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The canonicity of this article's subject remains dubious. Though it doesn't contradict official continuity, it has not been referenced in any confirmed canonical material. |  |
"Again" is a prose short story of the Tales of the Slayer book series. Written by Jane Espenson, it was originally published on December 17, 2002, by Simon Pulse.
Summary
Buffy, Willow, and Xander wake up back into their 1999 bodies. They have all the memories of what is to come because they are actually from the year 2001. Willow and Xander attempt to research with Giles about the time travel until they decide to keep appearances and attend their high school classes, noticing how much they've changed and all the people they know will die soon. Meanwhile, Buffy does everything to stay home and enjoy the company of her living mother. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow follows the three to devour those outside their time.
Giles goes after Buffy, and he sees through her facade when she attempts to hide that she is from the future. Giles tries to convince her about the dangers of her staying, but Buffy tells him about the problems she will face in the upcoming years, saying she might have been gifted a do-over. Meanwhile, the shadow attacks Willow in the school, and she hurries with Xander to the library to find the solution to their time displacement.
The shadow attacks Buffy and she fights it, hacking it into pieces. After Giles declares it died already, Buffy asks him if she can stay. Before Giles can answer, Xander and Willow find the spell that quickly sends them to their time.
In 2001, Buffy, Willow, and Xander don't know whether Giles doesn't have the memories of their encounter or has hidden it from them all for all those years. They also don't know who sent them back in time.
Elsewhere, Warren, Jonathan, and Andrew conclude that the time displacement did not work as well as they had planned.
Once alone, Buffy thinks about Willow and Xander finding the spell on time and pulling her out of heaven — again.
Continuity
- The events of this story take place on November 8, 2001, with time travel to early 1999.
- Xander thinks of his upcoming wedding with Anya; they have been engaged since "The Gift" and the ceremony will take place in "Hell's Bells."
- Xander finds himself in the bedroom he slept until he moved to his parent's basement, which he stayed from "The Freshman" until "The Replacement."
- Willow went to bed alone, having been separated from Tara since "Tabula Rasa."
- Buffy thinks of Giles being in her home, where he stayed when he briefly returned from England in "Flooded."
- Buffy is surprised to see Joyce alive, having seen her mother dead in "The Body."
- Willow and Xander think about the deaths in the Graduation Day battle, and Buffy tries to warn Giles about the Mayor's Ascension ("Graduation Day, Part Two").
- Xander sees the cheerleading trophy that "always gave him a funny creepy feeling"; unbeknownst to him, Catherine Madison has been inside it since the episode "Witch."
- Buffy remembers that Anya and Tara aren't her friends yet in early 1999; they will join the Scooby Gang only during Buffy's first year in college ("Superstar").
- Joyce doesn't know who Dawn is as she is only created in 2000 ("Buffy vs. Dracula").
- Joyce and Giles have been awkward with each other since their fling in "Band Candy."
- Buffy tells Giles that Angel and then Riley leave her ("Graduation Day, Part Two," "Into the Woods"), she dies to save the world ("The Gift"), Willow brings her back ("Bargaining, Part One"), Giles leaves ("Tabula Rasa"), and she has a sexual relationship with Spike ("Smashed").
- Buffy mentions she will die again, having already died in "Prophecy Girl."
- Buffy will also tell the Giles from her time about having sex with Spike in "Two to Go."
- The Scoobies will also confront their teenage years and the choice of leaving it behind in I Wish, Part One.
Appearances
Individuals
- Angel (Only mentioned)
- Larry Blaisdell
- Riley Finn (Only mentioned)
- Rupert Giles
- Alexander Harris
- Harten
- Holland
- Anya Jenkins (Only mentioned)
- Harmony Kendall
- Faith Lehane (Only mentioned)
- Jonathan Levinson
- Tara Maclay (Only mentioned)
- Warren Mears
- Olvikan (Only mentioned)
- Daniel Osbourne
- Willow Rosenberg
- Snyder
- Spike (Only mentioned)
- Dawn Summers (Only mentioned)
- Joyce Summers
- Buffy Summers
- Andrew Wells
- Richard Wilkins (Only mentioned)
Organizations and titles
- Key (Only mentioned)
- Order of Dagon (Only mentioned)
- Scooby Gang
- Slayer
- Trio
- Watcher
- Witch
Species
Events
- Graduation Day battle (Only mentioned)
Locations
- Buffy Summers' heaven (Only mentioned)
- England (Only mentioned)
- Sunnydale
- Alexander Harris' apartment (Only mentioned)
- Gallery (Only mentioned)
- Harris residence
- Hellmouth (Only mentioned)
- Magic Box
- Revello Drive
- Rosenberg residence
- Sunnydale High School
Objects
- Blood
- Cheerleading trophy
- Milkbar (Only mentioned)
- Stake
Rituals and spells
- Key embodiment ritual (Only mentioned)
Behind the scenes
Collections
Pop culture references
- Xander's old bedroom has a poster of Tyra Banks and action figures of Spider-Man and G.I. Joe.
- Willow imagines the brain as a machine by the science fiction writer H. G. Wells.
- Xander jokes about getting a book on time travel from the graphic novel series The Big Book Of.
- Xander mentions the 1989–1993 series Quantum Leap when talking about changing the past.