Our Players ( or who would relate back to who in the play):

THESEUS -- Duke Of Sunnydale=The Mayor
HIPPOLYTA -- Queen of the Amazons= Faith
EGEUS --father to Hermia.=Joyce, I know..it should be a GUY, father and all
but since Buffy's mom is cooler, she's here.
HERMIA -- daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander.= Buffy
LYSANDER -- in love with Hermia.= Angel
DEMETRIUS -- Egeus's choice as a husband for Hermia.= Xander
HELENA -- in love with Demetrius. =Willow
NICK BOTTOM -- a weaver=Oz
PETER QUINCE -- a carpenter who speaks the Prologue. =Larry
FRANCIS FLUTE -- a bellows-mender who plays Thisbe. =Devon
TOM SNOUT -- a tinker who plays Wall. =Jonothan
ROBIN STARVELING -- a tailor who plays Moonshine. =Wesley
SNUG -- a joiner who plays Lion. =Snyder
PUCK (or Robin Goodfellow) -- Oberon's attendant.=Spike
OBERON -- King of the Fairies. =Giles
TITANIA -- Queen of the Fairies. =Cordelia
PEASEBLOSSOM, COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED -- fairies in Titania's service=Amy
Madison, Harmony, Drusilla, and Anya
 
Part 1

The Mayor, duke of Sunnydale, sits over looking Sunnydale with a vast smile and turns to his soon to be bride, Faith.

"My fair Faith, our nuptial hour draws on apace; in four happy days bring in Another moon: but, O, methinks, how slow This old moon wanes! she lingers my  desires, Like to a step-dame or a dowager long withering out a young man revenue."

"Speak straight darling." Faith mutters as she plays with a dagger and thinks of her days among the Amazons.

"Our wedding's in four days and I'm impatient." The Mayor summed up.

"It will be here soon enough, my love. Just relax. You stole my heart besting me in battle and now I will soon join you in a marital bed." Faith smirked.

"I can hardly wait." The Mayor admitted when he saw Joyce, her daughter Buffy, Angel, and Xander approach.

"Hello good duke of Sunnydale," Joyce greeted.

"Hello, Joyce. What news do you bring?"

"Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Buffy.  Stand forth, Xander. My noble lord, Xander has my consent to marry her.   Stand forth, Angel: and my gracious duke, this man hath bewitch'd my child; Angel has stolen her with words and tokens of affection, see the cross she wear around her neck.  He has also turned her obedience, which is due to me, to stubborn harshness.  Therefore I ask of you, if Buffy shall not marry Xander that you shall put the law of Sunnydale on her head. If she will not listen to me and do as I
ask she must die."

The Mayor frowned as he thought this over, he turned to Buffy, "What say you,  Buffy? And be advised fair maid:To you your mother should be as a god; And  after all, Xander is a worthy gentleman."

Buffy pouted and shook her head, "So is Angel."

"That is true, but your Mother perfers Xander, which makes him more worthier of your hand."

Buffy glared at Joyce, "I ask that my Mother just try and look upon Angel with my eyes."

"But you must try to look at Xander with your mother's eyes as well then." The Mayor informed her.

Buffy sighed, "I do apologize your grace to pardon me. I know not by what power I am made bold, But I beseech your grace that you may tell me what will happen to me if I refuse to wed Xander."

The Mayor stroaked his chin thoughtfully and looked at Faith. She had a sad look in her brown eyes. It seemed a bit unfair to put such a lovely young maid as Buffy to death, much less the fact the the wedding was approaching. Faith's eyes pleaded with him to think of a way to go around the law and the Mayor thought of it with a sly grin; "I do not wish to put death upon your head but you must obey your mother. Therefore, I decree that you have four days, the day of my very own wedding, to choose. Either you marry Xander or join a Nunnery.  Though I tell you now that you would be much happier married then have your life and chance to bear children wilt away like a rose."

Xander took his turn to speak then, "Give in, sweet Buffy." He then glared at Angel, "And Angel, stop being so crazed and give up Buffy's love which is my rightful property."

"You have Joyce's love, let me have Buffy's." Angel growled and then turned to Joyce with a chuckle, "Do YOU wish to marry Xander?"

Joyce frowned, "You scornful brat! True, Xander has my love. And what is mine, Buffy, my love shall render him. And she is mine, and all my right of her I do estate unto Xander!"

"I have as much wealth as Xander. If not even more and I love Buffy and have her love in return. I tell you now that this man you hold so highly, in truth, once romanced Rosenburg's child, Willow. Then he ditched her coldly
when he no longer wished her favor and now the poor child wanders sad and alone." Angel said angrily as he thought of poor Willow. She was indeed lovely and it seemed sad that Xander had dropped her so easily.
There was times when Angel almost looked past Buffy and saw Willow but he chose to ignore those feelings. It was Buffy he wanted was it not?

The Mayor seemed angry as well but spoke calmly, "I have heard as much. I am quite fancy of sweet Willow. However it does not push away Joyce's wishes for his daughter to marry Xander. So, I reinstate. Buffy, you have four days to make your choice. Either Xander, death, or the Nunnery."  The Mayor walked over to Faith and took her hand gently and kissed her cheek, "Come Xander and Joyce. I wish to talk to you in private and Buffy, think
about what I have said." The Mayor, Faith, Xander, and Joyce left. Leaving Buffy and Angel alone.

Angel saw Buffy sit down on the edge of a fountain near by. Her eyes cast downward and he sighed, walking over to her, "How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?"

Buffy smiled at his sweet old timed words as he brushed a hand along her cheek as if to bring back some kind of blush. She still however felt tears build up.  "It seems as if rain will soon pour from my eyes, sweetheart as I feel a
tempest of pain within me."

Angel shook his head, "This is a horrible story that is taking place is it not but then again, the course of true love never did run smooth."

Buffy stood, "AH! Oh hell, to chose love by another's eyes! I don't care for Xander nor will I ever love him!"

Angel frowned, as upset as she was, when he suddenly brightened, "I know! I have an aunt, who lives outside of town! Tomorrow evening you and I shall meet in the woods and from there run away together. Once we are out of
Sunnydale's limits we shall be free. They can not put the laws upon you if you are not here."

Buffy smiled and rushed to Angel, hugging him tigthly, then kissing his deeply, "Oh yes! My good Angel, I promise you by Cupid's strongest bow I shall meet you tomorrow!"

Angel kissed her again, "Keep that promise, love."  He looked up then and felt his heart jump. Wandering towards them, her long red hair unraveled, came Willow.  Her green eyes looked so sad and empty and those unpleasant feelings he often felt for her returned full throtal, instead he said to Buffy, "Look, here comes Willow."

Buffy smiled at her friend, "Why hello, fair Willow! Why do you look so sad?"

Willow snorted at Buffy's comment, "Call me fair? I think not. YOU are more fair than I, for you have Xander's love. If I could but look like you and have your eyes and hair and voice perhaps then I could sway Xander's heart
towards mine again."

"I frown upon him, yet he loves me still." Buffy uttered with annoyance but her voice seemed to hold a bit of rejoicing. After all, was it such a bad thing to be wanted by almost everyone? She was a lovely maid, could she help it if she was  more lovely than Willow?

"I wish your frown could teach my smiles such skill." Willow whimpered.

"I give him curses, yet he gives me love." Buffy boasted.

"O that my prayers could such affection move!" Willow whispered near tears, her body sinking to the ground.

"The more I hate, the more he follows me." Buffy mocked, fanning herself as she stood tall above Willow's weeping form.

"The more I love, the more he hates me." Willow cried and Angel almost reached out a hand to help the poor child from the ground but Buffy spoke up sharply, "His problem." *Being helplessly in love with a sexy girl like me*,
she thought and repeated,"His problem, Willow, is no fault of mine."

"None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine!" Willow said softly as she looked her wretched features over. Dirty, sooted skin that was too pale. Long, scraggly red hair and dead looking green eyes.

Angel did not think of her this way, however. She seemed so beautiful beneath all that dirt and dust. Her hair like fire and her eyes so emerald green. He loved Buffy, however, he did not like the tone she used with Willow now.

"Don't worry anymore though, poor little Willow." Buffy taunted, "My face no more shall he see, Angel and I are going to leave this horrible place. It seemed once that Sunnydale was paradise to me, for I got to see Angel. But
now Xander has turned it into a hell with his endless involvement."

Angel spoke up softly, hoping to comfort Willow through kinder words and tone of voice than Buffy was using, "Yes, Willow. To you our minds we will unfold. Tomorrow night, when it's dark and a time that lovers' flights doth still conceal.  Through Sunnydale's gates have we devised to leave and head to Los Angeles."

"Angel and I shall meet in the woods, you know, where those flower beds are where you and I use to hang out. From there we shall head to Los Angeles and our eyes shall look upon Sunnydale no more. and we shall find new adventures together. And good, GOOD luck grant thee thy Xander!," Buffy almost scoffed as she once again looked over Willow's ragged appearance. She then turned to Angel, "Keep word, Angel: we must starve our sight of each other till morrow deep midnight."

Angel nodded, "I will, my Buffy."

Buffy quickly left as did Angel, but he didn't go far. He rather, hid from Willow's sight. He didn't know why he had chosen to stay but he wished to hear Willow speak.

Willow rose from the ground and looked into the fountain where Buffy had sat only a bit ago. She saw her dirty reflection and sighed sadly, tears spilled down her face. After Xander had cruelly romanced her than thrown her away she had wandered the dirty, cold streets with no where to go. No one to love. She dipped her hands in the water and cleaned her face, drying it on the only clean part of her dirty, thin cotton orange-red dress. Then she spoke; "How happy some others can be! Through out Sunnydale I am thought as fair as Buffy," Willow muttered as she touched her face, wondering if it was still true at all. Perhaps now she was nothing more than an ugly wretch, still she spoke to herself, "But what of that? Xander doesn't thinks so; He only knows and sees Buffy now.  And as he becomes lost in Buffy's eyes and looks. So do I, admiring of him and his qualities: All the bad, base, and vile things, holding no quantity where my love for him is concerned.  Love can transpose to form and dignity, making all those bad things seem unimportant.  Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;  And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.  Love is blind and has no judgement, Wings and no eyes figure together in a bad way.  And therefore is Love said to be a child, Because in choice he is so often wrong.  As waggish boys in game curse themselves.  So the boy Love is cursed every where: For before Xander saw Buffy, He told me he was only mine. He hailed down promises and oaths of love.  And when these snowy hail of promises of love some heat from Buffy he felt, So he dissolved, and showers of oaths did melt."  Willow began to cry again and then she thought of Angel and Buffy's plans to run away together. She got to her feet and walked away. Away from Angel's hearing, who sat, feeling totally sad for Willow.  She was as lovely as Buffy still, he wondered if she knew that.

Willow, now away from Angel, thought again of Buffy's mocking tone. It did not seem fair that someone who boasted having two suitors deserved either of them. Willow grinned wickidly and said to herself, "I will go tell Xander of fair Buffy's flight:Then to the wood will he to-morrow night he will pursue her; and perhaps for this intelligence I will have his thanks. It is not his love true, but it is enough for now. For at least by helping him I will be in good status with him again and perhaps win back his heart!" Willow ran off then.

Part 2

In Sunnydale, at Larry's House. Sat five people; There was Oz, a weaver. Larry, a carpentar, Devon, a bellows-mender, Jonathan, a tinker, Wesley, a tailor, and Snyder, a joiner.  They had all heard of The Mayor and Faith's upcoming wedding and had plans to perform at the reception in a play.

"Is everyone here?" Larry asked.

Oz said to him "You'd better call them man by man, according to the script and there parts."

Larry held up a piece of paper, "Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is thought fit, through all Sunnydale, to perform in our play before the duke and the duchess, on thier wedding-day at night."

"Okay, first tell us what the play is about and then read out the names of the actors and their parts and so on until we reach a point to stop." Oz told Larry.

Larry scratched his head and read loudly, "The play is, 'The most lamentable comedy, and most cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe'."

Oz nodded, "A very good piece of work, I assure you, and now, good Larry, call forth your actors by the scroll."

Larry looked back at the paper again, "Answer when I call you. Um, Oz the weaver."

Oz grinned, "Ready. Name what part I am for, and proceed."

Larry nodded, "You, Oz, are set down for the part of Pyramus."

Oz stroaked his chin, "What is Pyramus? A lover or a tyrant?"

Larry looked at the paper yet again, "A lover, that kills himself most gallant for love."

"AH! A lover! That will ask some tears in the true performing of it: if I do it, let the audience look to my eyes; I will move storms and make them weep uncontrolably. To bad he's not a tyrant however for my chief humour is for a
tyrant: I could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to make all split.
 

This was lofty! Now name the rest of the players. This is Ercles' vein, a tyrant's vein; a lover is more condoling." Oz said, hands on hips.

Larry looked at Oz as if he was insane, wondering to himself what the hell Oz had just said, instead Larry shook his head and called out, "Devon, the bellows-mender."

"Here, Larry!" Devon cried back, holding tightly to a mug of beer.

"You, Devon, you must take Thisbe on you." Larry decreed.

"What is Thisbe? A wandering knight?" Devon questioned.

"It is the lady that Pyramus must love." Larry said and everyone let out a belly laugh.

Devon turned red-faced, "NO! Dear God, No, faith, let me not play a woman!! I have a beard coming." Devon used as an excuse.

Larry sighed, "You shall play the part in a mask anyway, and all you have to do is speak as small as you will."

Oz spoke up, "Hey, I may hide my face, let me play Thisbe too! I'll speak in a monstrous little voice."  Oz then said in a tiny voice, " 'Thisbe, Thisbe', 'Ah, Pyramus, lover dear! thy Thisbe dear, and lady dear!' "

Larry glared at him annoyed, "No, no, no; you must play Pyramus: and, Devon, you Thisbe!"

Oz let out a disappointed sigh, "Very well, proceed."

"Thank you." Larry muttered, " Wesley, the tailor!"

"Here, Larry!" Wesley said in his slippery english tone.

"Wesley  you must play Thisbe's mother. Jonathan, the tinker."

"Here." Jonathan called.

"You, Pyramus' father: myself, Thisbe's father: Snyder, the joiner; you, the lion's part: and, I hope, here is a play fitted." Larry said and relaxed down into a seat, pouring himself a beer.

Snyder spoke up, "Have you the lion's part written? If you do, please give it me, for I am slow of study and wish to be good at the part."

Larry shrugged, "It's nothing really. Just roaring."

Oz once again jumped up, "Let me play the lion too: I will roar, that I will do any man's heart good to hear me; I will roar, that I will make the duke say 'Let him roar again, let him roar again.'

Larry rolled his eyes, annoyed again, "And you will do it TOO good then and you would frighten Faith and the ladies, that they would shriek; and that were enough to hang us all."

"HANG US ALL!" The group shouted at Oz.

Oz, still did not listen, "I grant you, friends, if that you should frighten the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more discretion but to hang us: but I will aggravate my voice so that I will roar you as gently as any
sucking dove; I will roar you an 'twere any nightingale."

Larry ran his hands over his face and stood up, menacing over Oz, "Look, you can play no part but Pyramus; for Pyramus is a sweet-faced man; a proper man, as one shall see in a summer's day; a most lovely gentleman-like man: therefore you must needs play Pyramus! GOT IT! Not the Lion, Thisbe, Thisbe's mother or anything else, JUST Pryramus!"

Oz gulped as Larry stood tall above him, "Well, I will undertake it."

Larry let out a relaxed breath, drank a gulp of his beer, and grabbed copies of the play from a chair near by and began to hand them out, " Here are your parts: and I am to entreat you and request you to try and memorize them by to-morrow night; and meet me in the palace wood, a mile from town, by moonlight; there will we rehearse, for if we meet in the city, we shall be dogged with company, and our devices known. In the meantime I will draw a
bill of properties, such as our play wants. I pray you, fail me not."

"Well then," Oz said, rubbing his hands together, "We will meet; and there we may rehearse most obscenely and courageously. Take pains; be perfect: adieu."

Oz turned to leave and Larry wondered if Oz knew what exactly 'obscenely' meant but simply shook his head, "At the duke's oak we meet."

Part 4

At the bank where the wild thyme blows, Cordelia came exhausted. She let out a tiny yawn and fell upon a nice soft pallet her servants had made.She muttered to her fairies; "Sing me now asleep;Then to your offices and let
me rest."

Her four fairies, Amy, Harmony, Drusilla and Anya softly sang until Cordelia feel fast asleep.  Then they too headed to a place to rest for the night.  Slowly Giles crept into their mist and leaned over Cordelia, pouring the
juices of the flower onto her lids.

"When you awaken, luv.  You will find yourself hopelessly in love with a vile, nasty thing and I do give my condolences.  But it will teach you what the love of a beast is really like."  He chuckled and left quickly.

Angel and Buffy walked in on the fairies then but they could not see them because fairies are usually hidden from humans eyes. Therefore they spoke to each other, no fear of waking up anyone.

"You look tired, fair love,  with wandering in the wood; How about we rest for the night? And continue our journey tomorrow?" Angel suggested.

Buffy nodded, "Very well, here will we rest. Find yourself a bed. I shall rest my head on this bank." Buffy said and settled next to Cordelia, not seeing the Fairy queen there.

"One turf shall serve as pillow for us both; One heart, one bed for us two." Angel said and sat next to her.

Buffy blushed dark red and pushed him away, "No, Angel; for my sake, my dear, Lie further off yet, do not lie so near."

Angel suddenly grinned, understanding her meaning, "I see. You think I mean to take your innocence. What I meant was I wished to lie next to you because I love you. Not to take your virgin head. But, I understand and agree to lie away."

Angel got up and moved a little ways away from her.

"I didn't mean to hurt or insult you in someway, my love." she whispered.

He shook his head, "You have not, so do not worry. I understand your concern. For I would like nothing more than to be in your bed. But I will not do so here. Now rest, dear Buffy."

Buffy smiled and lay down, "Good night, my sweet Angel."

Soon enough the two lovers were fast asleep, not knowing that fairies slept around them.  When Spike, who had been wandering the wood, saw them on the ground. ALL of them, fairies included.

"What have we here? The fairy queen and her attendants asleep with two mortals?"

Spike crept over to Angel and picked at his clothes quickly, "Hmmm, Weeds of Sunnydale he doth wear: I believe this is he that Giles spoke of."

Spike then spied Buffy, hidden in the bank next to Cordelia, "The despisèd Sunnydale maid; sleeping sound, On the dank and dirty ground.  Pretty soul! She does not deserve this. But wait? Did Giles not say a madien with fire hair? This girl's hair is golden. Perhaps, Giles was mistaken however. It is dark tonight and such a mistake could be made."

Spike thought it over and shook his head, pulling out the flower, "It makes sense to me. Besides, I have some mischief to make. I get to turn some unlucky fool's head into that of an ass."  Spike poured the liquid on to Angel's eyes and left.

Xander and Willow entered then.  Being in such a blind rage, Xander did not see Angel nor Buffy so near. Willow did not see them as well, for she was focused on Xander alone.

"Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Xander." Willow begged, wondering to herself if death was a better alternative than a life without Xander.

"I told you to leave and do not haunt me thus." Xander hissed angrily as he continued ahead, totally missing Angel and Buffy who lay on the ground.

"Oh will you leave me here?" Willow called after him as he disappeared.

"Stay, I alone go!" Xander said and stalked off.

Willow sat on the ground. She was tired. Tired of chasing Xander and of loving him. If only she could find some love of her own. Buffy was indeed lucky.  Willow sighed, avoiding tears, and the pain in her chest.

Suddenly she spoted Angel, his eyes closed tight and she gasped at the sight of him.  She crawled over to him, "But who is here? - Angel, on the ground? Dead, or asleep? I see no blood, no wound."

She examined him and blushed a bit as she touched him, for he was very handsome but even more beyond her reach than Xander himself, "Angel if you live, good sir, awake!" she whispered.

Angel's eyes opened slowly and fixed on Willow's soft face and he felt his heart catch fire, "And run through fire I will for thy sweet sake!" he gasped. His heart pounding. How could he have not seen Willow before!  "Transparent Willow, nature shows art," he said and touched her cheek, "That through you and your beauty makes me see my own heart. Where is Xander? O, how fit a word Is that vile name to perish on my sword!"

Willow grinned a small grin and blushed at the touch of his hand on her face,  "Such kind words. But do not say so, Angel; Even if he loves Buffy and wishes to take her from you, you should be content that Buffy loves you back unlike my own hell."

"Buffy?" Angel found himself laughing as he ran his fingers along Willow's cheek, "Content with Buffy! No; I do repent the tedious minutes I with her have spent.  Not Buffy but Willow I love. Who will not change a raven for a dove? The will of man is by his reason swayed, And reason says you are the worthier maid. Oh sweet Willow, I do love you." Angel said and pulled her close for a kiss but Willow pushed him away in terror.

"Why are you playing this horrible joke on me! What did I do to you to deserve this scorn? Isn't it not enough, Angel that I did never, no, nor never can deserve a sweet look from Xander's eye. But you now must point out how no one will love me!  In this sick joke you play you pretend to romance me? As if to bring some smile to my face. This joke is not in the least bit funny, Angel. And here I thought,  I must confess, I thought you lord of more true gentleness.O, bad enough Xander refuses me, but now you abuse me!"  Willow ran away from Angel's arms, disgusted and hurt.

Angel felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest and he cried out, "Willow!" But she was gone. Angel jumped to his feet and looked at Buffy with a scowl, "Willow did not see Buffy. And never shall I look upon her agian either. For I now know I love, sweet tempting Willow. I will go to her and convince her that this is not a joke or a lie but true love we have. I will honor Willow and be her knight!"Angel ran after Willow then.

After a few moments, Buffy awoke screaming, " Help me, Angel, help me! Snake! A Snake attacks me-" Buffy looked around and let out a breath, "Ah, just a dream. Angel, look how I do quake with fear -Methought a serpent ate my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel prey."

Buffy looks over to where Angel is but sees he is gone, "Angel? Angel, where are you! Out of hearing? Gone? No sound, no word?Ahh! Where are you? Speak and if you hear."

There was no answer and Buffy rose to her feet, "Then I shall come and find you, my love!"

Part 5

Xander continues to look for Angel and Buffy.  Willow hides in the woods, Angel at her heels and Buffy behind them.  Searching for Angel. Cordelia and her fairy army (Amy, Drusilla, Anya, and Harmony) are still asleep.  Having been so lost in dreams that they did not hear Buffy when she awoke screaming nor did they hear Willow scold Angel.  Now enters the merry band of Oz, Larry, Snyder, Devon, and Jonathan, who have come to practice their play and who's eyes are blind to the sleeping fairies as were Buffy, Angel, Xander, and Willow's.

Oz clapped his hands together and smiled, "Are we all here?"

"We are, " Larry said, "and this is indeed a perfect spot to practice our play.  For the royal wedding approaches fast."

"Larry?"  Oz asked.

"Yes, Oz?"  Larry replied.

"In reading the script I have noticed things that will never do.  First, Pyramus must draw a sword to kill himself; which the ladies cannot abide.  How answer you that?"  Oz asked.

Larry scratched his head and ran through the script, "I forgot about that."

Wesley shuddered at the idea of death or anything that involved pain, "I think we should leave the killing out."

Oz grinned, "Don't worry: I have an idea.  Larry, write me a prologue; and let the prologue seem to say, we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed; and, for the more better assurance, tell them
that I, Pyramus, am not Pyramus, but Oz the weaver: this will put them out of fear."

Larry nodded in agreement, "Well, we will have such a prologue; and it shall be written very soon indeed."

Oz patted Larry's back, "Good work, my man."

Jonathan spoke up then, "Will not the ladies be afraid of the lion?  Played by our good friend, Snyder?"

Wesley gulped, "I f-fear lions, I tell you."

Oz rolled his eyes at Wesley, what a pansy!  Still he had to agree, "Of course you both are right, to bring in--God shield us!--a lion among ladies, is a most dreadful thing; for there is not a more fearful thing a lion living; and therefore we ought to look to the matter an address it."

Jonathan nodded and turned to Larry, "Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion."

Oz shook his head, "No, even better, you must name his name, and half his face must be seen through the lion costume, yes through the lion's neck: and he himself must speak through, saying this, or to the same defect,--'Ladies,'--or 'Fair-ladies--I would wish You,'--or 'I would request you,'--or 'I would entreat you,--not to fear, not to tremble: my life for yours.  If you think I come hither as a lion, it were pity of my life: no I am no such thing; I am a man as other men are'; and there indeed let him name his name, and tell them plainly he is Snyder the joiner."

Larry sighed and crossed his arms, "Well it shall be so.  But there is two hard things; that is, to bring the moonlight into a chamber; for, you know, Pyramus and Thisbe meet by moonlight."

Jonathan turned to Larry, "Will the moon shine that night we play our play?"

Oz jumped up, alarmed by this bit of news, "A calendar, a calendar!  Look in the almanac; find out if the moon shines, find out moonshine."

Larry pulled out a small, trusty almanac from his back pocket and searched under the night of the wedding and let out a happy chuckle, "Indeed, yes, it doth shine that night."

Oz let out a relieved sigh, "Well then, this is easy!  Why, then may you leave a casement of the great chamber window, where we play, open, and the moon may shine in at the casement. And shower down on us the players"

Larry disagreed, "Too difficult.  How about we have a person play Moonshine or represent it rather. Wesley can take this upon him, for he could play the part of moonshine nicely and his other role, that of Thisbe's mother, is not needed during that scene nor any scene after. "

Wesley nodded, "I can do that."

Oz clapped his hands, "Well that is solved then.  Now what is the other problem you mentioned."

Larry sighed, "The same scene in which the Moonshine, now played by Wesley, doth shine.  Thisbe and Pyramus talk to each other through a hole in the wall and we can certainly not bring in a whole wall!"

Oz laughed, "Why this is easy as well!  As a man represents the moon so does a man represent the wall.  We'll make a suit for him, let him have some plaster, or some loam, or some roughcast about him, to signify a wall; and
one section of this costume shall have a hole and through that cranny shall Pyramus and Thisbe whisper."

"You are ingenious, weaver Oz!  Jonathan, could you take the wall upon you as well as the role you were first granted, that of Pyramus' father?"

Jonathan grinned, "I will be proud to undertake it!"

Larry smiled as well, "If that may be, then all is well!  Come, sit down everyone, and rehearse your parts.  Pyramus or Oz, you begin: when you have spoken your speech, enter into that brake: and so every one according to his
cue."

The group began to perform, unaware of Spike, who had slipped into their mists as invisible to them as the Queen and her servants. He couldn't keep the wickedest of smiles from his face.  It was ALL too easy!  Here these foolish mortal sat around the fairy queen herself, her attendants at their feet, unseen by them.  Spike's fingers itched to bewitch them but instead he sat back a bit and decided to watch what these fools would do and chose among them which would best be suited to become a jackass.

Larry started the play off, "Speak, Pyramus.  Thisbe, stand forth."

Oz stood up courageously and spoke his lines in a haughty manner, "Thisbe, the flowers of odious savours sweet,--"

Larry rolled his eyes, "Odorous, odors" he corrected.

"Oh," Oz muttered then continued, "--odors savours sweet:  So hath thy breath, my dearest Thisbe dear.  But hark, a voice!  Stay thou but here awhile,And by and by I will to thee appear."  Oz strutted off as his scene was over and Spike was laughing uncontrollably at the performance he had just seen.

"All ready a jackass this one!  He leaves as a man, but a stranger Pyramus than ever will return."  Spike said and got to his feet, following after Oz.

The play continued on and Devon looked at the script confused, "Must I speak now?"

Larry groaned, "Yes, you must; for you must understand he goes but to see a noise that he heard, and is to come again."

Devon nodded and stood up, reading his lines,
 

Larry threw down his script annoyed, "'Ninus' tomb,' man!!! Why, you must not speak that part yet; you speak all your part at once, cues and all and THEN Pyramus enter: your cue is past; it is, 'never tire.'  And PLEASE try and
speak as a woman would. With a high voice. Learn from Wesley if you must."

Devon grunted, "I can not help it if I am not as womanish as Wesley-"

"I am not womanish!"  Wesley cried.

Everyone simply laughed at him and mumbled, "Sure, whatever!"

"Just try."  Larry said.

Devon let out a breath and tried again in a higer-pitched voice, "O,--As true
as truest horse, that yet would never tire."

Oz looked up, ready to re-enter into the play as that line was his cue.  Spike, who sat behind him smiled and mumbled a spell in some unknown language and blew dust onto Oz. Oz's head, unknown to him, was now that of a Donkey's but he just stumbled in and spoke his lines, "If I were fair, Thisbe, I were only thine."

Devon let out a loud, VERY womanish scream as did Wesley and everyone jumped up, staring at Oz in horror.

Larry screamed, "AAAAAAHHHHH!  O monstrous!  O strange!  We are haunted!  RUN EVERYONE, RUN!  HELP!"

Larry, Devon, Jonathan, Wesley, and even Snyder ran to the hills and as far away from Oz as possible.  Spike chased after them, deciding they were fun to torture and kicked at Wesley's ass, making Wesley jump up and squeak loudly.
 
Oz, who didn't know of his transformation, was confused but then smiled, "Ah!  I see, they mean to make an ass of me!  They are trying to frighten me, if they could.  But I will not stir from this place, do what they can: I will walk up and down here, and I will sing, that they shall hear I am not afraid."

Oz softly began to sign a sweet melody and Cordelia's eyes fluttered open and she whispered to herself, "What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?"

She turned and saw Oz then, his head that of a donkey, and she felt her heart flutter at the sight of him.  She made herself and her servants visible to human eyes and spoke to Oz, "I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again!  My ear
is much in love with your song as are my eyes enthralled to thy shape; And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me!  At first sight, I swear, I have fallen in love with you!"

Spike, who had returned from forcing Wesley to shriek higher than a woman several times, stayed invisible to both Cordelia, her servants, and Oz's eyes and laughed at this sight.  Here was this lovely queen in love with of all things, a jackass.

Oz looked her up and down and gulped.  She was a vision, a dream.  He had not seen such a lovely creature since that of Rosenburg's daughter, Willow.  Willow was lost to Xander however and Oz had had no chance with her.
Now Oz was lost at the sight of the woman before him.  Her eyes of sinful midnight chocolate and her hair a wave of brown.

He spoke shyly, "Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that: and yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days."

Cordelia smiled at him, "Thou art as wise as thou art beautiful."

Oz sputtered at this and shook his donkey head, "Not so, neither I am afraid: but if I have brains enough to get out of these woods, I have enough to serve mine own turn."

Cordelia rushed over to him, her features full of alarm, "Out of this wood do not desire to go!  Please, remain here!  I am aware that I am a spirit of no common rate.  But I DO love you, so stay with me, I beg you.  I'll give you fairies to attend on you!  And they shall fetch you jewels and sing you to sleep.  Anything you wish!  DRUSILLA, ANYA, HARMONY, AMY!"

Cordelia snapped her fingers and the four fairies arose.

Spike grabbed a long stick and reached it out, lifting up Drusilla's skirts and he chuckled as he looked beneath them.

Drusilla thought she felt a breeze but ignore it.

"Ready!"  Amy shouted.

"And I!"  Harmony replied strongly.

"And I!"  Anya said.

AND I!"  Drusilla squealed as she felt the night air lick at her backside to her shock.  She turned but by then Spike had lowered her skirts with a chuckle.  Now he eyed Harmony.  *Well, well what have we here?  Another cutie,* he thought.

"Where shall we go?"  They all asked simultaneously, Drusilla still looking behind her now and then but not seeing Spike, who remained unseen to all their eyes.

Cordelia paced in front of her servants, "Be kind and courteous to this gentleman! Hop to his words and be happy in his eyes! Feed him with apricots and dewberries, With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries; The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees,"

Oz's stomach growled loudly at the food she described, he WAS hungry!

Cordelia continued, "And make for my new and only true love a bed and pluck the wings from Painted butterflies to fan the moonbeams from his sleeping eyes: Nod to him, fairies, and do him courtesies!"

Amy was the first to approach Oz and greet him, "Hail, mortal!"*Or should I say 'jackass'?* She wondered as she looked her new mistress' love over.  He was a rather ugly sight, but it was her mistress who had to deal with him not her.

"Hail!"  Drusilla said running to Oz's side.

"Hail!"  Anya greeted.

"HAIL!"  Harmony cried out loudly.  She felt as if a hand had just grabbed her ass roughly.

This had been Spike, who was smiling to himself.  How he missed the comfort of a fairy in his bed.  He know looked Anya over, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.  *Another cutie I see?  I wonder which here is the best to satisfy my needs*, he thought.

Oz looked Drusilla up and down, "Pray, tell me your name."

"Drusilla, good sir."

"I shall desire you of more acquaintance, good Mistress Drusilla.  And you?"  Oz asked of Anya.

"ANYA!" she shouted and whipped around to smack whoever had just had the audacity to press roughly against her backside and kiss her neck.

Spike ducked and missed her blow.  She seemed a bit too rough.  Then again he liked rough.  Now he looked towards Amy's direction.

Oz seemed perplexed by her shouting but just shrugged and said, "I thank you for the services your mistress commands you offer me, I shall desire you of more acquaintance too.  Your name, I beseech you, ma 'am?"  He asked and turned to Harmony.

"Harmony."

"Ah, then you must be the one to bring peace to the group.  We will have to talk later.  And lastly you, my dear lady?"  Oz asked of Amy.

"AMY MADISON!" she cried and looked about her.  She felt as if she'd been manhandled.

Spike stroked his chin.*Hell, any of them would be good in my bed. * he thought when he suddenly heard footsteps approach.  He was the only one who seemed to hear them and walked towards the sound.

"Well, Amy and the rest of you, I am glad to meet you all and hope you will all serve me well if you must."  Oz said.

Cordelia pressed a hand to her heart, "Such sweet words, you are truly a marvelous creature!"

Oz's stomach growled again loudly and he blushed, "I'm sorry."

Cordelia grinned and she turned to her fairies, "Come, wait upon him!  Find my soon to be lover food so his stomach may be quite."

The fairies flew off in search of food and trying to get over being touched by unseen hands.

Oz gulped, "Soon to be lover?"

Cordelia smiled and sat next to him, "Do you not desire me?"

"My lady, who would not desire a creature such as you?  But I do not even know your name."  He asked.

"It is Cordelia and you?"

"Oz the weaver, my lady."  Oz said with a short bow as they sat next to each other on the ground.

There was a moment of silence before Cordelia said, "I must ask again.  Do you not desire me?"

"I do."  Oz said, his heart pounding loudly.

Cordelia took a hold of Oz's collar and pulled him to her, "Good, then kiss me."

Cordelia settled her lips on Oz's and his eyes widened but slowly drifted shut as he returned the kiss, his tongue darting into her mouth swiftly all though he did wonder as to why his mouth and head felt so different.

Cordelia wrapped her arms around him and returned this sweet kiss.

Not far away Spike came upon Giles, who had been the one walking towards them.

"How now, Spike?"  Giles asked.

Spike grinned and rubbed his hands together, "Your mistress with a monster is in love."

Giles chuckled deep in his chest, "This falls out better than I could have devised!"

The two set off.
 
 

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