Dawn of Fern Gully
by Les

The soft breeze blew in the branches of the decades-old trees in Fern Gully. In the dynamic metropolis that was Sunnydale, California, one natural oasis remained that bore witness to imperturbable timelessness of seasons' coming and going. So like pillars upholding the heavens were the tall, sheltering trees.

All manner of flora and fauna lived in Fern Gully. Lightly flowing waterfalls cleansed the verdant banks as pristine water fell from a nearby mountain to the mouth of Lake Sunnydale.

It was there that Buffy, Dawn, Tara, Willow, Anya and Xander came to enjoy a picnic and reunion. It wasn't too long ago that Buffy was resurrected. Buffybot kept up the patrolling duties with eagerness, not intimidated in the slightest by the forces of the Dark Side. Also undeterred by Dark Forces was Spike, who offered to accompany Buffybot on patrol.

"Just give me a blanket to sit on with a couple of cans of beer and I can call this home, all right!" said Xander, enthusiastically.

"Xander, you know you love all your creature comforts! In fact, I've never seen you do anything outdoorsy with me before! It's always TV and then bed, TV and then bed..." 
Anya said.

"You know, you two sound like a married couple already!" quipped Buffy.

"I wonder what my husband will be like," mused Dawn. "I think I'd like him to have Xander's sense of humour and be a TV or a rock star...maybe both! And he'd have to be a martial arts expert or an Olympic athlete...just to sort of keep it in the family, right Buffy?!"

"I guess so," said Buffy. "I'm sure he'd have to be a strong-willed and open-minded guy...someone who isn't intimidated by strong women."

"I'm not intimidated by a strong woman!" said Willow. All laughed good-naturedly.

"You know very well you're strong, too!" said Tara. "It's amazing how much we both agree, isn't it?" 

"Yeah, I definitely agree that we both agree!" said Willow.

"We've both grown in experiences and love with every passing day," said Tara.

"I certainly agree with that!" said Willow.

"Let's all make a toast to loving and experiencing!" said Buffy, raising a glass of Tara's fruit punch, while sandwiches were made and passed around by all.

"I'll drive back since Xander is drinking beer," said Anya. "I really drive a lot better now that I studied and got my license."

"I remember our chase after the snake monster!" said Buffy. "In fact, I won't soon forget it!"

"Anyone for more potato chips? Potato salad?" asked Anya. We have enough potato products here to make vodka! Xander will just stomp on them and I'll sing a folksong from the Old Country and then we'll distill it!"

(Laughter all around.)

"Now we know what you'll be doing on your honeymoon!" laughed Dawn.

"I have a feeling that's going to be the last thing on their minds!" said Willow.

"Are you having a premonition about their honeymoon, dearest?" asked Tara.

"Nah...it's just a wild guess!" answered Willow.

"Where are you guys going on your honeymoon, anyway?" asked Buffy.

"I guess we'll go to Hawaii!" said Xander.

"Oh, I think that's a wonderful idea, Xander! I always wanted to learn the hula and dance on the beach after a luau!" said Anya...like they do in all the movies!

"Hula is a solo dance, isn't it?" asked Xander.

"It means 'dance', but it's often done with several women in a group," answered Anya. "I saw that on 'Hawaii-Five-O." 

"What's that?" asked Dawn.

"It's a TV detective series from the '70s. It's on one of the cable channels now." said Xander.

"I have a pair of bell-bottom jeans at home," said Tara, "...and a madras shirt and a floppy hat and a pukka-shell necklace!"

"Where?! You mean in the old trunk in the attic?" asked Willow.

"Yeah! We just never got around to sorting through it!" said Tara.

"I know! Why don't we have a retro '70's party?" asked Tara.

"I'll teach Dawn 'The Hustle!' " said Buffy.

"...And we'll play early Michael Jackson and Madonna stuff!" said Willow.
"Groovy!" said Tara.

"That's '60's talk, said Willow."

"Atomic passion! Hep cat!" yelled Tara.

"That's '50's talk!" laughed Willow.

"O.K. then...'far out!' " yelled Tara in reply.

Everyone talked about the retro party with gleeful anticipation. What an inspired idea! If every there were a time for celebration and festivity, this was it.

"Buffy, did you bring the marshmallows?" asked Xander.

"Yep. Oh! I forgot to bring the matches, though!"

"Uh, guys, I have a news bulletin for you: You have two powerful but friendly witches here at your service! Fire's not a problem!" said Willow teasingly.

"Breaker, breaker and ditto on that, good buddy!" said Tara, still in '70's speech mode recalling lorry drivers' two-way phone system lingo.

"I didn't forget it, guys, I just mentally missplaced it for a sec!" said Buffy in good humour about the whole thing, "...while watching Dawny wolf down a handfull of marshmallows right out of the bag!"

"I muouhh diiii..." "said" Dawn in defense of herself, then stopping.

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" warned Buffy.

"O.K., Willow, bring on the fire!" said Buffy, gleefully.

"Want to make this a duet, Tara?"

"Sure!"

Willow: "Element of the South, we do entreat..."

Tara: "Come to our voices, change these words to heat..."

Willow: "Fulfull our plea, fulfill our desire..."

Tara: "Make this knife-point a torch of fire!"

Applause and loud cries of approval are heard from all and sundry as a flame poured out of the knife-point.

"O.K., guys, I'll pass the marshmallows all around as soon as they're done!" said Xander, taking the "torch" from Willow and roasting marshamallows with delight.

"Xander," "Do you know any Hawaiin words?" asked Dawn.

"I know a few of the basics," said Xander.<

"Aloha" means hello-goodbye, "malama pono" means take car, "wahini" means female, "kane" means male; "kau kau" means eat, "wiki wiki" means hurry hurry and "aloha au ia oe" means I love you."

"Pretty words." said Dawn.

"How do you say 'you're going to burn your fingers if you don't pay attention to the marshmallows?!" asked Anya.

"Xander" said Anya.

"Yes?" 

"Aloha au ia oe." 

"Righteous moment right here", said Dawn with both arms crossed, admiringly the couple.

"Speaking of righteous moments," said Willow, "The gang and I want you to have a small token of our admiration, our friendship and our love."

"What's going on?!" asked Dawn quizzically. "Buffy, do you know anything about this?"

"Yeah, and it was difficult keeping it from you. I didn't want to spoil the moment for you, so I didn't let on."

Tara began to speak: "Here in surroundings of nature's beauty is the beauty of a young woman who would have given her life for her sister as well as for all of us here and untold millions all over the world. Willow and I would like to present you with this laurel wreath as our recognition symbol of your unselfish love, your courage and your loyalty. 

"Dawny, we hereby crown you 'Dawn of Fern Gully,' which we know is your favourite spiritual place."

"I...I just don't know what to say..." Dawn managed to whisper.

"You're all so wonderful and I love you all so much!"

Buffy cradled Dawn's laurel-crowned head with eyes drenched in tears in her arms and to her chest.

"We love you with a love that's so strong that it's beyond any words we could say," said Buffy in a very low and soothing voice. "Even when I was in the Realm of Death, there wasn't a moment when I didn't think about you...you were never, ever out of my thoughts."

"But you should be the one who's honoured, Buffy, not I. You're the true hero...you're the one who saves us and the world over and over again! You're the hero, not I!" Dawn protested.

"You should understand everything now, Dawny. It should be very easy for you to understand, in fact."

"I DO understand, Bufffy, I do. But I want you to have this crown. I want to give it to you as a gift."

"You already gave me a gift, Dawny. Remember when it was my birthday and you gave me that photograph of the family with Dad in it? We were struggling to accept each other then, but from that time to this, I knew I and everyone who would ever be priviledged to know you would be blessed."

Both sisters continued their embrace and their tears of nameless joy. The Scoobys looked on silently and reverently and smilingly.

"Uh, guys, I don't want to have to break this up or anything, but I really think someone needs to put out the torch!" said Xander.

"Of course!" said Willow; and spreading her hands over the knife, said:

"Fire burning, fire bright,
Extinguish your flames,
Return to Night."

So saying, the fire went out immediately. 

Group hug!" said Anya. And so there was!

EPILOGUE

The following weekend, the gang went to Willow and Tara's house. Posters were hung on the walls of movies like "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" as well as large posters of Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul, Madonna and other period icons. The stereo was blaring "Copacabana" by Barry Manilow; and later on "The Hustle" was played while everyone danced to the pounding beat and the ever-flickering strobe lights.

Like, what a happening, man! It was rock-out city...rad...totally!

Willow and Tara were dressed in Hawaiian garb, complete with grass skirts, straw hats, leighs, pukka-shell necklaces, short tops and bare feet. 

Anya came in bell-bottom jeans (leant to her by Willow), a halter and Japanese sandals. Xander had on a white jumpsuit.

Buffy came in a halter and bell-bottom jeans with clogs and a straw hat and orange-coloured sun glasses.

Dawn chose a mini-skirt with tank top and spike heels and wore a beret'. 

Everyone was enjoying Tara's tropical fruit punch as well as apple cider, espresso and natural-grain corn chips.

Willow and Tara danced as partners, as did Anya and Xander. Buffy and Dawn danced together...or apart...as the tempo of the music indicated.

A loud rapping was heard by Xander who happened by the window.

"Guys, turn down the stereo for a second, O.K.?" he asked. "I think someone wants to crash..."

Xander motioned that the stranger come to the front door. 

"The bleedin' music is so loud, nobody could hear my door-knock!" said a familiar voice. 

"Spike!" said Xander. "Hey, come on in, man!"

"What the bloody hell is this? A movie set?!" cried Spike, incredulous at the decorations and the manner of dress.

"I've never known you to feel out of place anywhere, Spike!" said Xander. 

"Spike!" the gang yelled almost in unison.

The vampire entered, his signature black garb almost rendering him disembodied in the flashing strobe-lights.

"Dance with me, Spike!" said Dawn. 

"You're on, Little Bit!" answered Spike.

Both danced and had a splendid time of it.

"Buffy, I'd like the pleasure of this dance," said Spike when the music changed.

"Groovy!" she said.

"Groovy?! mimicked Spike as they both smiled and danced.

Another rap was heard on the window. Xander similarly went to the window and motioned towards the front door.

"Hi! Can I come in, too? I'm looking for a partner! I, too, would like to come to the hootenanny. I love socializing with male and female human organisms. I am perky and fun and I can kick your ass if you do something I don't want you to do." 

Yes, as I live and breath, it's Buffybot!

There she was, looking her pink-dressed, leather jacketed, laced-booted best. And her hair was styled just like Buffy's, too. 

Everyone laughed and clapped hands and welcomed her to the party. 

She asked, puzzled: "Why is everybody shaking? You all look like you're in pain, but yet you're all laughing and having fun. What is this activity? Do you need my help in ridding you of the affliction?"

Buffy explained to her look-alike what dancing is, saying that it was a normal, pleasurable social ritual humans perform that some believe is a way of sublimating sex.<BR>

"Acknowledged. That computes." said Buffybot.

"Would someone like to sublimate some sex with me?"

"I would!" 

"Who's there? Who are you?"

"I'm Les. I'm writing this story."

"Oh. Oh, yes...I'm living in your mind now, as are we all, as it were...eeewwwww!! You have some fixations and ideas that border on ...

"Uh, not to interrupt you, Buffybot, but this story is getting a bit prolix now for a short story; and...

"You really mean you want to end it soon, aren't I right?"

"Well, yes...I think..."

"Never mind! Come on in and I'll introduce you! I know you're panting with excitement over the prospect of meeting Buffy, Dawn, Anya, Tara and Willow."

"Yeah...I can't deny that...I wouldn't want to deny that. They're my idols."

"Yeah, I know. Well, if you promise to be on your best behaviour and say anything stupid like you usually do, I'll introduce you to everyone."

"Thanks, Buffybot! I'd love that!"

"I know: But don't get all weird on us...save that for a phantasy about Faith. She'd be much more appreative."

"How did you know that?"

"I told you: I'm living in your mind."

"I promise to be a perfect gentleman and act like a diplomat."

"All right then: Come in!"

"Hi, Buffy! I'm Les and you're my idol! I'm so delighted to meet you!"

"Hi! Thanks for those words and those feelings. I'd like you to meet my sister Dawn."

"Hi, Dawn! You're a delight!" 

"Thank you!"<BR>

"Hi, Willow! Hi, Tara! You guys are so cool! I mean, knowledge of The Craft or no, you're fantastic!"

"Thanks! We keep telling each other that! :) said Willow

"...and I keep agreeing!" said Tara.

"Hi, Xander, Hi, Anya! Congratulations on your engagement and on your wedding-to-be!"

"Thanks for you thanking us! Keep it real, man," said Xander.

"Want a lift home? I got my license!" said Anya.

"Well, I think I can just orb out, as it were!"

"Hi, Spike! It's great to meet you! We have something in common, believe it or not!"

"Hi, yourself. What's that, mate?"

"We both are fans of 'Passions' ."

"Yeah? What do you think about Timmie getting stuck in the bottom of the pit with Tabitha and having man-eating bugs poured all over them?"

"That sucks, man. Don't worry: Timmie will get them both out. After all, as he said before, 'I'm the brains of this outfit!' " :)

Ha, ha!

Well, I think I'll just hang around long enough to sample some of Tara's fruit punch, cut in for a dance with the ladies once more...not to be too greedy...and then I'll orb out. 

Oh, guys! Can you put on "The Villiage People" singing "Y.M.C.A." just once before I orb out?! Thank you muchly!" :)

Peace, Love, Laughter, everyone!!
Les