A Fairy Story with Photoshop Interruptions 4/4

[kathyh]

Last part. Thanks everybody for all the very kind comments. This has been a lot of fun.

A Fairy Story with Photoshop Interruptions
Part 4 of 4
by kathyh
Rating: doubt if it's more than PG13 now as this is from No Sex Please We're Season 7.
Thanks: to itmustbetuesday for this great community, lillianmorgan and elisi for encouragement, and elisi for constructive criticism of the wallpapers (except the last one which she hasn't seen so she's not to blame). Everything else is my fault.
Disclaimer: unfortunately I don't own them. If I did I'd be away playing with them on a warm beach somewhere.
Note: Yes, Beneath You should be here. Blame the blue shirt for its absence! Sorry...

Back to our Heroine (slightly tarnished) and our Hero (nearly there now).


The Quest was successful and the Boy returned with the piece of himself that was missing, but he paid a terrible price for it as his mind had been overturned and he was haunted by the things he'd done without that piece of himself (he was also haunted by the Girl's Greatest Foe, but he wasn't to know that). The Girl was confused and wasn't sure what to do to help the Boy, even when he told her that he'd regained the missing piece of himself for her sake.

As time passed the Boy's sanity returned to him, but he was still being manipulated by the Girl's Greatest Foe (as it kept on saying it was to anyone who would listen). He did more bad things, but this time without knowing it, and the Girl trusted him enough to believe that. Even when he was stolen by the Girl's Greatest Foe she wouldn't give him up and saved him. Eventually the trust between them was so great that the Boy was the only one who believed in the Girl when all her friends denied her. His belief was so strong that he gave her back her own belief.

Touched




1024x768 version here
800x600 version here

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06.

And her belief in him was so strong that when she was given an Amulet that only a Champion could wear and he asked her for it, she gave it to him and made him her Champion.

And many fairy stories would end at this point with trust and love restored, but this one doesn't. The Girl, filled with the belief that the Boy had given back to her, defeated her Greatest Foe, and the Boy's soul (which had been the piece of him that was missing) was so strong and so bright that it burned with a fire that destroyed the forces of the Girl's Greatest Foe and left the Girl victorious... but though the fire that the Boy's soul lit warmed, it also consumed, and he died. The Girl was left without the Boy to live her life as she so chose, and that was his gift to her.

Chosen



1024x768 version here
800x600 version here

07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12.

Epilogue

That might have been the end of the story, but fortunately this is a fairy story, and though such things don't happen in real life, the Boy was returned to the world through the Amulet he wore. After many adventures he saw the Girl one more time dancing with a new partner, but fate or chance or fear prevented him from reaching out to her. The first time he saw her she was dancing, and the last time he saw her she was dancing, and there is a poetry to that, which the Boy, being something of a poet himself, could have appreciated. And that might be the end of the story...or it might not. The Boy wasn't one to give up...and the Girl liked to dance.



1024x768 version here
800x600 version here

Everything shareable. Text and fonts can be altered, banners can be personalised.
Screencaps from _jems_ and Screencap Paradise. Credits in my user info.

Comments

[chrissie-linnit.livejournal.com]

The story was beautifully told.

The graphics were stunning, and your choices of headshots and combinations worked tremendously well. I especially liked the sets in parts three and four, although everything was quality stuff. Really, really well done!

*applauds*

[kathyh]

Thank you very much. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it as I had such fun doing it.

[botias.livejournal.com]

Beautiful work. I especially liked #3. Thanks for all the goodies!

[kathyh]

My pleasure *g*. Thank you for commenting.

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

Awww, great ending, and more lovely artwork. Thank you!

[kathyh]

Thanks so much. I'm really pleased you enjoyed the ending.

[gillo]

And that might be the end of the story...or it might not. The Boy wasn't one to give up...and the Girl liked to dance.

That's such a sweet ending. And such very beautiful images - you have a superb touch with colour.

[kathyh]

Thanks. I had a lot of fun playing with the colours so I'm glad it worked for you. Basically I had a lot of fun playing with all of it *g*.

[avidrosette.livejournal.com]

Beautiful retelling of the core tale of these two. Stunning artwork, too.

[kathyh]

Oh, thank you. That's very kind.

[spikespetslayer.livejournal.com]

This was really fantastic, and you can see you put a lot of work into it...thank you for posting such beautiful graphics and such a wonderfully thought-out story...you win, in my book, if this was a contest...

[kathyh]

That's really sweet of you, but there's been so much amazing work already and so much wonderful work to come I'm sure that if this was a contest I know I *wouldn't* win. Thanks for the lovely feedback.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[kathyh]

Thank you :)

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Stunning graphics, and perfect ending!

[kathyh]

Thanks very much :)

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Nicely done - and I love the way you tied his first and last glimpse of her together with the dancing. Brilliant!

[kathyh]

I would really have liked the final wallpaper to be of dancing, but it just wasn't doable! Many thanks for the comment.

[owenthurman.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, with lots of pretty.

[kathyh]

Thanks *g*.

[pluckyantihero.livejournal.com]

"The Boy wasn't one to give up...and the Girl liked to dance."

Wow. That is beautiful and a really super way to sum up... everything!! Lovely graphics and art, too!!

[kathyh]

Thanks. I needed a phrase to sum it all up and that one seemed to be it. I'm so pleased it worked for you.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Wow! That Epilogue wallpaper is just stunning, I love all the puzzle pieces that make up the final image (well not really but in my heart they do).
And that might be the end of the story...or it might not. The Boy wasn't one to give up...and the Girl liked to dance Nice to think that isn't it.
Thank you for your Spuffy Day.

[kathyh]

I love all the puzzle pieces that make up the final image (well not really but in my heart they do).

And in mine. It's actually based on my LJ banner as my original idea wasn't going to work. Funnily enough it was the only wallpaper my husband really liked as everything else had too much Spike and too little Willow in it for him *g*.

Nice to think that isn't it.

I hope not.

Thank you for your Spuffy Day.

My pleasure, and thank you for commenting.

[red-sunflower.livejournal.com]

I'm speechless. This has been the best original idea of this spring round. The story was told beautifully and the graphics are stunning.

The epilogue is delicious, it gives hope and we all know how much Buffy loves to dance.

Congrats!

[kathyh]

Thanks ::blushes:: I don't think I've had an original idea in my life so I'm very chuffed you thought this was. It's amazing how creative I can be when thinking up ways to avoid doing the ironing *g*.

The epilogue is delicious, it gives hope and we all know how much Buffy loves to dance.

Thank you. I really wanted to give hope at the end.

[annabelle528.livejournal.com]

What a lovely ending!

[kathyh]

Thanks :)

[untitleddemo.livejournal.com]

Oh! This has been such fun. I love the fairytale you used beside the images, it really made this such an enjoyable experience. I adore the final wallpaper. You are really so talented! Thanks so much for all the lovelies you've shared with us today.

[kathyh]

It's been my pleasure. I'm so pleased you've enjoyed it as I really enjoyed doing it. Thanks for the lovely feedback.

[kcarolj65.livejournal.com]

Beautiful, from start to finish! Thanks for this.

[kathyh]

My pleasure. Thanks :)

[cutiesaiyajin.livejournal.com]

Amazing. Beautiful. I loved it all! :)

[kathyh]

Ah, thank you :)

[amyrose13.livejournal.com]

This was so wonderful. The story was told eloquently and the pictures were such perfect compliment. I snagged more than a couple of icons. This must have been a great deal of work!

[kathyh]

It took a while *g*, but I really enjoyed doing it and learnt a lot. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it. Thanks for the lovely feedback.

[barronsjzuk.livejournal.com]

I *do* love you!!! :-)

Your work is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing.

[kathyh]

Thank you :) And for the declaration of love *g*.

[nemo-88.livejournal.com]

LOVED it! Just loved it! Amazing job you've done!

"And the girl liked to dance" Great ending! :D

[kathyh]

Thank you so much :)

[femmenerd.livejournal.com]

The ending of that might just be the best part (beside all of the pretty) because it totally turns *us* (the fanficcers and dreamers) into part of the "fairy story."

*sigh*

Thank you.

[kathyh]

Yes, in a way it's up to us now how the story continues and which tune Buffy dances to. The story is almost as much ours now as it is Joss's. I'm so pleased you liked the ending. Thanks.

[elisi]

Ah the perfect ending! (And you changed the texture on the 'Touched' wallpaper - nice.)

I kept forgetting to say thank you for mentioning my little role - it made me feel all important. *g*

And see? I told you they would love it!!!!

Now I need to download all your stuff...

[kathyh]

Ah the perfect ending!

Thanks. Now you know why I was so cross when the dancing wallpaper wouldn't work, but in retrospect I think it's better like this.

And you changed the texture on the 'Touched' wallpaper - nice.

Yes, I took your advice *g*.

I kept forgetting to say thank you for mentioning my little role - it made me feel all important. *g*

And you were. Your suggestions were always bang on. Perhaps you ought to start making wallpapers yourself *eg*. Seriously many, many thanks.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, Kathy ::takes a moment:: That last one is absolutely superb. I adore the clarity of the jigsaw pieces and the soft hues of the flame in the middle. It's such a stunning idea and extremely well execute too!
I loved also the choice of shots in the Chosen really well done and the way you've framed this is gorgeous too.
Gah! Running out of superlatives, just great stuff! :)
His belief was so strong that he gave her back her own belief.
Awwwww ::sniffle::
The Boy wasn't one to give up...and the Girl liked to dance.
What a wonderful way to end it. Your pictures have definitely kindled all our imaginations for what might be now. Congrats congrats!! ::applauds like a crazy woman::

[kathyh]

It's such a stunning idea and extremely well execute too!

::blushes:: Thanks. It's the only one my husband liked!

What a wonderful way to end it.

Thanks. I thought of it while I was doing the ironing - I'd never realised before that ironing could be so inspirational!

Many thanks for your wonderful feedback.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Absolutely gorgeous.
"the Girl liked to dance" is the perfect ending to Spuffy story. It's a promise of many wonderful adventures for our heroes.

[kathyh]

Yes, that's why I love an open ending. So pleased you enjoyed this and thanks so much for the lovely comments.

[quinara]

Really, really lovely. I especially liked icons 1, 2 and 3. :)

[kathyh]

Thank you so much. And Happy Birthday *g*.