Prologue
A response to Challenge-6695 Buffy Summers of Mars
As I end my time on earth, I must tell the story of the aftermath of my Slayer's death.
When she sacrificed herself to save the world and her sister. She was brave and resourceful and kind and loyal. All qualities I appreciated as her Watcher and would have made me proud to be her father in fact instead of simply a mentor.
Buffy Summers died to save the world, and it became a poorer place for her loss. But this is not a tale of her death, but of what happened afterwards.
As I have said, I was living in England monitoring the progress reports of various Potentials, when a chill breeze swung open the window of my office. I rose to close it, and when I returned to my desk I found a strange scroll placed in the center of my blotter. It wasn't papyrus, vellum, or any other material I was familiar with and it was secured with a leather strap of unusual odor and texture.
My curiosity piqued, I undid the strap and found a sheave of documents written in the bouncy ebullient script so indicative of my former protégé. The ink she used was purple and also unfamiliar to me, but it appeared to have been written with a quill or some other type of dipped pen.
It began thus...
"Hey Watcher Mine!
The reports of my death are, as usual, wrong. Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you, but things have been a little hectic and the post office doesn't really work where I am. Anyhow, I've got a story for your notebooks and parts will make you want to clean your glasses, but keep reading.
I miss everybody and I don't know If I'll ever get back, but remember, I love you all!!!
xoxoxo
Buffy"
I felt tears welling up at that last, so I dabbed my eyes, settled back in my chair and began to read...a/nBtVS characters and situations Property of Mutant Enemy. Barsoom and contents Property the Estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs, though in public domain.
