Chapter 1

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

PREVIOUSLY ON BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYERQuentin Travers was seated across from Buffy. "Well, that's the thing, you see. Glory isn't a demon." Quentin Travers said still looking at Buffy.

Buffy asked, "What is she?"

"She's a god." Travers replied with an odd coolness in his voice.

Buffy's eyes widened and after a long pause, "Oh." Was all she could find to say.

Quentin Travers was standing the cash register of the Magic Box was in the background. "We do not know what form the key has taken and we do not know much about the spell. Our sources have stated that the essence of the key must be drained at a certain place at a certain time period. The portal will open and walls between dimensions will crumble..."

"And we all die. Yes we have done this three thousand times, but how do we stop the suffering and death part? And weaknesses like an Achilles' high heel." Xander interrupted impatiently.

Quentin Travers gave an annoyed sigh and continued, pretending not to have noticed this distraction. "Once the ritual is started the only way to cease apocalypse is to terminate the core of the spell."

"Kill the key." Buffy blurted comprehending.

"I don't get it." Xander said lying in his bed next to Anya.

"You're gonna have to be more specific, Honey." Anya said from behind a magazine.

"Why is it so bad if Glory gets the key?" Xander said as he sat up.

Anya lowered her magazine and gave Xander a crooked smile. "Because we would all suffer a horrible and painful demise." Anya responded in a calm and childish voice and she returned to her magazine.

"No...Well, yeah... If Glory did the spell and opened the door and went wherever she calls home, then we could just destroy whatever it is that is the key and easily be gone with an almighty and powerful god. Wouldn't it be better that way?"

Spike is crouched on the floor reading from a book. "They had to be certain the Slayer would protect it with her life, so they sent the key to her, in the form of a sister." Spike frowned, looked over at Dawn. "Huh! I guess that's you, nibblet."
Dawn is standing in the doorway of the Summer's house. She was holding a large knife in one hand, and had blood running down her other arm. Is this blood?" Dawn said dazed. "This is blood, isn't it? It can't be me. I'm not a key. I'm not a thing."
…...
Dawn is sitting at a small table with Ben, " It's not Buffy. It's me. I'm the one that doesn't exist."
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"We shouldn't even be thinking this!" Willow shouted on the verge of tears.

"We have no bloody choice. We cannot sacrifice the lives of numerous people so one can live." Giles said.

"But Giles, its Dawny, Buffy's sister. We can't just throw her to the wolves like that!" Willow was now crying hysterically.

"She's not. We all remember that she is, but she isn't. We have to do this." Xander said comforting Willow.
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"Mom?" Buffy called throughout her house. She turned and looks into the living room, "What are you doing?" Buffy walks into the living room and stops. Joyce is lying on the sofa. Her eyes are open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. One arm hangs over the edge of the sofa. Buffy whispers, "Mom?... Mom?... Mommy?"

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"Doesn't sound like B will like this plan very much, but I'll do anything to help my favorite sidekicks. Kept the car running and see you in Twenty minutes." Faith said hanging up her phone handset while winking to Willow as she headed over to a guard that began to search her.

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