Chapter 25: The World

2003

It has been a year since Dawn talked Willow down. During that time the First Evil started an all-out war on the Slayer Line, killing Potentials and their Watchers all around the world. A few of the Potentials was taken to Buffy to protect. And now they were preparing for the final battle against the First Evil.

"I've got strong allies: warriors, charms, sorcerers, and I'll need them all," said Buffy. "But I'll also need you. Every single one of you. So now you're asking yourself, 'What makes this different? What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls getting picked off one by one?' It's true none of you has the power Faith and I have. I think both of us would have to die for a new Slayer to be called, and we can't even be sure that girl is in this room. That's the rule. So here's the part where you make a choice."

"What if you could have that power?" Buffy continued after pausing to take a breath. "Now. All of you. In every generation one Slayer is born because a bunch of guys that died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men." She pointed to Willow and Dawn. "These two women are more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rules. I say my power should be our power."

"Tomorrow Willow and Dawn will use the essence of this scythe, which contains the energy and history of so many Slayers, to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer," said Buffy. "Every girl who could have the power will have the power. Who can stand up, will stand up. Every one of you, and girls we've never known, and generations to come... they will have strength they never dreamed of, and more than that, they will have each other. Slayers. Every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?"

Later that evening Willow has the scythe that Buffy had found on her bed, along with a bunch of books and papers as well as some mystical objects.

Willow looking nervous, is scribbling down a mystical equation. "I really wish she hadn't said that about me," said Willow.

"What, the thing Buffy said?" Kennedy asked. "I think it's true. "

"Willow do you know the difference between today and last year?" asked Dawn.

Willow looked at Dawn and shook her head. "What?" she asked wanting to know.

Dawn smiled and leaned over to kiss Willow on the cheek. "That you have your grandmother to help you," she said. "Together we can do this."

"And I'll be with you," Kennedy added. "To keep you grounded."

"You may have to keep me stabbed," Willow said with a sigh. "If I go to the bad place."

"Not happening," Dawn said with a shake of her head. "I talked you down once, remember. I would do it again."

"The darkest place I've ever been," said Willow. "This is what lies beyond that. This is too important for me to..."

"Hey sweetie, Me and Kennedy will be there to pull you back," said Dawn. "Don't worry. Plus Buffy believes in you."

"You know, your sister," said Willow with a laugh. "Sweet girl, not that bright. Anyways, Dawn, we better go over it again."

The next day Robin Wood, who had been principal of the high school for the last year, led Dawn along with the Scoobies and the Potentials in to Sunnydale High School. "Welcome to Sunnydale High," he said. "There's no running in the halls, no yelling and no gum. Apart from that we haveonly one rule." He stopped to look at the girls that were following him. "If they move, kill 'em."

"Potentials are in the basement, follow Faith and Spike," said Buffy.

"If you have to go to the bathroom, it's on the left," added Xander. "If you don't have
to go to the bathroom, picture what you're about to face. Better to go NOW!"

The Potentials turn and followed Faith and Spike down into the basement leaving Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Xander, Kennedy Robin, Andrew and Giles standing in the hall alone.

"Willow, Dawn, my office is through there," Robin said as he pointed at the door.

Buffy nodded. "It's right over the Seal."

"I'll start getting you two set up," said Kennedy as she took Willow's bag.

"Thanks," Willow and Dawn said as Kennedy headed for Robin's office.

"Okay, civilians," said Robin. "The vampires get upstairs we have three areas they could get through to another building and down into the sewers. Down the hall in the atrium, the
north hall here, and the primary target, through the lounge to the science building. Odds are, most of them will head there. Easy to find, big, no sunlight."

"Teams of two then," Giles said, "and I suggest you and I take the lounge."

Wood nodded. "I concur."

"Dawn, I want you with Xander as soon as you and Willow finish the spell," Buffy said.

"I concur," Xander said.

"We'll take the atrium," Dawn said with a glance to Xander as he nodded in agreement.

"So that leaves me and the dungeon master in the north hall," said Anya.

"We will defend it with our very lives," said Andrew.

Anya nodded. "Yes, we'll defend it with his very life."

"Don't be afraid to use him as a human shield," Xander offered.

Anya laughed. "Good, yes, thanks."

"And I just wanna say how proud I am to die for this really special cause with you guys," said Andrew as he unfolded a piece of paper. "There's some people I'd like to thank, both good and evil... a shout out to my brother Tucker, who gave me the inspiration to summon demons and also–"

"Nobody cares, ya little monkey." Anya said as he dragged Andrew off as Robin turned and headed off towards the Lounge.

Dawn turned to head into the principal's office. "I'm gonna go help Kennedy get set up," she said.

"Dawn..." said Buffy running up to Dawn.

"No." Dawn said as she turned back to her sister. She doesn't wait for Buffy to speak. "Anything you say is gonna sound like goodbye. You have a promise to keep remember, you're gonna show me the world. So no goodbyes."

Buffy nodded and pulled Dawn into an embrace before Dawn pulled away and headed into the office.

A few moments later Willow walked into the office and sat opposite Dawn on the floor with the scythe in between them Of to the side Kennedy watched them.

"They should be in place," said Willow. "Okay. Magic time. Grandma are you ready?

"As always my granddaughter," replied Dawn.

"You never did tell me why you two refer to each other like that," asked Kennedy out of curiousity.

"Because Dawn is my great, great, great something or other great grandmother 250 years removed. You see, she fell through a portal and wound up in the past," said Willow.

"I lived back there for a number of years," said Dawn. "And in time I gave birth to a daughter. Before finally being allowed by the Powers that Be to return home. My daughter is Willow's ancestor."

"We refer to each other as granddaughter and grandmother out of love for the other," said Willow.

"That's like wow," said Kennedy.

"Brace yourself," said Willow as she took a breath. Then she and Dawn closed their eyes.

"Come on," Kennedy said quietly. "Make it happen."

Willow and Dawn start mumbling the incantation under the breath faster that Kennedy can piece together what their saying.

"Willow?" Kennedy asked.

Willow glared at Kennedy as if to say shut up as she and Dawn continue the incantation. Suddenly they tense up, as their eyes go wide and a beam of light begins to fill the room.

"Oh... My... Goddess." Willow and Dawn said together.

Kennedy is slammed suddenly as if by something unseen as she falls back. "NNnnhhhhaahhhh. Oh, this is..." As she sat back up she looked at Willow and Dawn. "Willow? Dawn?"

Willow and Dawn are blown by a force so powerful, so loving, that they are bathed in pure white light. As Kennedy looked them she noted their hair had turned completely white and was streaming out behind the two women. Just as it started the beam of light disappears and their appearance returns to normal.

"You both are Goddesses," said Kennedy in awe.

Willow smiled back at Kennedy as she handed the new Slayer the Scythe. "And you're a Slayer," she said. "Get this to Buffy."

Kennedy looked at the girls for but a moment, then ran off leaving Willow and Dawn alone in the room. "That was nifty," said Willow.

Dawn nodded as she slowly stood up and pulled two swords out of her weapons bag. "Come on Willow. We need to get to Xander."

Willow nodded as Dawn handed her one of the swords. "What this for?" she asked.

Dawn smiled. "Time I taught you how to use one," she said. "Come on time to end this."

Willow nodded grabbing her stuff and throwing it back in her bag before following Dawn out the door and down the hall to the Atrium.

"So how did it go?" Xander asked as Willow and Dawn ran up to him.

"We got an army of Slayers now," said Dawn. "Plus I think my destiny is complete."

"How's that?" asked Xander.

"I didn't turn dark," said Willow as she looked towards Dawn. "Thanks to Dawn I think we both just got lifted way up."

"Ok, uh Dawn you're in my blind spot," said Xander noting Dawn had taken position on the wrong side of him.

Dawn nodded as she gingerly and swiftly changed sides with Xander, putting herself between Xander and Willow. "You ready for this my granddaughter?"

Willow nodded as the Ubervamps came running in. She watched as Xander swung his sword, but is driven back by the vamps. Willow yanked on a rope when the vamps were in prime position and pulled on a tarp that covered the skylight causing sunlight to pour in and dust the three vamps. "We call that the greenhouse effect. Very dangerous –" she said.

Another vampire leaped on Xander, tackling him, knocking his weapon out of his hand. Dawn swung her sword and decapitated the vampire dusting him.

Suddenly and inexplicably Dawn stopped, as she stared ahead as if seeing something that is not there. "Buffy get up."

In the Cavern below Dawn Buffy lay on the ground as she looked up at the First Evil appearing to Buffy as herself. "Ooh! Ow! Mommy!" It said. "This mortal wound is all itchy! You pulled a nice trick. Hey, you came pretty close to smacking me down. What more do you want?"

Suddenly Dawn appeared behind the First. Buffy noticed that she could see right through her sister wondering if Dawn was a ghost. "Buffy get up. Remember your promise," said Dawn.

Buffy pulled herself up on her hands with fury in her eyes. "I want you... to get out of my face."

Back in the atrium Dawn still stared blankly ahead. "Remember your promise," she said.

"Grandma! Look out!" Willow yelled at Dawn.

Dawn snapped out of her trance and swung her sword decapitating another vamp as suddenly the building started to shake around them. "Time to go," she said as she, Xander and Willow started running for the exit.

"Anya! ANYA!" Xander yelled as he ran, looking around for his former girlfriend. The exit the building heading for a bus and board it as Robin shuts the door.

Robin then hits the accelerator as the bus peeled out as Dawn, Kennedy and Willow move to the back of the bus looking for Buffy. "Where is Buffy?" Dawn asked.

"I don't know, Dawn," said Willow.

Back inside the school Buffy was heading for the front door as a beam blocked her way. She quickly turned and headed for the only way out, which was up the stairs and out on the roof. She jumped from roof to roof following the bus down the street trying to catch up to it.

Dawn looked out the back window for any sign of her sister. And then she saw Buffy up on the rooftop, jumping off one just as it collapses. "Come on Buffy, you can do it," said Dawn.

Just as the bus pulled out ahead of the last building and Buffy made an impossible jump and cleared the distance between the building and the bus and landed hard on top of the bus.

"I knew you could do it," Dawn said with a smile.

As the bus passed the city limit sign Faith told Robin that they were clear and he hit the breaks as the bus screeched to a halt. Buffy jumped off as everyone started getting out. Dawn opened the back door and jumped out running towards Buffy and throwing her arms around her sister. Willow was right behind Dawn and she quickly moved towards her grandmother and aunt and through her arms around them both.

"Did you see?" Xander asked Andrew, as he wondered what had become of Anya.

"I was scared, I'm sorry..." replied Andrew.

"Did you see what happened?" Xander pressed. "Was she..."

Andrew looked at Xander a moment, knowing what Xander wanted to hear. "She was incredible," he said. "She died saving my life."

Xander put a hand on Andrew's shoulder. "That's my girl. Always doing the stupid thing," said Xander as Andrew nodded, sadly.

"I don't understand," Giles asked looking out at the crater that used to be Sunnydale. "What did this? "

"Spike," said Buffy.

"Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business," Faith said.

Giles nodded. "There is another one in Cleveland. Not to spoil the moment..."

"We saved the world," Xander said with a smile.

Willow and Dawn looked at each other. The could feel the newly awoken Slayers all over the world. Willow then looked to Buffy, "We changed the world. Dawn and I can feel them, Buffy. All over. There are Slayers awakening everywhere."

"We will have to find them," said Dawn.

Giles nodded. "We will find them."

"I just wanna sleep, yo," said Faith. "For like a week."

"I guess we all could," said Dawn. "If we wanted to."

"Yeah, the First is scrunched, so," said Willow. "What do you think we should do, Buffy?"

"Yeah, you're not the one and only chosen anymore," said Faith. "Just gotta live like a person. How's that feel?"

"Buffy? What are we gonna do now?" Dawn asked. She already knew the answer but she wants her sister to say it.

Buffy turned to Dawn and smiled. "I don't know about everyone else," said Buffy. "But I have a promise to keep to Dawn and Willow. I promised Dawn I would show her the world, she had one condition that we take Willow with us. So we, the three Summers women, are going to see the world."

Dawn smiled. "I just want to make one stop as we see the world. I want to go home…."

A week later, Buffy, Dawn and Willow stood in front of the Governor's Mansion in Port Royal, Jamaica. Dawn had done some research and found the mansion was still standing having survived several earthquarkes. It had long since been turned into a museum she had read.

"You okay, Dawnie?" Buffy asked noting a tear was falling from her sister's eye.

"It's just nice to be home," said Dawn as a smiled played on her lips as they walked into home she had lived in for eight years of her life. They approached the information desk that had been setup. "Party of 3, private tour. It will be under the name of Dawn Summers."

The tour guide, Ashley nodded as she looked up the reservation. "If you will follow me," she said as she led Buffy, Dawn and Willow through the mansion. "The mansion was built…" They slowly made their way into Dawn and Elizabeth's bedroom.

It was exactly how Dawn remembered. It preserved to ever last detail. She moved to the jewelry box on Elizabeth's dresser and ran her hand across it and smiled at the memories that flitted through her mind.

Dawn looked up to where she knew a painting that her father had given her and Elizabeth on her second birthday with him and Elizabeth had once hung. A painting of her, Governor Swann and Elizabeth together. "Where is the painting?" she asked.

"Painting?" Ashley asked.

"The one of the Governor, Elizabeth and her sister Dawn. It was hung in this room. A gift from the governor to both of his daughters," said Dawn.

Ashley shook her head, wondering how the girl knew about the painting. No one outside the family that ran the museum and their staff had seen it since well before the mansion had been turned into a museum. It was not even mentioned on in the visitor's guides that were handed out to tour guests. "How do you know about the painting?" asked Ashley. "No one outside the staff has seen it since before the mansion was turned into a museum. It's not even mentioned in the visitor's guides. It currently hangs in the admistrator's office."

"Show me," said Dawn with a smile.

Ashley looked at Dawn, she felt this should be something that was brought to the attention of the administrator of the museum. So she led them to the room that Dawn remembered being her father's study. Ashley knocked on the door and waited.

"Enter."

Ashley opened the door and led Buffy, Dawn and Willow into the study. Dawn noted that a man sat behind her father's desk. But what really drew her attention was the painting. It hung behind the desk on the wall.

"Yes, Ms. Hampton."

Ashley looked back at Dawn and then at the man. "Sir, this young woman knows about the painting."

"Thank you, Ms. Hampton," he said as Ashley left. He turned to face Dawn/ "How do you know about the painting?"

Something inside Dawn told her that she could tell him the truth. Why she was not entirely sure. "Cause I was there when it was painted," she said.

The man turned to look at the painting and then back at Dawn and smiled. "Greetings Mrs. Thomas-Swann," he said. "My family has been awaiting your return for over 200 years."

"You have?" Dawn asked, wondering why they his family had been waiting for her.

"Yes," he said. "You see I am descended from Elizabeth Dawn Turner. The only daughter of Elizabeth and Will Turner. Your story has been passed down for generations." He held out a hand and Dawn shook it. "My name is William Taylor. Now that you are here I can fulfill your sister's last request."

"If you don't mind my asking how come you believe the stories?" Buffy asked out of curiosity.

"Well it's pretty easy to figure out the stories are true when you know that the supernatural exists," William said. "I myself have met Bootstrap Bill."

"He is still Captain of the Flying Dutchman?" asked Dawn

William smiled, "Yes. Now in regards to your sister's request. She wanted you to inherit the mansion and the cottage in which you lived with your daughter, Willow Elizabeth. Now here is where it gets tricky. Elizabeth knew it would be difficult to pass the land directly to you as you would not return for 200 years. So she intended instead to pass it through your descendants. Well since your family left for America shortly after your death the properties went to the next legitimate heir, my ancestor. With an addendum that should one of your descendants be discovered. That she or he would receive the properties as part of their inheritance. Unofficially speaking Elizabeth wanted you to have them when you returned. But as I said she could not pass them to you directly. Therefor we need to find one of your descendants to transfer the properties over to."

Dawn smiled and motioned for Willow to step forward. "She's right here," said Dawn. "Willow Danielle Rosenberg is my last surviving descendant. I have the genealogy to prove the claim."

William smiled and nodded he turned and opened a safe and pulled out several pieces of paperwork. He then began to fill it out. When he was done he looked up at Willow. "Ms. Rosenberg if you will sign here. The mansion and the cottage are yours." Willow leaned over the desk and signed the deeds. "Now as the new owner, what do you wish to do with the properties?"

Willow looked to Dawn and smiled. "What do you wish to do, grandma?" she asked.

"The museum is to be closed," said Dawn. "I will be taking permanent residence with my sister, Buffy. Willow you can have the cottage with Kennedy."

"Very well," said William. "I will notify the staff and remove the museum equipment. I assume you want the furniture left?"

"Yes," said Dawn. "Oh and one last thing, do you happen to know what happened to my dagger? The one Elizabeth gave me. "

"No I do not," said William with a shake of his head.

"Then I will have to check my hiding spots," said Dawn. "Assuming you all didn't empty them already."

William shook his head. "No, my family was instructed to leave everything like it was."

"Thank you," said Dawn as they walked out of the study. William stopped at the top of the stairs and pulled Willow next to him as he made the announcement. "Attention everyone the museum is now closing. The last surviving descendant of Dawn Thomas-Swann has been found." He motioned towards Willow. "She wishes to take up residence in her ancestral home. I would like to thank all of the staff, you have been wonderful. I will provide everyone a recommendation for whatever job you wish to pursue."

Dawn suddenly thought of something. "Mr. Taylor."

William looked at Dawn. "Yes Ms. Thomas-Swann?" he said.

"Where is Elizabeth and Will buried?" Dawn asked. "Is Willow Elizabeth buried on the island?"

"Elizabeth and Will were buried at sea," said William. "Willow Elizabeth was brought back to the island per her will to be buried here. She is buried next to you, and you both are buried next to your husband Gavin's memorial. His memorial is in the same cemetery as Elizabeth and Will's. I believe you know where it is."

"I do, thank you," said Dawn. She turned and led Buffy and Willow out of the mansion. "So that was the house you lived in?" Buffy asked.

Dawn nodded. "Yes," she said. "One of them anyways. It was the first house I lived in after jumping in to the portal. Now we're going to the one I lived in with Willow Elizabeth after we have visited the cemetery."

They made their way to a small cemetery overlooking the ocean. Dawn placed some flowers that she had bought at the foot of Will, Elizabeth and Gavin's memorial's and at the base of her and Willow Elizabeth's graves. "Hi Elizabeth. I miss you," said Dawn as tears came to her eyes.

"Hi Elizabeth," said Buffy as she walked up next to Dawn. "You don't know me, but I'm Dawn's sister. I just want to tell you thank you for watching out for Dawn."

Just then Dawn could swear for a moment she could hear Elizabeth say. "You're welcome."

She turned and led the way towards the cottage and inside. She smiled as she looked around the familiar home. Memories once again flitted through her mind as she smiled. She walked over to a floorboard. She didn't know why but she was sure her dagger was here. She lifted the floorboard and pulled up a bundle of cloth before replacing the floorboard.

Dawn quietly unwrapped the dagger and held it, starring at it for a few moments. Before turning to Willow and held the dagger out to her "I want you to have it," she said.

"I can't, grandma," said Willow. "It's yours, Elizabeth gave it to you."

"That's right she did. But I want you to have it," said Dawn as Willow took the dagger from Dawn and then smiled as she hugged the young woman.