Batter Up, BtVS/OC, G by Nebula

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

It's set in the Buffyverse, but not really. More along the lines of the last few moments in the Buffyverse.

Does anyone remember that little girl who was heading up to bat when Willow did her Slayer spell...?

Title: Batter Up
Fandom: BtVS/OC of sorts
Prompt: #8 - Pitch
Warnings: None.
Rating: G
Summary: The batter seems to be the only place she's able to reach, but maybe today will be different.

Wordcount: 1603

As always, concrit is loved and adored. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who's been commenting; you guys have been helping me out so much!

She'd rather have been anywhere but here. She'd have gladly climbed into the catcher's gear and have crouched down low for indefinite amounts of time instead. The gear was heavy and too big for someone of her size, though, so she usually found herself anywhere but in the position she longed for.

The position she really longed for was the pitcher's. Up on the dome, a glove on her left hand, the baseball slowly turning in her right. She'd finger it carefully, then pull it close to her chest, before pulling her arm around. Like a coiled spring, her arm would shoot out, and the ball would make a perfect arc over the plate, the batter missing by a mile. She wouldn't pitch any balls; she'd pitch strikes all around, and she'd get a no-hit score as a pitcher and be the MVP.

She felt like pouting when the coach shoved a bat into her hands, ending her perfect fantasy. “You're up after Sarah, Becky,” he said, glancing out from the dugout. She turned to see Sarah swing once and miss. Beyond Sarah were one of the two stands full of people.

The stands were mostly full of parents and other various family members. Becky turned to her left to see the other set of seats, mostly full. She could see her mom clapping her hands and cheering her team on. Beside her, her dad was whistling and adding his own enthusiasm to the cheers. Next to him was her older brother, who simply sat and rolled his eyes at it all. He belonged to an older, more professional sort of league, and her “kiddy league”, as he called it, bored him to tears.

She wished she could prove him wrong. She just knew she could, if she could just get to the pitcher's mound.

Sarah swung again, gritting her teeth when she missed. “C'mon Sarah; keep your eye on the ball,” her coach muttered. He liked to play the part of the crotchety old man, but he really was a nice guy underneath it all. He was like everyone's grandfather: surly and grumpy, but he had a heart of gold.

“Coach, could I...” she started, and Sarah struck out for the third and final time. She grabbed the brim of her batting helmet as she stalked back to the dugout, yanking it from her head and tossing it at the metal fencing around the dugout.

Becky jumped at the loud clanging, before she turned back to the coach. “Coach, I just...” she began again, but he cut her off with a simple shove towards the exit.

“You're up next, and please, try to hit the ball,” he begged. “We've got two outs against us, and we just need two more points to take the lead. Emma's on second, so all we'd need is a decent enough hit. You could take first, Emma might make it to home, and that would give us a decent entry into the last inning.”

“Coach!” she finally said a bit louder, digging her cleats into the dirt beneath them. He stopped, giving her an annoyed look, but he was at least hearing her out. “I don't want to bat. I just want to pitch! Couldn't one of the other girls...?”

“Nope, no can do,” he said immediately, waving her towards the door. “Get out there already; I'm not putting you in the pitching position.”

Becky bit her lip, but stood her ground. “I-I just want to try,” she said, her voice sounding soft. She only felt comfortable as a pitcher, and she wasn't good at batting. She didn't want to try to hit the ball. She wanted to throw it, wanted to make it fly through the air so she could strike the batter out. They wouldn't be able to hit it, she'd be so good.

Of course, she was usually the batter that couldn't hit the ball. Maybe that was why she wanted to be on the other side of the ball. “Couldn't I pitch the last inning?” she pleaded.

“Out of the question. We'll talk about it later,” he told her, heading back towards his sheet. “I need Hayley and Kristen up for...”

“If I get a home run, will you let me pitch the final inning?” she blurted out. She clutched the bat in her fingers, toeing the dirt nervously. Normally, she didn't speak out, but she really really wanted to pitch. Badly.

Well, she didn't want to pitch badly, she wanted to pitch well, but it was the urge to pitch that was bad...well, it wasn't, but...

He turned to look at her, appearing as surprised at her outburst as she was. “If you hit a homer, you want to pitch the final inning,” he said incredulously. He shook his head a moment later and chuckled. “Sure thing. You hit a home run, and I'll let you pitch the last inning.”

Becky swallowed hard and nodded jerkily, before walking out to the plate. I can do it I can do it I can do it...

She tapped her bat against the plate twice, not to shake off dirt or anything, but to help try and calm her nerves. She'd never hit the ball past the bases before; she was a lousy batter. She had no strength, inside or out, and it would've made her mad if it hadn't made her so antsy and afraid.

Afraid of what? she asked herself, and she found she couldn't answer her own question. It was just a fear that was lodged deep inside of her. Maybe she was afraid of making a fool of herself in front of all these people. Maybe she was afraid of losing her chance to be a pitcher.

Maybe she was afraid of disappointing herself. Again.

The pitcher pulled herself up and back, and the ball came hurling at her. Becky swung out blindly, and wasn't surprised to hear the umpire shout, “Strike one!”

From the stands on either side of her, Becky could hear booing and cheering. She really hoped the booing wasn't from her brother; she couldn't take it at the moment.

She raised her bat up once more, trying to keep her eye on the ball. It practically slid from the pitcher's hand, moving in a perfect arc towards her, and she swung where she thought the ball would be.

She was wrong. “Strike two!” the umpire called out.

She hung her head and sighed. Her yellow uniform wasn't even dirty, further proving how few runs and catches she got. She hated this.

From the dugout, her coach was sure to be shaking his head in amusement. Her, the youngest and tiniest girl on the team, thought she could get a home run and then pitch the final and most crucial inning! Yeah right.

She twisted her bat to heave it onto her shoulder for the last strike, and it was then that she felt it. Something hot and cold all at once flooded through her veins, and she felt as if her limbs were extending with something primal and powerful. She felt strong, but nothing had changed on the outside. Her muscles still looked puny and little, and her feet were still a size two.

But it wasn't an outward change. This change was firmly rooted deep within, where her fears usually resided. The fear was being driven out, and Becky felt more capable and stronger than she had in...forever. She'd never felt this grand, this powerful, this incredible. She felt like a super human being, and it was a wonderful, empowering feeling. She felt as if she could take on the world, and nothing could stand in her way.

The bat swung up on her shoulder with ease, and she turned slowly to gaze at the pitcher. A grin began to spread from ear to ear, and she waited for the ball to come her way. The pitcher gathered herself, then threw the ball in what could be described as a perfect pitch. It went right over the plate, didn't curve, stayed strong and true.

The bat was pulled around and over the plate, and when ball and bat connected, the crack was enough to silence the crowds.

She watched as the ball flew up and over the various players in the outfield, who looked surprised that there was a ball coming their way. One girl made a run for it, watching to see if she could catch it.

The ball sailed easily over the fence, and the girl simply stopped in the field.

The crowd remained silent for another short moment, then launched into a cheering and shouting frenzy. A glance over at the stands showed her mom and dad screaming themselves hoarse, the biggest smiles on their faces for their little girl. Beside them, her brother was nodding in approval, a grin on his own face.

Becky turned and tossed the bat off to the side, enjoying the dropped jaw from her coach. “Get my mitt ready,” she called out to him, before she began her run around the bases. Every step she took felt easier, better, stronger. She wasn't running out of breath as she ran, even when she started laughing as her foot touched first base. She felt light and free and happy. She wasn't afraid of anything anymore; her fears had vanished completely.

Better yet, she was going to be pitching the last inning, and with her newfound strength, she had no doubts about her abilities. This game was hers.

She didn't want to be anywhere but here.

~Nebula

Comments

[jesterlady]

Aw sweetie, little Charlie, um, I mean Becky, definitely Becky! I'm so glad she did well! And pitching, so better than batting!

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

*giggles* I wondered if anyone would remember my Charlie! I love my Charlie dearly, but I just couldn't use her name in this one. I think that was the hardest part about this, truth be told. ~_^

I actually suck at pitching, but it is a lot of fun. Batting, however, is my top fave. You can pitch and I'll bat for you. *grins*

Thanks hun,

~Nebula

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to make you cry! *hands you a tissue* I think my student really did help inspire this one, truth be told. ^_^

Of all the girls in the lineup for the end of that episode, it was her that intrigued me the most. Such a little difference, and it was amazing. I loved that.

And quotage on top of it! Boy, you must really like me, huh? ~_^ Thanks sweetie!

~Nebula

[lilithbint.livejournal.com]

excellent story,
really got into the girl's mind.

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm glad I was able to bring her to life for you guys. ^_^

~Nebula

[syrenslure.livejournal.com]

This is a lovely story. I really loved those small images we saw of the girls being empowered, and you did a wonderful job of fleshing that moment out and making her a very real character.

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thank you SO MUCH. I'm so glad I got that part on the mark: I wanted to make it powerful, but I didn't want to over emphasize it. I was hoping for a balance, and your comment tells me I made it. Thank you.

~Nebula

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

That's very cute!

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Hee, thank you sweetie! ^_^

~Nebula

[qamratala.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful. I love baseball and so that made this story stick out to me, but when you meshed it in with Chosen, wow. Really well done.

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Baseball has been a sport of my family's for ages, so it was fun to finally write a bit on it. Plus, that girl at the end of Chosen really piqued my interest.

Again, thank you!

~Nebula

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

Great elaboration on that little moment in Chosen. There was just something about her smile, wasn't there?

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much sweetie! Yes, there really was something about her smile. I always wondered how she felt before and after. That smile...it really caught your attention and it made me smile too when I saw it. ^_^

~Nebula

[sablerose2.livejournal.com]

Boy you really know how to bring the emotions out in me and just with your writing!! Thank you soo much for this!

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed this bit, and that it brought out a feeling for the piece. ^_^

~Nebula

[sablerose2.livejournal.com]

Hey you think you could write one about the girl that was getting hit by her dad? Just wandering? Your biggset fan :o)

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Actually, I did write about that girl in my story Step Forward. Her name was Megan, and SF was a sequel to Back Track, both of which can be found at the following links:

http://www.geocities.com/backtrack_os

and

http://www.geocities.com/stepforward_os

The bits you'd be looking for are in the Interludes that coincide between chapters. She's in one of those. ^_^

~Nebula

[sunnyd-lite.livejournal.com]

Wow, great characterization, fabulous mirror structure with the first and last line, liked the inclusion of her bored big brother, just a fabulous moment!

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked this bit; I had a lot of fun with her. Also really glad you liked the little details; those can sometimes be the hardest to handle.

~Nebula

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I was confused at first - well I'm a bit slow sometimes. Then I remembered that little girl in Chosen. You expanded a few short shots into a believable character with wants and needs. And the description of the power coming into her was very nice - This change was firmly rooted deep within, where her fears usually resided.

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked this bit, and that she was believable. I have the toughest time with OC's; I think that's what's kept me from writing anything original thus far.

And quotage! SQUEE! *does happy dance of quotage*

Thank you so much,

~Nebula

[dedra.livejournal.com]

Nebs, you made me cry...

That is my favorite scene of all the montage scenes in BtVS--anyone who can stand up, will stand up...I think that you captured the moment very well, the second that she went from a potential to a Slayer...

Not to mention capturing her yearning and need for success to a T.

Excellent!

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Aww sweetie; you weren't supposed to cry! *hands you a tissue and hugs you*

This was my favorite too; her entire speech over the girls was so incredible and well done, but the littlest one up at bat just really caught me, so I'm glad I could bring her to life.

Thanks hun!

~Nebula

[frk-werewolf.livejournal.com]

Oh, absolutely perfect! That little girl was so CUTE and I think you fit her perfectly. *squees*

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Thanks sweetie; I thought she was so adorable. I'm so glad I did her justice with this little bit! ^_^

~Nebula

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

OMG...

I adore this. ADORE. I mean, Willow does this spell that changes hundreds if not thousands of lives, and yet we never see the consequences. Other than the girl in the insane asylum, how did these women react? And this whole thing had a "Littlest Dragonrider" vibe to it (one of my favorite Anne McCaffery stories), so I just really enjoyed it!

[authoressnebula.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you sweetie! I always wondered at the consequences; I've read several fics where it's incredible, but several where it's absolutely horrible, and girls end up dying. I didn't want it to happen like that.

Oh my gosh, I remember that story. Now I want to go reread it! ^_^

Thank you again hun.

~Nebula

[lilred26x.livejournal.com]

Very, very nice! I must admit that my eyes got a little moist even though I had a big grin on my face. Thanks for sharing this!