Characters: Not mine, otherwise Riley would have died last Tuesday night rather than take off for some stupid mission, and Buffy wouldn't be brain dead (which is obviously what was going on).
Story: Life Lessons Part 5
Reviews: Please! If the reviews are good I'll love you, if they're bad I'll delete them, but write regardless!
Cordelia, Xander and Giles walked into the living room, where Buffy and Angel are once again, locking lips. "You two really have to stop doing that! You can't just go around making people lose their lunch!" Cordelia said distastefully
"Wow, Cordy, that was really sweet! I mean it...I just hope your not jealous."
"Please, Buffy, I'm the one that has to go back with Angel to LA, and I'm really glad that he won't be moping around, but I still don't want to see tongues out of the respective mouths. Please, have mercy on us and our upchuck reflex."
"Cordelia, if I remember correctly, and I do, you and Xander thought you lived in each other's mouths."
"Buffy, Buffy, Buffy...at least Xander and I had the decency to find a janitors closet!"
"Ooh! Giles, can we borrow your closet?"
"Buffy, I do not find that humorous in the very least. And I must agree with Cordelia, to a point. You and Angel must separate from each other for the time being. I am thankful for the fact that you two fight so well together, but I'm sure that your...energies... would be better focused on your training."
The doorbell rang, and Giles opened the door to find Willow, Tara, Dawn and Spike waiting outside.
"Ah, everyone is here."
"Yeah" Willow said "Buffy, we called your mom and told her that you were over here and that you were okay."
"Thanks Will. Dawn? What are you doing over here?"
"I came to help out. I can stay, right?"
"Uh, I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Actually Buffy, I think Dawn could help us out. We need all the hands we can get."
"See! Giles said yes and he's like your boss and everything, so I guess I'm in!"
"Fine, but if you get in the way or mess anything up I'm going to hurt you."
"Alright, we should get started. I'm having trouble finding more information on the prophecy. We have already done what was needed by restoring Buffy's memory, but I'm afraid the part about D-the Key, is a bit more difficult."
"What does the part about the Key say?" Dawn asked
"Well, we have translated it to mean that the something dire will happen to the key, that has nothing to do with the prophecy. I can only assume Glory will be the one to blame." Giles said in a disturbed voice. "I'm guessing that the death or capture of the key will signal the prophecy."
"Okay, then we find Glory and kill her. Protect D- the Key, and stop the prophecy."
"But it's a prophecy, Buffy. I don't know why, but that sort of makes me think that it is going to happen...regardless."
"We've stopped prophecies before, Xander!"
"No, actually all the events foretold have happened. We just stop the ending result."
"Well then I guess we'll have to think about keeping Dawn alive as an ending result!"
A hush fell over the group. Buffy, realizing what she had just said, lowered her head, hoping that Dawn didn't hear.
Unfortunately, Dawn paid attention to everything that the group had been saying.
"Buffy? Am I the Key?"
"Ah, Dawn, I think that your sister is just under an immense amount of pressure. She didn't mean that-"
"Yes. Dawn. You are the Key"
"Buffy, I'm not sure that it is wise..." Giles began, but Buffy stopped him by raising her eyes to him.
"She needs to know Giles. Maybe we can't protect her, but she might be able to protect herself. If something were to happen, and someone yelled for Dawn to run and hide somewhere, then she's not going to ask questions about it. If she understands what she is and how important she is to the world, then she will run when we tell her to, hide when we tell her to, and hopefully stay alive. The world needs her alive."
"Okay. Not that I don't like being important to billions of people, what am I again. Just so I understand." Buffy looked at Dawn. She didn't know what everyone was talking about, and she sounded like such a little girl. And so scared.
"Dawn, you are the key. You've been around since the beginning of time. You are kind of like the power source for all good things and you are extremely important. There is a demon, Glory, ever since you have been around, she has been looking for you. She knows that you are in Sunnydale. She is stronger than anything I have ever faced before, so if she finds you, we can't stop anything that she'll do."
Dawn paused before saying anything, trying to process all the information "Wow...Buffy, next time that you tell me something like this, could you do me and favor and hold back. A lot."
"Dawn, I know this must be very difficult for you to take in right now, but I assure you that none of us would ever let anything happen-"
"If I've been around since the beginning of time, then why do I not remember anything?"
Everyone looked at Buffy. "Why is it I get all the shity questions to answer?" Buffy took a minute before finishing. "Okay. You haven't always been the way you are. You were given this shape by a bunch of monks in order to hide you...and given to me to protect."
"Are you saying that I'm not really your sister."
"No."
"Okay, I'm leaving now!"
"Dawn! Wait! Please don't leave here."
"Why, cause if I get taken the world will end? Because I'm the Key? I don't care!" Dawn turns to leave. Buffy runs over to her before she can reach the door and grabs her arm, pulling Dawn towards her. Dawn pulls her arm back and pushes Buffy, throwing her all the way across the room. Buffy slams into the wall with such a force that some of the bricks start to break apart.
Everyone sat shocked, staring at Dawn. Dawn was staring at Buffy, Buffy wasn't staring at anybody because she was unconscious for the moment.
"Dear me! Dawn, what did you do, rather how did you do it? This is absolutely remarkable. There has been no indication in any of the books that the Key would hold so much physical power. This is amazing. I must consult my books." With that, Giles left the group who still sat staring at Dawn.
"Dawn, uh, are you all right?"
Dawn looked at Xander, eyes wide. A tear started rolling down her cheek. She gave one more look to Buffy before running out of Giles' house.
"This really isn't good."
Cordelia rolled her eyes at the statement, "Duh, Xander!"
Buffy came to shortly after Dawn left Giles' place. Angel was patting her forehead with a cool washcloth. "What the hell happened."
"Your little sister beat you up." Xander said helpfully
"Where's Dawn now?"
"That seems to be the $65,000 question, and considering I suck at that pyramid game no matter how many times I watch the reruns, looks like we're going to lose this round."
"Actually, Xander, we're not. I've done some research on the Key, and it seems that those monks knew what they were doing by casting a spell to put all that power in human form."
"Giles, please explain a little further...in English."
"Oh, of course. It seems that as soon the powers of good realized that Glory was after the Key, they had been hiding it again and again. Then one of the monks found this spell and decided to cast it. The spell gave the Key a human form, and they sent it to Buffy to protect just in case anything should happen. Which is sort of a mute point considering that once the Key was put in human form, it became the strongest being that there has ever been, or will ever be.
"Now that Dawn knows this, and knows that there is someone wishing her harm, I doubt that she will be quite so gentle as she was with Buffy."
"Giles, I broke a few bricks with my back. I don't really file that in 'Dawn was careful category'. It hurt. It hurt a lot."
"Yes, but Buffy, Dawn wasn't trying to hurt you. To her, it was as if she was...Xander, trying to push around Angel."
"Wow, thanks Giles! You really know how to make a guy feel like a man." Xander said sarcastically.
"Yes, well, regardless of Dawn's ability to protect herself, she still is a little girl. I think it would be best if we started looking for her." Giles said
"Or we could save ourselves the trouble and send Xander out looking for her. He can just go up and down streets yelling her name."
"Thanks Cordelia, offer me for the job, really nice. Is it pick on Xander day or something?"
"Don't be an idiot, Xander. I'm just saying that the girl has a major crush on you. I've been her for less than a week and I've already figured it out."
"Guys, will somebody tell her highness that she missed her pedestal by about a hundred yards!"
"Actually, Xander, she's right. Dawn has it bad for you. I thought you knew. How could you not? It's so obvious!"
"Willow? What are you talking about? Does she really?"
"Wait, you'll listen to Willow but not me? What is it with you!?"
"Xander. Really, it's totally obvious. My sister moons over you every time you come around. Why do you think I always send her to your apartment when I need some time alone?"
"Are you guys serious? I had no idea! It's pretty cool, though. How old did you say she was again?"
"Oh, Xander, that's just sick!"
"I was kidding! God, can't anybody take a joke?"
"Not when it's that gross! She's my sister! Ewwww!"
"Children, enough is enough. We need to find Dawn and get her back here. There are still plans to make. I don't want an apocalypse sneaking up on us."
"That was just a weird statement, Giles."
"Well, it is possible. Anyway, I think that it would be best for us to focus on first finding Dawn, then researching this prophecy a bit more. Just in case."
"But you said that the big important part was for me to remember and for Dawn to not get caught by Glory or any one else. So, doesn't that mean that the prophecy can't take place"
"Buffy, you misunderstand. The prophecy says that with your memory gone and Dawn dead, then there is NO way for the world to continue. It didn't say that the danger was over. Demons may very well still open Hell."
"And I don't think stabbing Angel the friendly vamp is going to cut it this time."
"Xander!" Willow gave him a very mean un-Willow like glare.
"Xander, that was a bit uncalled for." Giles said
"I thought it was rather good!"
"See! Spike thought it was funny!"
"It's Spike, though." Willow said.
Spike gave her a mock hurt expression "That wasn't very nice Red."
"That's enough. Back to the subject at hand. Buffy, Angel, Cordelia and Xander...you go look for Dawn. Willow, Spike and I are going to research information that might help us determine who will raise hell and when."
Xander started laughing before Giles finished. "Giles! You just said 'raise hell'! I don't know why I think that's so funny, but it is!" Cordelia and Buffy pulled a still laughing Xander out the door, before he crossed the threshold, however, I put his thumb, first, and pinky finger in the air, keeping the others tucked under. "Raise hell, Giles!" And fell into another fit of laughter.
"That boy has serious psychological problems. I'm absolutely sure of it."
"Yeah Giles" Willow said, "but I think we've all known that for a while.
End part five
Story: Life Lessons Part 5
Reviews: Please! If the reviews are good I'll love you, if they're bad I'll delete them, but write regardless!
Cordelia, Xander and Giles walked into the living room, where Buffy and Angel are once again, locking lips. "You two really have to stop doing that! You can't just go around making people lose their lunch!" Cordelia said distastefully
"Wow, Cordy, that was really sweet! I mean it...I just hope your not jealous."
"Please, Buffy, I'm the one that has to go back with Angel to LA, and I'm really glad that he won't be moping around, but I still don't want to see tongues out of the respective mouths. Please, have mercy on us and our upchuck reflex."
"Cordelia, if I remember correctly, and I do, you and Xander thought you lived in each other's mouths."
"Buffy, Buffy, Buffy...at least Xander and I had the decency to find a janitors closet!"
"Ooh! Giles, can we borrow your closet?"
"Buffy, I do not find that humorous in the very least. And I must agree with Cordelia, to a point. You and Angel must separate from each other for the time being. I am thankful for the fact that you two fight so well together, but I'm sure that your...energies... would be better focused on your training."
The doorbell rang, and Giles opened the door to find Willow, Tara, Dawn and Spike waiting outside.
"Ah, everyone is here."
"Yeah" Willow said "Buffy, we called your mom and told her that you were over here and that you were okay."
"Thanks Will. Dawn? What are you doing over here?"
"I came to help out. I can stay, right?"
"Uh, I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Actually Buffy, I think Dawn could help us out. We need all the hands we can get."
"See! Giles said yes and he's like your boss and everything, so I guess I'm in!"
"Fine, but if you get in the way or mess anything up I'm going to hurt you."
"Alright, we should get started. I'm having trouble finding more information on the prophecy. We have already done what was needed by restoring Buffy's memory, but I'm afraid the part about D-the Key, is a bit more difficult."
"What does the part about the Key say?" Dawn asked
"Well, we have translated it to mean that the something dire will happen to the key, that has nothing to do with the prophecy. I can only assume Glory will be the one to blame." Giles said in a disturbed voice. "I'm guessing that the death or capture of the key will signal the prophecy."
"Okay, then we find Glory and kill her. Protect D- the Key, and stop the prophecy."
"But it's a prophecy, Buffy. I don't know why, but that sort of makes me think that it is going to happen...regardless."
"We've stopped prophecies before, Xander!"
"No, actually all the events foretold have happened. We just stop the ending result."
"Well then I guess we'll have to think about keeping Dawn alive as an ending result!"
A hush fell over the group. Buffy, realizing what she had just said, lowered her head, hoping that Dawn didn't hear.
Unfortunately, Dawn paid attention to everything that the group had been saying.
"Buffy? Am I the Key?"
"Ah, Dawn, I think that your sister is just under an immense amount of pressure. She didn't mean that-"
"Yes. Dawn. You are the Key"
"Buffy, I'm not sure that it is wise..." Giles began, but Buffy stopped him by raising her eyes to him.
"She needs to know Giles. Maybe we can't protect her, but she might be able to protect herself. If something were to happen, and someone yelled for Dawn to run and hide somewhere, then she's not going to ask questions about it. If she understands what she is and how important she is to the world, then she will run when we tell her to, hide when we tell her to, and hopefully stay alive. The world needs her alive."
"Okay. Not that I don't like being important to billions of people, what am I again. Just so I understand." Buffy looked at Dawn. She didn't know what everyone was talking about, and she sounded like such a little girl. And so scared.
"Dawn, you are the key. You've been around since the beginning of time. You are kind of like the power source for all good things and you are extremely important. There is a demon, Glory, ever since you have been around, she has been looking for you. She knows that you are in Sunnydale. She is stronger than anything I have ever faced before, so if she finds you, we can't stop anything that she'll do."
Dawn paused before saying anything, trying to process all the information "Wow...Buffy, next time that you tell me something like this, could you do me and favor and hold back. A lot."
"Dawn, I know this must be very difficult for you to take in right now, but I assure you that none of us would ever let anything happen-"
"If I've been around since the beginning of time, then why do I not remember anything?"
Everyone looked at Buffy. "Why is it I get all the shity questions to answer?" Buffy took a minute before finishing. "Okay. You haven't always been the way you are. You were given this shape by a bunch of monks in order to hide you...and given to me to protect."
"Are you saying that I'm not really your sister."
"No."
"Okay, I'm leaving now!"
"Dawn! Wait! Please don't leave here."
"Why, cause if I get taken the world will end? Because I'm the Key? I don't care!" Dawn turns to leave. Buffy runs over to her before she can reach the door and grabs her arm, pulling Dawn towards her. Dawn pulls her arm back and pushes Buffy, throwing her all the way across the room. Buffy slams into the wall with such a force that some of the bricks start to break apart.
Everyone sat shocked, staring at Dawn. Dawn was staring at Buffy, Buffy wasn't staring at anybody because she was unconscious for the moment.
"Dear me! Dawn, what did you do, rather how did you do it? This is absolutely remarkable. There has been no indication in any of the books that the Key would hold so much physical power. This is amazing. I must consult my books." With that, Giles left the group who still sat staring at Dawn.
"Dawn, uh, are you all right?"
Dawn looked at Xander, eyes wide. A tear started rolling down her cheek. She gave one more look to Buffy before running out of Giles' house.
"This really isn't good."
Cordelia rolled her eyes at the statement, "Duh, Xander!"
Buffy came to shortly after Dawn left Giles' place. Angel was patting her forehead with a cool washcloth. "What the hell happened."
"Your little sister beat you up." Xander said helpfully
"Where's Dawn now?"
"That seems to be the $65,000 question, and considering I suck at that pyramid game no matter how many times I watch the reruns, looks like we're going to lose this round."
"Actually, Xander, we're not. I've done some research on the Key, and it seems that those monks knew what they were doing by casting a spell to put all that power in human form."
"Giles, please explain a little further...in English."
"Oh, of course. It seems that as soon the powers of good realized that Glory was after the Key, they had been hiding it again and again. Then one of the monks found this spell and decided to cast it. The spell gave the Key a human form, and they sent it to Buffy to protect just in case anything should happen. Which is sort of a mute point considering that once the Key was put in human form, it became the strongest being that there has ever been, or will ever be.
"Now that Dawn knows this, and knows that there is someone wishing her harm, I doubt that she will be quite so gentle as she was with Buffy."
"Giles, I broke a few bricks with my back. I don't really file that in 'Dawn was careful category'. It hurt. It hurt a lot."
"Yes, but Buffy, Dawn wasn't trying to hurt you. To her, it was as if she was...Xander, trying to push around Angel."
"Wow, thanks Giles! You really know how to make a guy feel like a man." Xander said sarcastically.
"Yes, well, regardless of Dawn's ability to protect herself, she still is a little girl. I think it would be best if we started looking for her." Giles said
"Or we could save ourselves the trouble and send Xander out looking for her. He can just go up and down streets yelling her name."
"Thanks Cordelia, offer me for the job, really nice. Is it pick on Xander day or something?"
"Don't be an idiot, Xander. I'm just saying that the girl has a major crush on you. I've been her for less than a week and I've already figured it out."
"Guys, will somebody tell her highness that she missed her pedestal by about a hundred yards!"
"Actually, Xander, she's right. Dawn has it bad for you. I thought you knew. How could you not? It's so obvious!"
"Willow? What are you talking about? Does she really?"
"Wait, you'll listen to Willow but not me? What is it with you!?"
"Xander. Really, it's totally obvious. My sister moons over you every time you come around. Why do you think I always send her to your apartment when I need some time alone?"
"Are you guys serious? I had no idea! It's pretty cool, though. How old did you say she was again?"
"Oh, Xander, that's just sick!"
"I was kidding! God, can't anybody take a joke?"
"Not when it's that gross! She's my sister! Ewwww!"
"Children, enough is enough. We need to find Dawn and get her back here. There are still plans to make. I don't want an apocalypse sneaking up on us."
"That was just a weird statement, Giles."
"Well, it is possible. Anyway, I think that it would be best for us to focus on first finding Dawn, then researching this prophecy a bit more. Just in case."
"But you said that the big important part was for me to remember and for Dawn to not get caught by Glory or any one else. So, doesn't that mean that the prophecy can't take place"
"Buffy, you misunderstand. The prophecy says that with your memory gone and Dawn dead, then there is NO way for the world to continue. It didn't say that the danger was over. Demons may very well still open Hell."
"And I don't think stabbing Angel the friendly vamp is going to cut it this time."
"Xander!" Willow gave him a very mean un-Willow like glare.
"Xander, that was a bit uncalled for." Giles said
"I thought it was rather good!"
"See! Spike thought it was funny!"
"It's Spike, though." Willow said.
Spike gave her a mock hurt expression "That wasn't very nice Red."
"That's enough. Back to the subject at hand. Buffy, Angel, Cordelia and Xander...you go look for Dawn. Willow, Spike and I are going to research information that might help us determine who will raise hell and when."
Xander started laughing before Giles finished. "Giles! You just said 'raise hell'! I don't know why I think that's so funny, but it is!" Cordelia and Buffy pulled a still laughing Xander out the door, before he crossed the threshold, however, I put his thumb, first, and pinky finger in the air, keeping the others tucked under. "Raise hell, Giles!" And fell into another fit of laughter.
"That boy has serious psychological problems. I'm absolutely sure of it."
"Yeah Giles" Willow said, "but I think we've all known that for a while.
End part five