Summary: 147 days after her death, a Slayer claws her way out of her coffin and breaks the surface of the cold, empty earth.

This is the story of how she found her way back home.

Sequel to where the shadow ends.

Banner by the talented MillennialCryBaby

Beta and Sensitivity Readers: None
Artists: None
Series: Shadowverse
Categories: Episode Rewrite, Season 6
Characters: Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Ensemble
Genres: Angst, Drama, Fix-It, Horror, Hurt/Comfort, Resurrection, Romance, Slow-Burn
Warnings: Suicidal Ideation, Violence
Completed: No Chapters: 9
Word count: 48,618 Hit Count: 3,867 ePub Downloads: 40
Published: May 31, 2023 Updated: November 29, 2023


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Story Notes: Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

So here we are at last! This story has been living in my head for about a year and we’re finally at the first step of this journey.

This is a sequel to ‘where the shadow ends’ but it’s also an S6 AU. So therefore we will be going episodically. Most chapters will be AUs of specific episodes BUT, we won’t be strictly following the structure of S6. Some episodes will be shuffled around (all will be renamed) some omitted entirely, and some chapters won’t be episode rewrites at all.

This story will start out for the most part canon compliant, but with subtle divergences that will eventually take us down a very different and winding path. A path that explores resurrection and trauma and healing and love and secrets and keys and chips and home and finances and lava lamps and robots and Christmas and vehicular manslaughter.

So buckle up kids! It’s time to put the hammer down.

1. Day 148 by disco-tea - Likes: 18 Comments: 9 Word Count: 2,496 Hit Count: 952 Published: May 31, 2023

Today doesn’t count.
AU of Bargaining ii. Warning for some vaguely suicidal themes

2. Post-Mortem Depression by disco-tea - Likes: 24 Comments: 9 Word Count: 6,892 Hit Count: 560 Published: June 08, 2023

Spike would like to say time stopped the moment he saw her, but really it was more like it started again.


Rewrite of After Life

3. Post-Mortem Depression II by disco-tea - Likes: 17 Comments: 7 Word Count: 7,334 Hit Count: 368 Published: August 04, 2023

This chapter features Buffy disassociating, the Summer’s home being haunted, gut wrenching angst, Spike still getting harassed about lava lamps, one beheading, and a brief return of frying pan Dawn!

4. Post-Mortem Depression III by disco-tea - Likes: 18 Comments: 7 Word Count: 5,436 Hit Count: 319 Published: August 12, 2023

Remember my cry tally in WTSE? Yeah, uh…everyone cries here. 🤣

5. interlude de daemonio by disco-tea - Likes: 14 Comments: 5 Word Count: 176 Hit Count: 319 Published: August 12, 2023

6. When the Floods Roll Back by disco-tea - Likes: 17 Comments: 7 Word Count: 13,554 Hit Count: 303 Published: September 05, 2023

Lots of bills. No money. A basement full of water.
Rewrite of Flooded

7. tria stulti by disco-tea - Likes: 13 Comments: 5 Word Count: 513 Hit Count: 342 Published: September 05, 2023

3 fools 

8. interlude de machina by disco-tea - Likes: 16 Comments: 7 Word Count: 4,691 Hit Count: 358 Published: September 28, 2023

Hello, gentle readers. We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you the electrifying tale of a machine with feelings…and also that vehicular manslaughter we promised.


Warning; no Buffy or Spike in this chapter.

9. Life Sucks by disco-tea - Likes: 21 Comments: 7 Word Count: 7,526 Hit Count: 346 Published: November 29, 2023

In which Buffy gets drunk and Spike gets more than he bargained for. Way more.

Rewrite of Life Serial. Beta'd by mcgnagallsarmy