The prompt is simple: Time Loop

What’s different? It will be tied to the same universe as my one-shot, Waste of a Time Loop.

• Story Link: https://dark-solace.org/elysian/viewstory.php?sid=9028

I have added WoaTL to an open series, meaning any stories that are a response to this challenge can be added to the series. Adding to the series is NOT required to respond to the challenge, but it would be easier to keep track of related stories, so I’ve included the option.

• Open Series Link: https://dark-solace.org/elysian/viewseries.php?seriesid=486

Required:

Each timeline BEGINS with a crash, specifically in School Hard

• While fighting a vampire outside the Bronze, the demon throws Buffy into a metal door. This is where Buffy’s consciousness snaps into place. The fight ends, and Spike appears.

Each timeline ENDS with Buffy’s death

• This can happen in any year/season
• The Tower in S5 would be the exception to this rule if used

Each year/season has one or multiple Fixed Points. You can choose from the following:

Season 2

• Angel’s Soul Lost/Acathla
• Spike Injured (How/Injury Type may vary)
• Kendra (Reason/Time of Visit may vary)

Season 3 

• The Mayor
• Allan Finch’s Death (Faith Responsible? Consequences may vary)
• Anyanka Grants Unsuccessful Wish (Person Wishing may vary)

Season 4

• Initiative (Adam Optional)
• Will Be Done Spell (Effects of Spell may vary)
• Body Swap (Buffy swaps with Faith or Other)

Season 5

• Dawn/Glory
• Joyce Dies
• Spike Tortured for the Key

Season 6

• Warren (Jonathan and/or Andrew Optional)
• Sweet is Summoned (Summoner may vary)
• Anyanka Returns to Vengeance Demon Life (How/Why may vary)

Season 7

• The First
• Potentials Called (When/How many may vary)
• Cassie Dies

Fixed points that happen regardless of the list above are:

S2, 3, 4 - Ethan Rayne causes chaos (CAN extend to later seasons)

• Halloween - New costumes?
• A New Man - Not Fyarl Demon for Giles…metamorphosis?

Note: The idea of Ethan being a passing fixed point that Buffy doesn’t interfere with due to his lack of lasting damage was just really funny to me, he HAD to be concrete. This can be a passing mention like, “Ethan came by last month and did X, here’s how we handled it,” if you don’t want to get too deep into it for your story.

Preferred, NOT Required:

• Each fic picks a timeline and writes it out
• Each story is one loop, should not include multiple
• To reiterate, responses can be added to the open series, but it’s not required!

Optional:

Loops do not have set ends!

• Your timeline/loop can be as long or short as you’d like! If you only want it to go to season 3 or 4, it can end there, or you can take it to season 7 in your rewrite!

Loops do not have an order!

• You can write the first loop, the final loop, continue the loop from the one-shot, or pick a number and do a random loop!
• You can also choose to be vague about what number loop, or include a number in the description. The one-shot is vague but we know she’s been at this a WHILE.

Miscellaneous Notes:

The jumping point for the loop is supposed to be jarring. I didn’t want this to be a moment where she’s waking up in her house or falling asleep in class. She made a deal with a demon, and that demon is out to get her. I wanted the beginning to feel harsh to further illustrate that.

Since each loop is one story and can end at any point, continuity isn’t a problem when adding to the series and you can add at any time without worrying about interrupting the flow. Posting in random order instead of in linear/chronological fashion also feels fun, and you can choose if you’d like to reference other timelines that have already been posted!

The summary for the series gives the basic rundown for how everything started. If you'd like to write the meeting with the Vengeance Demon as a one shot or the opening to the first timeline in a story, go for it! 

Any ratings are welcome!