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The subject of this article is of alternative canonicity. While created as part of licensed material, it is not part of the original Buffyverse, but its own developed story. |
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Abhainn was a small town inhabited by a community of witches.[1] As Willow Rosenberg was accepted to integrate the community,[2] she studied and celebrated with the coven under Aelara's mentorship.[3]
Initially, the coven did not allow members to leave the place, with the intentions of keeping the witches stronger by surviving together. Willow then convinced Aelara that the freedom to walk away was as important as her choice to be a witch, so she was allowed to return to Sunnydale.[4]
History[]
Willow first visited this town after she bought a random bus ticket at the Sunnydale Airport. At one of the bus stops, she was denied service at a gas station convenience store, but she soon found out she had lost the bus. Walking through the woods without phone signal, Willow then found a sign for the town of Abhainn, a name she recognized as Welsh.[5]
Willow saw the streets empty and entered Jojo Diner, where she was served fries and cupcakes. Aelara recognized Willow as a visitor and recommended an inn, which Willow noted didn't have WiFi, TV, or a phone. The postcard Willow had written magically disintegrated as she slept; meanwhile, a girl was caught attempting to escape town.[5]
The next morning, Willow noticed that the people in town — only women — were cold towards her. A shopkeeper called her and sold her a perfumed green sweater, telling her that the only people who got there were those who belonged there. Outside, Willow found a pink flower named gatiaux, which Aelara explained only grew there. At night, Willow discovered the locals celebrating around a bonfire, and she understood they were all witches. She danced with them and met Aelara again.[1]
After waking up in the hotel, Willow noticed the people in town were warm towards her this time. She went after Aelara and asked if this was a cult, but Aelara explained that, unlike cults, the witches didn't take power from others: Willow could feel the place's power because they were each already powerful. With Aelara's guidance, she was able to magically grow the garden around them. However, when Willow went to the city's limits to observe the bird's strange behavior, a group of witches interrogated her if she was lost, accompanied by the girl who had attempted to run away. Willow then grew suspicious that something was wrong with Abhainn.[2]
Willow spent her time working with the other witches while they cooked, tended the garden, and celebrated. She also studied witchcraft with Aelara. With everyone teaching her, Willow became Abhainn's favorite student. However, one night the girl who had attempted to run away met Willow in secret to ask her to escape town with her. They planned to meet later, but Willow couldn't find her cellphone. At dinner, Aelara invited her to stay permanently, but Willow said she'd think about it.[3]
Willow then went to the woods to meet the girl, who arrived running away from magical wolves. Willow protected her, but Aelara announced that Willow couldn't leave.[3] Willow told the girl to run, and she magically fought Aelara. The older woman said that they witches were strong by sharing their strength and surviving together, but Willow responded that the freedom to walk away was as important as her choice to be a witch. A vision of Xander appeared to Willow and sent her birds to fight Aelara, but Willow went to help her from the attack. Willow told Aelara that she would come back whenever she was needed, but then she had to return to her friends. They hugged, then Willow took a bus back to Sunnydale.[4]
Appearances[]
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2019) | ||||||||
| 01 Absent |
02 Absent |
03 Absent |
04 Absent |
"Frenemies" Absent |
05 Absent |
06 Absent |
07 Absent |
08 Absent |
| 09 Absent |
10 Absent |
11 Absent |
12 Absent |
Willow #1 Appears |
Willow #2 Appears |
Willow #3 Appears |
Willow #4 Appears |
Willow #5 Appears |
| 13 Absent |
14 Absent |
15 Absent |
16 Absent |
17 Absent |
18 Absent |
19 Absent |
20 Absent |
21 Absent |
| 22 Absent |
Faith Absent |
23 Absent |
"Conversations with (Vexing) Dead People" Absent |
24 Absent |
25 Absent |
26 Absent |
27 Absent |
28 Absent |
| 29 Absent |
"Aughie and Camazotz in: Birthday Brew" Absent |
30 Absent |
31 Absent |
32 Absent |
33 Absent |
34 Absent |
Epilogue Absent |
"Yearbook" Absent |