Summary: My take on the Disney movie Ice Princess as set in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

A/U: Set a couple months after the end of BTVS Season 7.

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Disney owns Ice Princess.

Author's Note: Some liberties were taken. It was stated that Buffy did skate at some point. There was mention of a Dorothy Hamill phase. It was just never mentioned from what age to what age she actually skated. So I had her skate up till she was called and had her compete in Regionals once before having to quit because she became the Slayer. Also while ages don't really mesh between Tina and Buffy I had Tina and Buffy compete against each other at said Regionals.

Chapter 1: Ice Princess

Dawn skated across the pond as Buffy watched from inside the house smiling, remembering when she used to do that. She rapped on the window and held up the math book, reminding her sister she had homework to do. Dawn held up her hand indicating 5 more minutes, and Buffy nodded her consent.

The next day the bell had just rung, ending the physics class Dawn was in.

"Dawn! Can I see you?"

Dawn was nearly out the door when her physics teacher called her. She did a quick mental check, searching for something she might have done wrong, but she came up blank. "Is there a problem, Mr. Bast?" She asked, stepping back into the lab.

He raised his hand, signaling her to wait, as he removed one slice from a wrapped package of sliced bread on his desk. He took it to a lab table and lit a Bunsen burner. Then he grabbed the slice with lab tongs and began toasting it.

"Nothing's wrong," he said with a smile. "I was just curious if you've begun weighing your college options."

"My options," Dawn said, repeating his word. "They're going to be, ah, pretty much dictated by the price tag," She explained. By that she meant she would be attending the college or university that awarded her the biggest scholarship.

When Joyce Summers had passed away her will had set up a college education fund from the proceeds of her estate. Problem was there was no proceeds from her estate after the medical bills had been paid. Add on top of that Sunnydale falling into a crater and the insurance money had barely been able to pay for the house she and Buffy now lived in here in Millbrook, Conneticut.

He nodded and turned his bread over. "Heard of the Helen Stoller Physics Scholarship?"

"No," Dawn replied. Since she and Buffy had moved here a shortly after Sunnydale's collapse she had been researching the various colleges nearby and the various scholarships that they offered. Though she was good at science it was not her first choice for a scholarship since she wanted to learn ancient languages and mythology. So she hadn't looked into science scholarships heavily.

"It's given to a student from this part of the state that shows the most promise in physics." Mr. Bast explained, still toasting.

Dawn's mind raced. Ann, the only friend Dawn had made since she and Buffy had moved here, came to her mind. Ann, was great in physics and so were a few other kids in her class. She knew she was up there with them, but was she the best? "Wouldn't that be Ann or…?"

"I'm talking about you," he said. "You have a calling, Dawn."

"I, do?" Dawn questioned. She wasn't sure if she wanted a calling. After all, the Slayer had been referred to as Buffy's calling. "What is it?"

"Physics!" he cried excitedly, waving his tongs. "Toast?" he offered.

"Uh … Sure," Dawn replied as her stomach growled.

Mr. Bast went back to his desk and opened a drawer. Inside was a jar of strawberry jam. "You're very lucky," he continued as he opened the jar. "Most people search their whole lives for their calling."

"But how do you know if something's your calling?" Dawn asked.

"When your brilliant teacher tells you so," he replied, handing Dawn the toast with jam. "And of course your eleven straight A pluses on exams is a hint."

"Wow… I have a calling," Dawn said, she just happened to disagree on what the calling was.

"Indeed, you do," Mr. Bast confirmed. "To compete for the scholarship – which you can use to attend whatever college or university you chose – you will need a letter from me for the scholarship and think of a special physics project over the summer."

"What kind of physics project?" Dawn asked.

"It should be something unusual but personal," he said. "Let them know you a little. The student with the project that is considered the best will win the scholarship."

"I will think about it Mr. Bast, and let you know soon." Dawn said and hurried out of the classroom, munching on her Bunsen burner toast.

Lunch was nearly over by the time Dawn reached the cafeteria. Her friend Ann was leaving just as she arrived. She saw Dawn and waved, hurrying over to meet her. "Why did you miss lunch?" she asked.

Dawn told her what Mr. Bast had said about the Helen Stoller scholarship as they walked out into the hall together. "He said physics was my calling and he's write me a letter of recommendation," Dawn added.

Ann smiled, "QED."

Dawn frowned, "How is this 'quite easily demonstrated?' You're as good in physics as I am."

Ann shook her head, "Not even close," she disagreed. "I grind, you glide." Dawn understood what she meant. In the time they had gotten to know each other. She had found out that stuff she had found easy, Ann had to study much harder to get her good grades.

Ann suddenly stopped short and gripped Dawn's wrist. Following the direction of her gaze, Dawn spotted Kyle Dayton, a hockey-playing senior-class hottie, coming toward us. They just stood and stared at him, probably looking like two fools, as he walked right past them without even noticing.

Ann kept her eyes on him until he turned the hallway corner. "One day that guy will wake up and realize he needs a math tutor," she said dreamily. "And that tutor will be me."

With Kyle Dayton out of sigh, Ann's mind unclouded and they were able to talk about the scholarship again. They continued talking as they turned the hall corner. "I don't really know if I want to go into physics. Sure I may be good at it. But I want to do go to college for Ancient Languages and Mythology, not physics.

Ann didn't comment and, looking up, Dawn realized she was distracted by the sight in front of them. A small crowd of what she might call the "popular kids" or if this was back in Sunnydale what her sister called Cordelia's followers, the "Cordettes" was gathered together. Blond, gorgeous Gen Harwood was handing out small envelopes, probably invitations, to the cheerleaders, football players, and other "cool" kids in her clique of friends.

In the next minute something truly bizarre and unexpected happened. Gene looked in Dawn's direction and smiled. She started towards Dawn and Ann extending an invitation out to Dawn.

"Hi you're Dawn right?" she asked, still smiling. Dawn nodded, totally stunned as she handed Dawn the invitation. "This is an invite to my boyfriend's party," she said.

"Wow," Dawn murmured.

"You're in chem lab with Aaron Hennings, aren't you?" she continued. "Can you give that to him?"

Gen breezed off down the hallway, leaving Dawn holding the so not hers invitation. "That was way inconsiderate," Ann commented.

Dawn agreed. "Yeah I know."

That evening, Dawn told Buffy about the Helen Stoller Scholarship as she cooked dinner. Buffy was outside the kitchen window watering some plants. "So Mr. Bast found a physics' scholarship he thinks you should apply for hunh?" Buffy said.

Dawn nodded, "Yeah, but I don't want to go to college to study physics. I want to go to college to study ancient languages and mythology."

"I know Dawn." Buffy turned towards the window and nodded. "But we're not rolling in dough here. The insurance money from the destruction of the house back in Sunnydale barely covered this place. It's going to be hard trying to put you through college without one. If you can get in with a physics scholarship, you could always double major. That way you get the degree you want and you please the folks funding your education."

Dawn sighed, "I guess … I have to figure out what he wants from me then. I mean, what is a personal science project? Isn't the nature of science supposed to be completely unbiased and factual? Now he wants the inner me, too?

Buffy shrugged, "You would have to ask Willow. Why don't you call her after dinner and ask."

"Buffy do you regret moving here away from Willow, Xander and Giles?" Dawn asked.

Buffy thought about it for a moment and then shook her head, "With all the other Slayers activated, I can finally retire and lead a quiet life. While I do miss Willow, Xander and Giles, I'm happy with what we got going here. Talking about what we got going here, you've gotten good at skating. Probably as good as your old sister used to be."

Dawn laughed, "Who knows maybe better. I did have a wonderful teacher after all."

"I wish I could afford for you to take private lessons. I've taught you pretty much about all I can." Buffy said.

Later that evening after dinner, Dawn called up Willow, "Hey Willow, its Dawn. You got a couple minutes?"

"Sure Dawnie, what's up?" Willow asked.

Dawn looked to Buffy for a second, "I need some help. My science teacher wants me to apply for a physics scholarship. Buffy thinks it would be a good idea since she may not be able to cover the cost of college tuition herself and there really isn't a scholarship for ancient languages and mythology."

"Yeah Dawn, your babbling you know?" Willow said.

Dawn laughed, "Sorry. Anyways my teacher wants me to do a personal science project. What is a personal science project? Isn't the nature of science supposed to be completely unbiased and factual? Now he wants the inner me, too?"

"Dawn, sweetie. You will know your topic when it comes to you." Willow said. "Take me for example. I went to UC Sunnydale on a scholarship. I applied for one in Computer Science because that was something I was good at, and it interested me. I was able to weave myself into the project by showing what I could do. What are you good at Dawn?"

Dawn smiled, "Skating. Buffy thinks I'm as good as her now."

"Well there you go Dawn, do something on skating. But make it personal to you. Find a way to put yourself in to the experiment." Willow said.

Dawn nodded, "Thanks, Willow."

"No problem, Dawn. Give Buffy my love and talk to you later." Willow said.

Dawn laughed, "Will do. Talk to ya later." She then hung and sat down next to Buffy, "Willow said to do something on skating. And to find a way to put myself in to the experiment."

Buffy smiled, "That sounds like a good idea, Dawn."

"Oh and Willow said for me to give you her love." Dawn said.

Buffy laughed, "Next time I talk to her I will have to thank her."

The scholarship project was still on Dawn's mind as she sat down to watch the National Figure Skating Championships on TV that night. Ann had come over to watch them with her.

Before long, though, Dawn had forgotten all about her scholarship worries as she became swept up in the excitement of the competition. One of her favorite skaters had just launched a spectacular triple jump.

Dawn stood up anxiously, suddenly realizing that she might not land the jump. "Ohh!" Dawn shouted in disappointment as the skater fell and slid along the ice on her butt.

"She had it locked up." Dawn cried, flopping back onto the couch.

Buffy looked back at Dawn from the kitchen where she was doing dishes, "Miss a jump, Dawnie?"

Dawn looked at Buffy and nodded before she turned her attention back to the TV. "Yeah."

Dawn watched with admiration as she got right back up and continued her routine as if the fall hadn't happened. "Look at that recovery," she pointed out. "Amazing. She'll still place."

"Ann, would you like some ice cream?" Buffy asked.

Ann smiled, "If you don't mind. Ms. Summers."

"I don't mind." Buffy said. "And Ann how many times do I have to tell you to call me Buffy. Ms. Summers makes me feel old and I am not that much older than you. Dawnie you want some."

Dawn simply nodded watching the TV as Buffy fixed three bowls of ice cream and took them to Dawn and Ann as she sat down next to her sister.

An idea was beginning to form in Dawn's head as she watched. "You know what?" Dawn said, her eyes still riveted on the TV set. "I bet there's an exact aerodynamic formula for that jump."

Buffy looked over at Dawn smiling. "Now you just need to figure out how to put yourself in to the experiment."

Dawn nodded.