forward to all future efforts... :)
Okay... At first I wasn't too sure about the format you were using to tell the story, but as time went on I finally decided that the way you had written the whole thing worked quite well.
The fight scenes were well written and coherent enough to allow my imagination to picture the scene - a very important consideration whilst reading the whole thing in one go.
A good enjoyable read. Well done.
Comments from author:
Thank you, glad you liked it.
I can understand your early reluctance towards the story format. It actually started as three interlaced sections and got edited into the three disjoint sections relatively later (in fact, there's still some lingering artifacts--one of Faith's early chapters ends with her talking about a love of snow, while ten chapters later Buffy opens a chapter with a brief hate fest on snow. That was a better transition when there wasn't 45,000 words between it). But that led to a lot of repetition across scenes as characters discovered things readers already knew. Things came together a lot better after the sections split apart.
Review By [CaitlinMuir] • Date [13 Apr 13] • Rating [8 out of 10]
PLEASE PLEASE, write more. lol. This story has consumed me for the last few months. Can I help? Beta reader, anything...I will be there to ensure you continue. Willow is my heart and I enjoy a little faith action and I think you wrote those characters impeccably. you, sir, are a word genie!
Comments from author:
I could use beta'ing help. Send me a message through the site with your email and we can talk (doesn't look like you've got an email registered with the site, so I can't message you).
Review By [goofyprophet] • Date [3 Apr 13] • Not Rated
I've changed my mind. Such is the power of you're writing. This ending literally changed my mind, because I now decided that despite not having time, I'll make the time. I'm still unsure about having time to actually edit, but plotting and high-level-editing should be feasible - since that mainly consists of thinking and then writing up stuff. Also, I think I may have overreacted due to the Passover crush... anyway, you've got my e-mail. Drop me a line if you want to do it, because I've already got ideas based on this for the sequel (don't want to step on your toes, but essentially, it involves the Phoenix coming again, X-Men and Avengers teaming up - going much further out in world-building, into the idea that the Celestials are sort of the Old Ones of this world).
Faith beating up Cyclops was a great fight scene. Even better was the hint that Captain America stopped her from killing him. Because while it might just be because he's Cap, it might also be that Scott needs to survive for the world. And with the end, that makes things a lot better.
Oh, a three way fight between Dr. Doom, Faith and Illyria. That was a work of beauty. Faith's trash-talking, Doom's approach and Illyria's contempt just converged into something absolutely brilliant.
The confrontation in Willow's mind... that was the best part of this story. Jokes, history, Willow as a naughty bomb, that brilliant last resort with Hellfire, Willow admitting her faults and pointing out this was why Doom was a villain, Willow feeling the pain of her sins... all that was epic. Willow's gotten really dark in her desperate fight against Illyria, but this... while still dark, it's the perfect proof she's very self-aware of how dark she is, and how she isn't evil. I liked the Earth helping Willow. Stephen Strange is still here, but it makes me wonder if Willow might become a new kind of Sorcerer Supreme of this world, or even just a person who can freely use that power.
Of course it's worrying that with her memories being disassociated from her, and containing Victor's memories, she isn't the same. But this is Willow. I trust she'll be able to meditate back into harmony. I doubt she'll be the Willow we know - she'll most likely become some amalgamation of Willow and Victor - but I think her core objectives will remain those of Willow, though her methods might change.
So Emma survived, which is good, even if she's in prison. They'll need her. Heck, they'll need everybody. They were 198 - how many are left after this tangle? What's odd is that Scott is still connected to Illyria, as is everybody. Wasn't she destroyed? Which is where my Phoenix and Celestials as old ones idea comes in... but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, Scott still has powers as Qwa’ha Xahn, which is interesting. But more importantly, he's got a team, and it seems he has a plan. With his work cut out for him, he'll need all the help he can get.
The part with Tony was absolutely hilarious, I loved it, and can't wait to see more. Nick Fury was awesome as well. The dead are as expected. Good to know Ms. marvel is alive, even if totally unfit for anything. The best news is that Natasha is still out there. They'll need her. If they would only team up with the X-men... Aargh, I said I wouldn't step on your toes. If you take me up on my offer, we'll e-mail it out. So, Tony's off to Buffy's world. And it looks that while Xander is now in charge, he hasn't been dealing well with Faith/Buffy/Willow's disappearance. I can't wait to see how that'll work out... According to what Layla said, he isn't the only one who turned to drink.
Perfect final scene. Loved the symmetry of the beginning and end. And I can't wait for the next one. I'll await your reply (Sabbath is in two hours, of course, and Sunday eve is the Seventh of Passover, but if you have an answer for me, I'll try to reply on Saturday night/Sunday morning). Until then, thanks for the great enjoyment until now, and all best wishes, Meneldur.
"The Daily Buggle’s" - Bugle.
Comments from author:
Okay, will send you an email sometime in the next couple weeks. I've got to get stuff out of my head and written down first.
Review By [Meneldur] • Date [29 Mar 13] • Not Rated
This story is fanfiction at its best: well crafted plot, great action scenes, inventive details, nice characterization of especially Faith, and the Willow plotline had lots of humour to balance the dark overall tone of the story. The first half of the Buffy plotline got a bit repetitive, but even at its worst this story is better than 90 % of fan fiction out there. At its best the story competes with the best superhero stories you have to pay for. Definitely recommended.
Review By [hanx] • Date [27 Mar 13] • Rating [10 out of 10]
Awesome story, loved it. In my top ten EASILY, quite possibly top five if I was the type to take the time and put a list together. So thank you for your efforts.
I will be reading the sequels, guaranteed.
Review By [murfspace] • Date [27 Mar 13] • Not Rated
"- Faith and Thor sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G (okay, no promises on the kissing, but I guarantee trees)". I want them kissing each other , If ya don't mind xD!.
"- Xander, Tony Stark and the Pale Man go cruising for girls". Oh boy, Tony is gonna be a riot xD!!.
"- Buffy and the X-Men staring in Days of Future Past." So Buffy got a little case of cloning blues?. I hope she can get the Scott and the X Men out of their little case of moronic induced magic desire of conquest :S.
"- Dr. Willow Von Doom versus an army of Old Ones (I know, that one isn’t a fair fight. Poor little Old Ones)". Weell, Lil'l Willow is gonna be in a very biiig surprise xD!.
Cool story dude, congratulations =)!!!.
Comments from author:
Re Faith and Thor Kissing: I just don't know if I can see it for those two. Faith likes her bad boys, Thor likes his good girls. If they did happen it would be both desperation and dysfunction (which is maybe an argument for it happening).
Re Tony and Xander: Yeah, I'm looking forward to writing those two. They should be fun.
Thanks!
Review By [Mcspender] • Date [26 Mar 13] • Rating [10 out of 10]