Summary: When Joyce and Hank Summers got divorced, Joyce got custody of Buffy and Hank got custody of Dawn. Hank and Dawn eventually move to Angel Grove where Dawn became the Pink Zeo Ranger briefly before being shipped off by Hank to live with Joyce and Buffy in Sunnydale.
Zordon knowing what was in Sunnydale decided to create a new Power Ranger with powers and weapons that could be used against the vampiric and demonic baddies. And so Dawn became the new White Zeo Ranger.
Pairing: Buffy/Canon, Dawn/None (though willing to take a suggestion for Dawn, remember though she is fourteen in season 5)
A/U: Set during season 5 and Power Rangers: Zeo ... In this story Kat isn't the direct successor of Kimberly. Dawn is Kimberly's replacement and Kat is Dawn's replacement.
Disclaimer: Disney owns Buffy and Hasbro owns Power Rangers
Chapter 1: Real Me
October 3, 2000
Summers Home
"Morphing log," Dawn Summers said into her tape recorder. "Dad sent me to live with mom and Buffy. Buffy doesn't know that till recently I had a secret just like my big sister. You see my big sister is the Vampire Slayer. But my secret was and continues to be just as important. Till recently I was Zeo Ranger One Pink, a Power Ranger. I handed my Zeo Ranger power to Kat, my successor."
Dawn looked up at the door to her room listening for footsteps. It was silent. "When Zordon learned that I was moving to Sunnydale. He created for me a new Zeo Ranger power to be used in Sunnydale fighting the vampires and demons that plague the city, with special weapons. A Zeo Power Sword and Zeo Power Stakes. So, I am now Zeo Ranger Six White. Like my sister I am supposed to continue to keep a secret identity. I hope I can do a better job than Buffy did."
October 4, 2000
Summers Home
Buffy Summers, Dawn's older sister and the Slayer, opened the refrigerator, taking out a carton of milk and put it on the counter. Next to her Dawn was getting a box of cereal from a cabinet as their mother Joyce Summers poured herself some coffee.
Joyce Summers, Dawn and Buffy's mother, picked up the milk and poured some in her mug as Buffy took out a bowl and put it down.
Dawn glanced at Buffy's bowl and smiled. She was tempted to tease her sister. Instead she went and retrieved another bowl.
"Here you go, Dawnie," Buffy said filling her bowl with the cereal before handing the box to her younger sister. She used to find Dawn annoying as heck. But since Dawn had been with her father since the divorce, she had missed her little sister so much.
Dawn smiled as she took the box from Buffy. "Thanks, Buffy," she said filling her bowl. She then handed the box to Joyce who put it back in the cabinet. She reached for the milk at the same time as Buffy. "Go ahead."
Buffy smiled appreciatively and filled her bowl emptying the carton. "Sorry, Dawnie."
"It's okay," Dawn shrugged. "I can eat it dry."
"So, Buffy, what are your plans today?" Joyce asked her eldest daughter.
"Well, Giles and I," Buffy started, "are making a little magic shop run this morning. Need to pick up some supplies for my new improved training sessions."
"Oh, that's great…" Joyce started before being interrupted by her daughter.
"Well, yeah, thanks, it's kind of excit—" Buffy told her mother.
"You can take Dawn shopping for her back-to-school supplies," Joyce interrupted looking at Buffy pointedly.
"Didn't dad…" Buffy started.
"Nope, sorry, Buffy," Dawn told her big sister. She then looked at Joyce. "Weren't you supposed to be taking me though, Mom?"
"I know, honey," Joyce said with a sigh. "But I've got the Gurion showing tonight and there's so much to do to get the gallery ready." She headed out of the kitchen as both of her daughters followed.
"I'm not sure I have time though, mom," Buffy told her mother as they walked into the foyer. "We're just going to the magic shop. I don't know how long that will take. And there are no school supplies there."
"Yeah, Mom—I'm not going to Hogwarts," Dawn quipped. She smiled at her own joke as she looked at Buffy, who she could tell didn't get it. "Sorry, new book series."
"Ah," Buffy said as she ruffled her little sister's hair.
"I'm sure Mr. Giles won't mind dropping you both at a department store afterward," Joyce told Buffy.
"I'll ask," Buffy sighed.
"Thank you, dear," Joyce told her eldest daughter as she grabbed her purse. There was a knock at the door and she opened it to reveal Buffy's boyfriend Riley Finn.
"Morning, Mrs. Summers. You look great," Riley said as he walked through the door.
"Thank you, Riley," Joyce said as she smiled at the handsome young man.
Buffy went and greeted Riley with a kiss as Joyce walked out the front door. "Suck up."
Riley rolled his eyes. "What, it's a nice outfit. Besides, 'I'm here to violate your firstborn' never goes over with the parents. Not sure why," he told her as he kissed her again. He then looked past Buffy. "Is this her?"
Buffy turned and looked over her shoulder. "Yep," she replied. "This is my little sister."
"Nice to meet you," he told Dawn.
"Thanks," Dawn replied.
"This is a surprise of the nice kind," Buffy said turning back to her boyfriend.
"Now it's my turn to be surprised," Riley responded, completely caught off-guard. "Thought we had plans today."
"Plans?" Buffy's brow knitted in confusion. "We planned plans?"
Riley nodded. "Well, you said come over tomorrow and we'll hang," he reminded her. "Then I said 'kay. Not the invasion of Normandy, but still a plan."
"Oh, right, uh…" Buffy said sheepishly as she glanced at Dawn.
Riley sighed as he realized Buffy had forgotten. "We're not hanging, are we?"
Buffy looked back at Riley and shook her head. "Giles is on his way over to pick me and Dawn up."
Riley nodded in understanding. "Slayer training."
"Slayer shopping, actually," Buffy corrected. "But it's just as important."
"I've no doubt," Riley agreed. "Okay, we'll hook up later."
"You're not mad?" Buffy wondered.
"No, no. I'm plotting your death, but in a happy way," he told her.
"Oh good…" Buffy said a tad bit worried.
"Buffy, I know what this means to you," Riley said sincerely. "I think it's great you've got this new mission." He kissed her on the cheek as he headed out the door. "See you tonight." He glanced over his shoulder at Dawn. "See you, kid!"
Dawn groaned as she looked at her big sister. "I'm not a kid," she replied. She watched her sister who was watching Riley leave. "You feel a little guilty, don't you?"
"A tad," Buffy answered. She looked at Dawn as she closed the door. "You know you've changed."
"Angel Grove can do that to you," Dawn admitted. "With all the monster attacks and everything."
"I guess it can," Buffy admitted. "Did you get to meet any of those Power Rangers?"
"Got to meet the Pink Zeo Ranger," Dawn said telling her sister a slight white lie.
"Wow!" Buffy said in surprise. "That must have been something. Even around here we've heard of the Power Rangers. Their kind of celebrities."
"I tried not to be all fangirl," Dawn said with a shrug.
Streets of Sunnydale
Dawn was watching the town go by from the back seat of Rupert Giles brand new red convertible sports car. She glanced at the man who she had learned had replaced Merrick as Buffy's Watcher.
"There's a lot of books on this list," Buffy commented to her Watcher. "Any of them come on tape? You know, read by George Clooney or someone cute like that?"
Dawn stifled a giggle. Her sister was in college, yet Buffy still acted like the stereotypical blonde cheerleader. She was sure she understood why. As the Slayer it gave her an edge as vampires and demons might not take her seriously and misjudge her for an easy target.
"You're entering a new realm here, Buffy," Giles answered. "One for which I myself am not entirely prepared. Are you ready for this commitment?"
"I'm just kidding!" Buffy told him. "Hey, this Betty's ready. Color me committed." She heard a small giggle from the back seat and she glanced over her shoulder to smile at Dawn.
An increase of noise from engine sounded at this point, causing Giles to swear. "Blast!"
"You put it in neutral again, huh?" Buffy sought to confirm.
"I'm just not used to this automatic transmission," Giles replied. "I loathe this sitting here, not contributing." He sighed. "To be honest, it's not working out."
"Giles, are you breaking up with your car?" Buffy asked.
"Well, it did seduce me," he answered. "All red and sporty!"
"Little two-door tramp," Buffy emphasized bemusedly, only to be greeted with a sour look by Giles.
"I don't know," Giles sighed. "I just - I was so at loose ends, I found myself searching for ... some way of feeling more..."
"Shallow?" Buffy finished.
"Perhaps, as I am to act as your Watcher again, a modicum of respect might be in order," Giles admonished.
"Do I have to?" His slayer pouted, while Dawn hid a smile behind her hand.
"I'm serious, Buffy, there's going to be far less time for the sort of flighty, frivolous-"
"Hey, there's Willow and Tara!" Buffy interrupted.
Giles slowed. "Ooh, they haven't seen my new car." He pulled over to meet them.
"Hey Giles, sharp wheels!" Willow commented.
"The rest of the car's nice too," Tara added, as the trio climbed out of its luxurious leather interior.
"Handles like a dream," Giles boasted.
"Is this her?" Willow said looking at Dawn.
Buffy smiled and nodded. "Yep this is Dawn." She glanced back at Willow and Tara. "So where are you guys heading?"
"Magic shop," Willow replied. "I have some charms on back order."
"So, is your training regimen sorted?" Tara asked as they started to walk the rest of the way to the store.
"Barring supplies," Buffy answered. "Giles and I worked out a whole schedule around school. A block of time every day just to focus on my new slayer training."
"That's a work ethic!" Willow cried with joy. "Buffy, you're developing a work ethic."
"Oh, no," Buffy remarked in mock shock. "Do they make an ointment for that?"
Dawn chuckled. "Good one, Buffy."
Buffy smiled at her little sister.
"People got to respect a solid work ethic," Willow commented. "Look at you, motivated Buffy. Eager to soak up learning. Oh, you and I are going to have so much fun this semester."
Buffy halted mid-walk. "Yeah, that reminds me. With the whole new training schedule, I kind of had to drop a class."
"That's understandable," her best friend said. "Your slayer studies are way more important."
"So, I won't be taking drama with you," Buffy finished as they arrived outside number 5124, otherwise known as the Magic Box.
"What? You have to, you promised!" The redhead looked heartbroken.
"Well, I know, but Giles said that it just was..." Buffy started.
"The hell with Giles," Willow cut in, causing the Watcher to turn around.
"I can hear you, Willow," he told her.
Willow sent him an apologetic look before continuing. "Drama is just Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. You can blow off training Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, can't you?"
"What happened to 'people got to respect a work ethic?'" Buffy asked her.
"Other people, not me! There's a whole best friend loophole." Willow protested.
"I'm sorry, Will, but I can't," Buffy replied. Her best friend met her look, and sighed, surrendering. "It's okay, I'm not taking it, anyway. That encounter with the first slayer scared me off for good."
"Hey, you two," Tara called them to the windows of the Magic, where she and Giles had been looking through for the past few minutes. "Shop's kind of dark. Maybe it's closed."
"That's odd," Giles commented. He stepped back from the window.
The Magic Box
Cautiously the group made their way inside the shop. Darkened windows did nothing to hide the ransacked appearance of the interior.
"Well, I think 'odd' just got upped to 'bad.'" The slayer commented as they surveyed the full extent of the damage.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Giles called out.
"Mr. Bogarty?" Tara added, causing everyone to look at her with mild surprise. "The owner. I—I come in here a lot," she explained.
"Well," Willow began hopefully, "maybe this happened ... really late at night when nobody was..." she broke off as her foot tripped over something.
"Will?" Buffy called in concern.
"I'm fine," the wiccan answered. "I just tripped over..." she trailed off as she caught sight of the corpse. "Mr. Bogarty," she finished, sorrowfully.
"What is it? Is-Is he okay?" Dawn asked in feigned shock. She needed Buffy to send her outside. So, she could come back as the White Zeo Ranger.
Buffy turned to face Dawn. "It's nothing you need to see, Dawn. Go wait outside."
"If you are sure," Dawn started as Buffy nodded. She headed outside and walked into the nearby alley smiling."It's Morphin' Time!" she called out as she hit the switch opening the morpher and shouted the activation code, "Zeo Ranger Six White!"
With a flash of white light of the morphing sequence transformed Dawn into the White Zeo Ranger. The armor that formed around her was white save the gold Zeo emblem on her chest, it was complete with matching boots and miniskirt.
Dawn never understood why female Rangers' armor came complete with a miniskirt. But she knew from seeing the original Ranger, the Ninja Ranger and now the Zeo Ranger in armor that it appeared to always be the case.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Tara having caught sight of the body, took a breath, and walked outside for some air. "Dawn?" she said looking for the younger Summers sister. She frowned when the brunette teen didn't answer. "Dawn?" she called again as she began to look around for the teenager.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Inside the rest of the group surveyed the grim remains of the owner of the Magic Box and the chaos of the burglary. It was then that they heard a ringing sound and they looked up to see the White Zeo Ranger appear.
"Wow!" Willow gasped in surprise. "A Power Ranger, in Sunnydale!"
The White Zeo Ranger nodded at the group. "I was in town and I heard about this," she said. "Came to check it out." She looked at Buffy. "If I am not mistaken, you are the Slayer?"
"Wow!" Buffy said clearly as surprised as her redheaded friend. "You've heard of me."
"Me and my fellow Rangers have heard of you," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "Till recently we left Sunnydale in your capable hands." She decided to give her sister a half truth. "Zordon believes something is on the horizon and I've been sent to offer aid, potentially on a permanent basis."
"Another demon fighter is always welcome in Sunnydale," Giles told the Power Ranger.
"So, what do we know?" the White Zeo Ranger asked.
Buffy nodded as they turned their attention back to the body. "Judging by the bite-fest, I'd say it was more than one vampire," she remarked.
The White Zeo Ranger bent closer to the corpse to make a more informed estimate. "I make it four at least," she remarked.
"Looks like someone's put together a new fang club," Buffy commented as Giles walked over to the counter where Willow stood.
"Well, I've cross-checked the inventory list," Willow declared, "and things are definitely missing. Mostly books. Including A Treatise on the Mythology and Methodology of the Vampire Slayer."
Giles looked over Willow's shoulder at the open pages, while his slayer studied her supply list.
"Oh, shoot! Was that the only copy?" Buffy asked them.
"Come on, Buffy, this could be very serious," Giles admonished. "Whoever's leading this pack of vampires appears to be interested in learning more about you. Perhaps searching for weaknesses or ... Blimey," he cried.
"What did you find?" the White Zeo Ranger asked as she moved over next to Giles and Willow.
"I had no idea the profit margins on a shop like this were so high," Giles replied. "Look at this! Uh, low overhead, out-of-state orders, international - it's no wonder there's never any trouble attracting new owners. A place like this is a virtual-"
"Deathtrap?" Buffy pointed out.
"There is that," Giles allowed. "But, still... Location, pedestrian traffic..." he trailed off as he glanced outside. He looked at his Slayer. "Buffy," he continued. "You and our new ally should begin looking for their lair straight away."
"I can patrol later tonight," the White Zeo Ranger told the Slayer. "I need to finish moving into my new home." She pulled out a wrist communicator and handed it to Buffy. "You can use this to contact me. I will find you."
"Thanks," Buffy said as she looked at the wrist communicator for a second before strapping it to her wrist. She looked up just in time as the White Zeo Ranger disappeared the same way she had arrived. "Wow," she remarked. "A Power Ranger in Sunnydale."
"Aren't you forgetting something, Buffy?" Willow told her friend after the shock of the Power Ranger leaving had worn off.
Buffy looked at her best friend, drawing a blank.
"You're on Dawn duty," Willow reminded her.
"Oh, duty. I've got to drop my sister off at home first," Buffy sighed. "My mother's going to kill me."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn glanced around the corner of the building. She saw Tara was standing outside the store looking for her. She sat down with her back against the wall right at the corner so Tara could see her.
"Hey," Tara remarked, when she had spotted Dawn. She moved next to the teen and sat next to her on the pavement. "You, alright?" she asked.
"Is—Is that guy dead in there?" Dawn asked faking being scared of what she had seen.
"Yeah," Tara said. "They're going to be a little while longer, doing the detective thing. Best non-Scoobies like you and me stay out of their way." Dawn nodded. "Do you want to thumb-wrestle?"
"Okay," Dawn replied.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Oh, hello," Giles said as he looked at a display case. "Something's been taken from this case, look here."
Buffy turned to Willow, who was still by the inventory book. "What'd they take?"
"I should think an item of value," Giles mused, "or-or power, possibly even a-"
"A unicorn. 10-inch ceramic unicorn imported from Thailand," Willow informed the group.
"Was it valuable?" Buffy asked her best friend.
"List price, $12.95." She replied.
"Which begs the question," Giles began. "What kind of an unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?"
Harmony Kendell's Lair
Across and below town, the new leader of a new fang gang had called her first meeting of the morning. "Okay, hi. First of all, I want to thank everybody for a really successful raid on the magic shop last night. Good job, minions!" Harmony clapped at them. Apart from one, the rest looked bored. "Yes, you deserve it. Secondly…somebody remembered to pick me up the sweetest little unicorn!" She smiled at the vampire in question, while his guys turned to him in exasperation.
"What?" he queried.
"Brad, guess someone was feeling guilty for standing me up in the tenth grade," Harmony mused as she admired the unicorn.
"I had to get her something. She sired me," Brad protested.
"Sire-whipped," Peaches muttered to Cyrus.
"Anyway, the books you guys brought me to help with the plan?" Harmony paused to gestured to the pile of accumulated info on the slayer. "Well, I've been skimming through the book jackets all morning, and let me tell you, there's some pretty useful stuff in there, so-" she broke off as one of the vamps raised his hand. "Yes, uh ... sorry, forgot your name."
"Cyrus." The minion informed her.
"Cyrus, huh, right. Peaches' friend. What's your question?"
"When are we going to do it?" He asked.
His leader was disgusted. "Eww! That's rude! I barely know you! Ugh, and you're a minion!"
"He means the plan!" Another minion, Mort informed her. "When are we gonna do the plan?"
"Oh! The plan! Ah, well, first let me tell you I'm really psyched about it and I hope the rest of you guys-"
"WHEN?" Mort yelled.
"Tonight!" Harmony cried back. "We kill the slayer ... tonight."
Summers Home
Joyce looked at her eldest daughter none-too-pleased, as she finished getting dressed. "So not only didn't you take your sister shopping for school supplies, you brought her to a murder scene," she remarked as she moved to her jewelry box on her dresser.
"I didn't bring her to it," Buffy retorted. "It just sort of came upon us…"
Dawn who sat on her bed, in her room, listening, hoped that they wouldn't agree to a babysitter so she could meet Buffy for patrol.
"It's not like she saw the body or anything," Buffy told her mother.
"Oh, well, that makes it all right then, doesn't it?" Joyce said sarcastically as she put on her earrings.
"That's not what I meant," Buffy replied with a sigh.
"I asked one favor of you, Buffy. To keep an eye on your sister," Joyce told her daughter with a scowl. "And now you want to unload her so you and Riley can go out."
"Actually, I'm not meeting Riley," Buffy countered as Joyce looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "One of the Power Rangers is in Sunnydale. I'm patrolling with her. It's work."
"You saw one of the Power Rangers?" Dawn said as she moved out of her room and next to her sister. "Which one was it. Red…Pink…Green…?"
"White," Buffy answered.
"Must be a new one," Dawn said. "There hasn't been a white one in Angel Grove for a few years. Not since the original White Ranger."
Joyce looked between her daughters and smiled at Dawn. "I see we got a fan," she remarked. She then turned back to Buffy. "Buffy, I've got to be at the pre-showing Reception in half an hour. Who's going to watch Dawn?"
"I don't need anyone to watch me!" Dawn immediately objected.
Joyce and Buffy looked at Dawn as they said at the same time, "Yes, you do!"
Buffy looked back at her mother. "So, you're saying if I can get a babysitter over here before you leave, I can go patrol now."
"And who are you going to get on such short notice?" Joyce asked.
Buffy thought for a moment, then smiled. "Xander."
"Xander?" Joyce said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Dawn sighed as she opened the front door. She had decided to make an excuse of going to bed early. Jet lag from the flight from Angel Grove to Sunnydale type deal.
"You must be the Dawn Patrol!" Xander said excitedly. "Check this out: They put cheese on round bread. It's going to be big."
Joyce came down the stairs to stop next to Dawn. "Xander, hi, thanks for doing this."
"Total non-sweat," Xander said.
Joyce looked at her youngest daughter. "Dawn, you be good," she said as Dawn's wrist communicator beeped. "What's that?"
"Alarm on my watch," Dawn answered.
"We will see you later, Mrs. Summers," Xander told the Summers matriarch. "We're just going to play with some matches, run with scissors, take candy from…some guy, I don't know his name." He winked at Dawn as he walked into the living room.
As Joyce left Dawn was about to close the door as a woman walked through it, carrying several board games.
"Hello there, little girl," the woman said. "We are going to have fun, fun, fun. Look. We've got, uh…" She looked at the side of the boxes for the titles. "Monopoly… Clue… ooh, The Game of Life, that sounds really good…"
Dawn rolled her eyes with a sigh realizing this must be Xander's girlfriend. She closed the door and followed Anya into the living room. "I'm going to call it an early night," she told them. "Still suffering a little jet lag from the flight yesterday."
"Are you sure?" Xander asked as Dawn's wrist communicator beeped again.
"I'm sure," Dawn said as she smiled at the pair and then bounded up the stairs and into her room, closing the door behind her. "It's Morphin' Time! Zeo Ranger Six White!"
Restfield Cemetery
Buffy and the White Zeo Ranger moved among the tombstones, searching. "…so, then my mom goes off on me about how I'm supposed to watch Dawn and make sure she's shielded from stuff that might upset her—" Buffy ranted.
"I mean no disrespect," the White Zeo Ranger told Buffy. "But is it so bad if she did see?"
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked looking at her new ally.
"Her name is Dawn is it not?" the female Ranger asked.
"Oh, that's right," Buffy sighed. "You know me, which means you likely know her. Especially since Dad just sent her to live with us from Angel Grove."
"Actually, I know of her through my colleague, the Pink Zeo Ranger," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "One of her more interesting saves. She even approached Zordon when she wished to step down about Dawn replacing her."
"Really," Buffy said clearly surprised.
"Yes, Zordon approved of course and Pink approached her with the offer," the White Zeo Ranger replied giving her sister a half truth. It was becoming harder and harder to keep a secret identity. She understood now why Buffy hadn't kept much of one. She debated telling Buffy who she was. But one thing Zordon had said was no one could know who the Rangers were. "She refused since she knew about you and what your life had been like before the divorce of your parents."
"Wow," Buffy said and then something began to click. "Take off your helmet."
"Why?" the White Zeo Ranger replied. If Buffy could see her face, she would see that under the helmet that Dawn Summers was frowning.
"Because I think I know who you are," Buffy answered. "And if you are, mom is going to be so pissed if she finds out."
The White Zeo Ranger sighed. "What gave it away, Buffy?"
"Back in L.A. you didn't know about me," Buffy answered.
"Actually, not one hundred percent true," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "Power Down!"
Buffy watched as there was a flash of white light as the White Zeo Ranger de-morphed until she saw her little sister standing beside her in her t-shirt and jeans.
"Remember when dad had you put in the institution?" Dawn asked. "I overheard you telling dad about vampires. I didn't put two and two together till after the move to Angel Grove. Zordon knew about the Slayer. It's why till I moved in with you and mom that there wasn't a Power Ranger in Sunnydale."
"How did you become a Power Ranger?" Buffy wondered.
"Just as I said," Dawn replied. "Except I didn't refuse. I guess I take after you in a way. The Pink Ranger before me, was moving on. Kim had seen me helping people during one of the monster attacks. She approached Zordon who agreed that I could be her replacement. So, I became the Pink Zeo Ranger. I gave up Pink when I moved here. Zordon knowing what was here, wasn't about to let one of his rangers, move here without a way to protect ourselves. So, he created a new Zeo crystal, Zeo White. And so, I became the White Zeo Ranger. It was actually my idea to help you, not Zordon's."
Buffy nodded as she saw something in the distance and tensed.
"What?" Dawn said following her sister's gaze.
Buffy relaxed, slightly embarrassed. "Trash can. From a distance it looked kind of…"
"Your tense," Dawn told her sister.
"A little," Buffy admitted. "We have a new vampire gang in town."
"No, I mean with me," Dawn retorted.
"Sorry," Buffy sighed glancing at her sister. "You are my baby sister and my first instinct is to protect you. Even though you apparently can take care of yourself now."
Summers Home
The sound of smashing glass startled Xander and Anya. They leapt out of the glass' trajectory, watching as the missile; a brick with some paper tied around it, landed on the living room floor.
Xander advanced cautiously to pick the offending item up. "'Slayer, come out and die,'" he read off the unwound note.
"I'm waiting for you, Buffy!" A familiar voice shouted from outside, causing Xander and Anya to go to the window. "I know you're in there!"
Xander advanced to the doorway. "Sorry, Harmony," he remarked. "Buffy's not here."
"What do you mean, she's not in there?" Harmony countered, annoyed. "She has to be. I'm calling her out!"
"Then I bet she'll be real sorry she missed your call," Xander remarked. "'Fraid you and your buddies are going to have to come back and be killed by Buffy later."
"They're not my buddies. They're my minions," Harmony informed them.
"They're ... what now?" Xander asked.
"Minions! You know, lackeys? They work for me."
Xander looked at her in disbelief for a moment. Then the funny side of the scene was realized as he started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Harmony asked angrily.
"Nothing!" Xander protested, still laughing. "What could be funny, just 'Look out, it's a terrifying Harmony gang, ooh!'"
"Stop laughing!" Harmony cried, rushing forward to try and attack him. Only to encounter the invisible barrier.
Xander recovered enough to speak. "I just, I just can't picture anyone pathetic enough to be following... Is that Brad Konig? Huh! Hey Brad, who'd have thought when you were beating up kids in gym class, you'd end up Harmony's lapdog?"
"Screw you, Harris," Brad countered.
"You should know all about being somebody's lapdog," Harmony added. "I hear you were a good little puppy for Dracula."
"You heard wrong," Xander lied.
Now it was Harmony's turn to laugh. "Don't feel bad. I hear that mind-control thing he does works really well on weak fraidy-cat losers. You didn't stand a chance."
"Shut up, Harmony!" Xander cried.
"Make me." She challenged.
"Fraid I don't feel like getting into another hair-pulling contest with you," Xander replied with a shrug.
"You're the hair-puller, you big girl!" Harmony sighed. "This isn't over, Xander! I'll be back! And the slayer better be here the next time!"
"And we'll be ready for you! Stakes ... crosses ... the whole enchilada," Xander remarked before closing the door. He looked at Anya. "Buffy is not going to be happy about this," he declared.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Harmony ... " Laughter. Deep breath. More laughter. "Harmony has minions?"
"Yeah, that was pretty much our reaction," Xander remarked.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Buffy tried to get sober as she looked at Dawn who had beamed herself into her bedroom when they had returned home after a fruitless patrol. "It's just ... Harmony has minions!" The giggles started again.
"And Ruffles have ridges," Xander added. "Uh, Buffy, there's actually a more serious side to all this."
"I sure hope so, 'cause I'm having trouble breathing." Buffy took another deep breath. "What is it?"
"Well, she did come here to kill you," Anya informed her. Buffy burst out laughing again, and this time her boyfriend joined her.
"I think you should take this seriously, Buffy," Dawn told her big sister.
Restfield Cemetery
"What a total disaster," Harmony said as she and her minions walked back to their hideout. "My first plan! I so wanted it to go well. Plus, I didn't even get to kill stupid Xander Harris! God, that was so embarrassing."
"We'll go back later," Mort suggested.
Harmony shook her head. "It's no good. Buffy's going to expect us now. The whole surprise is blown."
"Who are you growling at?" Peaches asked his friend.
"Not me, my stomach," Cyrus explained. "If I don't eat somebody soon, I'll get dizzy."
"Let's go back to the lair. That census taker may not be empty yet," Peaches decided.
"Not me. This night is young, and I want some action," Brad declared.
Suddenly a hand tapped his shoulder, and he turned around, only to be greeted by a punch that sent him straight to the floor.
Spike grinned at them. "Happy to oblige. Here I thought it was gonna be a slow night. Step on up, kiddies. Thrashings for all."
"Stop!" Harmony commanded. Spike pretended to look surprised. "Well. Hello, Harm."
"Spikey. I mean, Spike," Harmony returned.
"Long time," Spike sympathized. "You look good."
"I feel good," Harmony remarked, causing him to smirk. "I remember."
"Why are you talking to him?" Mort asked.
"It's okay, we used to go steady. Spike, Mort. Mort, this is-" Mort cut her off. "I know who he is. He kills our kind."
"Oh yeah! What's up with that?" Harmony asked him.
Spike shrugged. "Bloke's gotta have a hobby, don't he? Piss off, Mort."
Mort growled warningly, but Harmony stopped him and stepped away to talk to Spike. "Mort, just give us ... a couple minutes, 'kay? He's really testy. Some of us were thinking of voting him out of the gang."
"Gang?" Spike echoed.
"Oh, yeah. I've got my own gang now," Harmony declared proudly.
"Is that what those circus freaks are?" Spike smirked.
"Uhuh. I mean ... shut up! We're going to kill the slayer."
Spike raised an eyebrow at her. "Singing my song now, are you? You should pay me royalties for that one, or at least get your own tune."
"I'm not going to make the same mistakes you did. I've been doing my homework, reading books and stuff."
Spike scoffed. "What, Evil for Dummies? Look at you, all puffed up and mighty, thinking you're the new Big Bad. It's, uh ... well, let's face it, it's adorable."
"You just can't stand the fact that I'm my own person now. There comes a time in every woman's life when she realizes she needs to take the next step. I've taken it. I've found the real me... and I like her."
"Hope you'll be very happy together. In the meantime, save slayer slaying for the professionals."
"You'll see. Buffy'll be dead by sunrise. I've got a plan."
"Let me guess," Spike said, chuckling. "Snatch one of her friends, use 'em as bait, lead her into a trap. That sort of thing?"
"No! Much, much better one. I'm not going to tell you!"
"Thought as much. Best of luck. Let me know how this arch-villain thing works out for you," he walked away.
"I'll do that. And after Buffy is gone? I'm going to kill everybody in this town that was ever mean to me ... Spike!" Harmony waited until the bleach blond was out of sight, and then turned to the minions. "Guys! New plan."
Summers Home
Ten minutes had passed before Buffy could be relied upon to remain serious. "Okay, did she say anything else?"
"Aside from taunting Xander?" Anya remarked. "Nothing."
"In that case, we better get someone on to her. She can't have gone that far." Buffy looked around the group, and found the person she knew would do.
Dawn looked at her sister and then shook her head indicating she wasn't going to morph in front of them.
"They're going to find out eventually. Either you can show them or I can tell them," Buffy told her sister.
Dawn sighed. "Fine," she said. "It's Morphin' Time!" she shouted. "Zeo Ranger Six White!"
Xander watched in awe as the morphing sequence commenced and the White Zeo armor wrapped itself around Dawn, covering her from head to toe.
"Did you gain a little bit of height?" Buffy questioned when the morphing sequence completed. Her sister was about an inch or so shorter than her normally and now as the White Zeo Ranger she stood slightly taller than her.
"Yeah," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "It did the same thing to me when I was the Pink Zeo Ranger. Zordon said the morphing energy does that on purpose, an added way of hiding my identity. Of course..." she waved her gloved hand at the miniskirt. "Its obvious I'm a girl because for some stupid reason the morphing energy differentiates between genders."
"Wow," Xander said in clear shock. He looked at Buffy. "Your little sister is a Power Ranger?"
"Apparently," Buffy answered. "Surprised me at first too."
"I knew Zordon back before I became a Vengeance demon," Anya said.
"You knew, Zordon?" the White Zeo Ranger said clearly surprised.
"I was at one time the Yellow Ranger," Anya replied. "Then I stepped down, got married, cursed my former husband and became a Vengeance demon."
"Interesting," the White Zeo Ranger said. She looked at Buffy. "How do we find this Harmony?"
Harmony's Lair
"All right, once again, nice work, minionators," Harmony commented. "I'm really, really proud of you guys. Ah, Mort. I trust you made our guest...comfortable?"
"You told me to chain her to a wall," Mort replied confused.
"Yeah, I know, I'm being, you know, sarcastic or whatever? Anyway...I'm feeling really good about this new plan, people. I think it's a winner."
"When do we eat the girl?" Cyrus asked.
"We don't," Harmony informed him. "Not yet."
"Why not?" Cyrus asked.
"Because! That's not the plan! Do I have to go over the plan again? We use the girl as bait. We send Buffy a note-"
"More notes?" Peaches taunted.
Harmony ignored him. "We send Buffy a note, telling her that if she wants to see this girl again, she has to come alone to a place we choose. She comes, we jump her, we kill her."
"So, it doesn't really matter if we're actually holding this girl, just as long as she thinks we are," Mort pointed out. "She'll walk into the trap."
"I guess," Harmony agreed.
"So, it won't make any difference if we eat the girl now," Cyrus added.
"We're not eating the girl." Harmony reaffirmed.
"Why not?" Peaches asked.
"Cause! That's not the plan," Harmony replied.
Restfield Cemetery
"Hello?" Buffy said as she answered her cell phone. "What is it, Will?" She frowned. "You're sure? We'll find her." She ended the call and then turned toward the White Zeo Ranger. "Tara and Willow were on their way back to their dorm. Willow was knocked out; Tara was taken by Harmony."
"Then we need to find them," the White Zeo Ranger told her sister. "Who might know where Harmony might be?"
"I can think of one person," Buffy said. "A vampire, the government implanted a chip in his brain last year. He can't bite anyone anymore without serious pain. Before they did it, he was dating Harmony."
Spike's Lair
Spike was fiddling with the antenna on a 19-inch TV set. He had been trying to watch an old B&W movie on the TV. "Bollix! Going to have to pinch me one of those satellite dishes," he said as his crypt's door made a SCRAPING sound as Buffy stormed in. "Well, well… speaking of dishes," he said coolly. "To what do I owe this unpleasant—" That was when he saw her walk-in behind Buffy. "Who's this?"
"White Zeo Ranger," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "White Zeo Power Sword!" she called out as the sword was beamed into her hand.
Buffy punched him in the nose, then grabbed him by the lapels.
"Ow! Bloody hell!" Spike yelled in pain grabbing his nose.
"From what I've told my new ally's little weapon is very effective against vampires," Buffy told Spike. "So, we need information and we don't have time to banter with you, Spike. Where's Harmony's lair?"
"Haven't seen her in months. How should I-?" Spike said as Buffy punched him in the nose again. "Ow!"
"Next time, I let her start chopping off limbs," Buffy told the vampire. "Where is she?"
"At least lay off the nose," Spike retorted as the White Zeo Ranger hefted the sword ready to swing it at one of his legs. "Okay, okay… Used to have a cave in the north woods," he informed the two women. "About forty meters past the overpass construction site."
Buffy let go of him and he relaxed. Then she popped him one in the nose again.
"Ow!" he yelled. "I'm telling you the truth!"
"We know," the White Zeo Ranger replied as she and Buffy left.
Harmony's Lair
"They don't respect me," Harmony whined to her prisoner. "They pretend they do, but deep down they think I'm nothing. I mean, I'm the one who put this group together. Me! But they treat me like I don't even matter. Do you have any idea what that feels like?"
"A little," Tara answered.
"They have no idea how much pressure I'm under. I have to make all the hard decisions. And it's hard!" Tara gasped just then, causing Harmony to turn around and see that her minions had entered the cell area. "Excuse me, I didn't hear anybody knock."
Mort stepped forward, electing to be spokesperson. "We've been talking it over, and we decided we don't like this plan."
"Except for Brad. He abstained," Peaches added scornfully.
"Oh really? You have a plan you like better?" Harmony challenged.
"We're going to feed on the girl and kill you," Mort informed her. "Maybe not in that order."
"I don't think I like your attitude, Mort." Harmony turned to the others. "Kill him for me," she commanded. None of them moved. "All right. You're all on my list." she backed away as they advanced. "This isn't fair. Okay, so things haven't been perfect. I just need a little more time to grow into my leadership role."
"Time's up," Mort declared grabbing her by the throat. Cyrus walked toward the prisoner.
"Touch me and the slayer's going to kill you," Tara informed him.
Cyrus laughed, then reached forward and poked her. Nothing happened, causing more laughter, this time from them all. He poked her again.
Abruptly, an arrow from a crossbow planted itself in his chest. He turned to ash, making the minions turn around and back away from Harmony.
Buffy saluted with her crossbow. "Can't say she didn't warn him."
"And you didn't like the plan," Harmony muttered to Mort. "So, slayer, at last we meet."
"We've met, Harmony, you halfwit."
"I'm the halfwit? Um, excuse me, but look who's fallen into my—" she broke off as Peaches rushed forward, attacking Buffy with a large axe.
The White Zeo Ranger stepped out of the shadows. "White Zeo Power Stakes!" she called out as her stakes beamed into her hands. She tossed one to Buffy.
Buffy ducked under his swing and staked him. He immediately erupted in flames before turning to dust. "Kind of overkill," she told her sister.
"Trap," Harmony finished defeatedly.
"The stakes aren't made of wood, Buffy," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "So Zordon made sure they would light the vampire on fire."
"Harmony," Buffy countered, stepping towards her and Tara, "when you tried to be head cheerleader, you were bad. When you tried to chair the homecoming committee, you were really bad. But when you try to be bad ... you suck."
Mort, swerved behind the White Zeo Ranger, and struck her. She rolled out of the way and turned to face him. She smirked as she traded blows for a while, until he caught her off guard and grabbed her by her neck. Taking advantage of the raised height, the White Zeo Ranger smirked and drove her stake into Mort's chest. He burst into flames before turning to dust.
Wisely, Harmony chose to split. Buffy watched her leave, then stepped forward and untied Tara. "Sorry, about that," she apologized to her friend. "I hope they didn't rough you up too much."
"No," Tara replied. "Who's your friend?"
"Power Down!" the White Zeo Ranger called out as a flash of light obscured her for a second. When it was gone Tara saw Dawn standing in her place.
"Your sister?" Tara said in shock.
"Yep," Buffy replied.
Summers Home
Dawn beamed herself and Buffy into the kitchen moments before Joyce walked in from the dining room dropping her keys on the counter and taking off her coat. "Sorry it ran so late. Everything go okay?" Joyce asked looking at Buffy.
Dawn looked worriedly at Buffy, who hesitated. "Yeah. Got the vamps, and we, uh, watched some TV," Buffy said telling her mom a half truth.
Buffy understood now why Dawn had been telling her half-truths before she had realized the full truth. In this case it would be better if Joyce didn't know that both of her daughters were in the demon fighting business. Joyce already had to worry about her, she didn't need to be worrying about Dawn as well.
"Well, at least one of us is supposed to be in bed by now," Joyce said looking straight at Dawn.
Dawn smiled as she kissed her mother on the cheek before looking at Buffy. She flickered her eyes to the ceiling and Buffy nodded in understanding. She then turned and headed for the stairs.
Buffy retuned to looking at her mother as Joyce opened the fridge. "So how was the exhibit?"
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Ten minutes later Buffy stepped into her sister's bedroom.
"Thank you," Dawn said. "For not telling mom."
"There would have been no good to come from it," Buffy replied with a sigh. "She would just start worrying about you all the time. The only reason I was insistent on you telling the guys was because they can help you just as they help me."
"That makes sense," Dawn admitted. "After all, in Angel Grove I had Zordon and Alpha Five. Here it's just me. Giles could be Zordon for me. With your friends being Alpha Five."
"Exactly," Buffy agreed. "Just out of curiosity. Are the weapons the extent of what you get from being a Power Ranger?"
"No, when morphed I have increased strength, agility, reflexes. And I take very little damage," Dawn explained. "After all Power Rangers are meant to fight things like the monsters King Mondo sent out in Angel Grove. Basically, I'm equivalent of a Slayer when morphed."
October 5, 2000
The Magic Box
"Are you sure about this?" Buffy asked Giles as he surveyed his new purchase.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Giles asked.
"Well, aside from the fact that most magic shop owners in Sunnydale have the life expectancy of a Spinal Tap drummer ... and, have you ever run a store before?" Buffy answered.
"I was a librarian for years. This is exactly the same, except that people pay for the things they never return. This will give me focus. Increase my resources. And it'll keep you lot from trampling all over my flat at all hours, there may even be space for you to train in the back."
"Boy, you've really thought this through," Buffy told her Watcher. "How bored were you last year?"
"I watched 'Passions' with Spike," Giles replied. "Let us never speak of it."
"Well, let's look at the back," Buffy replied with a brief glance at Dawn. She turned and followed Giles into the back.
Dawn smiled. "It's Morphin' Time! Zeo Ranger Six White!"
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The White Zeo Ranger beamed into the back room in front of Giles and Buffy. "It is time, I reveal myself to you, Mr. Giles," she said. "As Buffy told me yesterday it will help having a support network. And that includes revealing my identity to that network."
Giles looked at the Power Ranger with a raised eyebrow. "I was under the impression that Power Rangers were under strict guidelines not to do this."
"Under normal circumstances that is correct," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "In my case. I have no support in Sunnydale. It is just me. Zordon's attention is directed toward the threats aimed by the Machine Empire to Earth. He cannot provide me support if I need it. Which is why when Buffy figured out who I am, she insisted I tell her friends, including you."
"You have my word, your identity will be kept in the strictest of confidence," Giles told the White Zeo Ranger.
"I know," the White Zeo Ranger replied. "Power Down!"
There was a flash of light that obscured the Power Ranger from view for a moment and when it was gone Giles saw Dawn standing in her place. He looked at Buffy. "Your sister?"
"My little sister," Buffy answered. "Seems she was approached in Angel Grove to be the Pink Zeo Ranger. When dad sent her to live with me and mom. She had to give up the Pink powers."
"But Zordon knowing what is in Sunnydale, namely the Hellmouth and the vampires and demons that flock here, wasn't about to send even a former Ranger here without protection," Dawn said taking over the explanation. "So, he created a new Zeo crystal. Zeo White. With weapons that can be used against the forces of darkness."
Summers Home
"Morphing log," Dawn said as she talked into her tape recorder. "Zordon, Buffy found out. And she insisted I reveal myself to her friends and her Watcher. So that I could have the support network I need to help my sister against what she has to face. After all, as the Pink Zeo Ranger, I had the support of my team mates, you and Alpha Five. Here I have none of that. I'm alone. I have guarantees from everyone they won't reveal my identity, especially to my mom. Buffy was insistent that mom not be told and I agree. With Buffy being the Slayer mom already worried about her. There is no need to add to it. But it means any time I go out on patrol I have to be creative or mom could find out. Good night, Zordon."
Dawn smiled as she ejected the tape and then placed it on the floor in front of her. She then hit the button on her wrist communicator that initiated the beaming sequence and the tape was beamed straight to the Power Chamber in Angel Grove.