Top 5 Dark or Sad Stories

[dragonyphoenix]

Let's wrack up those negative emotions, shall we? 

1. Twelfth Sister: The Council's always known kill one Slayer you get a new one, but now they realize they can kill one Slayer and revive her. It's so dark but so beautifully written. I just love this story. Here's a snippet: "Because, gentleman," he replied, his voice now tinged with a hint of acid, "why should we simply settle for another Kendra? Why should we settle for just one, when we could have a dozen? When we could have a hundred?"

2. Falling Like Icarus: Oh, this is so sad. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say Xander/Anya and share the summary: She'd come so close to the sun, to joy, but now her wings are melting and she's falling, like Icarus. Xander and Anya's world is shattered with just one word.

3. Extinction: A drabble from Open on Sunday. I'm not sure anything I say here could do it justice. Powerful.

4. Mission Accomplished: Poignant. The unexpected difficulty of a Watcher's last duty to his Slayer. I adore the juxtaposition of the explanation of this terrible duty in Watcher training vs. the reality of having to face it.

5. Blackout: A dying Xander brings his daughter to Spike and Angel. Every time I read this - every time - I cry at the end. This story takes a tragic even and makes it heartwarming.

Comments

[yourlibrarian]

Another good set! I'm so glad thesilenceinbetween assembled their drabbles into a post at AO3. When I searched for drabbles two years ago I could hardly find any that had been backed up there. There's so much wonderful content from open_on_sunday over the years.

[dragonyphoenix]

Thanks. I had the same thought about Open on Sunday. So much of it is amazing and I wish the content was easier to search through!

[deird1]

Mission Accomplished is so wonderful. It will forever be one of my favourite fics.

[dragonyphoenix]

It is a great one.

[double_dutchess]

I'll keep these in mind for when I'm in the mood for a sad story!