TWO MONTHS EARLIER

Dawn woke as the sunlight streamed down from her window. She tried to cover her face with her covers. She wasn't ready to face the world. But still. She could hear the Buffy bot downstairs walking around like the Energizer Bunny. Dawn sighed and stood up. She slowly headed towards the bathroom ready to start another day. Willow and Tara had left for the day, so the house was all to herself.

A few minutes later the young girl walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. The Buffy bot looked at her with a big smile drawn on its face. "Good morning Dawn", it said cheerfully.

Dawn just waved the thing off. She had just gotten up and was not in the mood. The robot shrugged and kept walking around the house. The young brunette looked for her cereal and her milk when a stack of envelopes located on top of the counter caught her eyes. She grabbed the lot and looked at them. Most of them were bills and advertisement. But in all of the trash a letter was what really captivated her. It was a letter written to Buffy from the Camera company? It couldn't be from someone else. She did not know anybody named Nikon.

Dawn opened the letter and read it.

Dear Buffy

You are right. It has been a long time. But decoding the scriptures provided by Katarina is taking some time. Mary and I know the language but it is encoded somehow. I am sure Giles is having the same luck.

Concerning your enquiry about Glory. I sadly inform you of nothing. I know nothing of hell gods. That means that whatever the corrupt council has told you is probably true. But Mary and I believe in you. We are sure you will find a way to defeat her. Remember that hopefully, the Future Bliss is four years away.

I want to apologize because we have not come to your aid. Mary has been sick for the last couple of months. And if we did travel, it would take us weeks to reach you. You know that we would lay out lives for you in the given occasion. But misfortune has been upon us all, at these sad times.

Last but not least. Concerning The Key. I remember you talking about her when we first met. I found it odd at the time because slayers do not have sisters in the history of slayers. Or at least, I never found out. But now you tell me this girl is a mystical key capable of opening portals to other dimensions. Monks build her from you. They build memories on all who you know. Allow me to say wow! But that is not the issue.

The key. I did my research on this and it has history. The monks first of all were very clever in making her a human. She can think and do. But most importantly, she can feel. If so, she has a soul. That makes her human and your sister.

Second. The girl is capable of opening portals to other dimensions, places and different times. That is why she is human. She has the power to do it at will. The problem is she doesn't know it yet. If this god should wait a couple of years, she could will Dawn to open the portal for her. But the god ain't waiting. So… she is going to kill her. The problem is… well… I assume you know by now.

Third and most important. It is a theory, but I am 100 percent sure it is true. Slayer blood as you know is a powerful substance. It is different in every slayer, but mostly the same. It gives power to the vampire that drinks it, to the girl that has it circulating her veins. The master could emerge from his cave by drinking from you. Angel and I are quiet powerful because of it and as much as I hate to say it, so is Spike. Mary has made hers eternal and look at her. But that is not the point. My point is this. If the key is made from you. If Dawn has your blood circulating in her veins. It makes her a perfect target for a vampire. But it also makes her a potential slayer. I know it sounds farfetched but I am sure it is true. To prove my theory, borrow Giles's slayer handbook. Show your sister what you can do and let her try it. But try to explain it to her. I believe she is fourteen. She is young. So find a way to test her without her knowing. If she finds out she is a potential slayer…. well…. I am not sure what would happen.

I am still investigating more on Dawn and the key. Any news, I will write back. And remember. You can beat this god. There is always a way.

Take good care slayer.

Remember… don't die

Nikon

Dawn looked at Giles while he organized some jars behind the counter. Ever since Buffy's death, she ended up at his shop after school. It was better like that. He kept an eye on her. Dawn was writing ferociously on a notebook when she saw Giles looking at her. He smiled warmly and continued his work.

"Giles?", Dawn called on to him.

"Yes Dawn", Giles said fitting the jars into place.

"Do you know anybody named Nikon?", the young girl asked.

Giles stopped organizing for a moment. He thought his answer out. "Where did you hear that name?", Giles asked.

"I found a birthday card", Dawn lied as she focused on her schoolwork. "It was for Buffy".

Giles smiled to himself. "Nikon", Giles started. "Was a friend of Buffy's. He is an old vampire with a soul. He does research for us sometimes".

"So", Dawn rolled out. "If he were to provide you information concerning The Future Bliss, you would trust him".

Giles looked at the girl intensively. "What do you know about that?", he asked roughly.

"Nothing", Dawn said. "The card said something about him researching still and had found out nothing".

Giles sighed. "I am sorry Dawn", he apologized. "He is a good man. And The Future Bliss is something that has lost meaning all of the sudden". He than smiled at Dawn again. "But yes. If he provided any type of information, I would trust it".

"Ok", Dawn said shutting up. "It is good to know we have more friends".

Giles smiled and continued his work. Suddenly the door of the shop opened and a few strangers entered the place. They immediately started to look around. Giles stopped organizing the jars and attended the customers. Dawn at that moment saw her chance. She slowly got up and walked behind the counter. She slowly opened a drawer and searched for the book mentioned in the letter. Dawn looked at Giles. He was busy showing a couple some amulets displayed outside. Dawn kept on searching until a small book caught her eye. There it was. Dawn grabbed it and closed the drawer. She than headed back for her table. Dawn put the book in her bag and started writing again.

It was eight o'clock at the Summers home. Dawn had locked every single door and window. The young girl looked outside one more time
before she headed upstairs. Dawn entered her room and pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a black top. These are perfect she thought to herself. A few minutes later Dawn headed to the basement. Her bare feet pounded the wooden stairs as she made her way to the lower level of the house. Willow and Tara were gone. They were slaying with the Buffy-bot. The coast was clear for now.

Downstairs the girl found immediately what she was looking for. At the far corner of the room, a old punching bag was hanging from the ceiling. The brunette moved away the boxes to make space. She than headed back a pulled out a blue and cushioned doubled up pad. She extended and covered the corner with it. She than put sat down on the mat and crossed her legs. She moved her hair back and tied it up into a nice pony tale. She than, opened the book she had taken from Giles and started reading.

A MONTH LATER.

Dawn breathed deeply as she let her leg muscles extend completely into a split. She than slowly placed both hands in front of her. Using her arms as leverage, she lifted her upper body into the air. She focused on her breathing and the position as she extended her leg wide apart. Her hair obeyed the laws of gravity as it positioned itself right under her head. Dawn opened her eyes and looked at the book in front of her. She slowly controlled her breathing and put her entire weight into one hand. As her body teetered to one side slowly, she breathed in hard. She than stood still. She had to smile at herself at that moment. She had done it.

All of the sudden from above the door slammed. Dawn started to lose her balance as the distraction charged it's toll. She couldn't hold on much longer. She felt her body give way. A second later, she fell down hard on the mat. She quickly got up and placed the mat behind the punching bag. She than moved the boxes into place and headed upstairs. She saw her watch as she entered the kitchen and saw it was four a.m. The robot and the girls were back from patrol. Vampires were extending their outing hours. That meant that patrol extended itself way into the morning

Dawn calculated her escape and headed into the dinning room. She than proceeded to head for the hall and upstairs just as the Buffy bot entered the kitchen. Dawn assumed Willow would head towards the basement to get some tools. The bot needed constant repair because of the extended hours.

Dawn locked her room door and crashed on her bed. She looked at the bedside clock one more time before she fell a sleep.

The vampire growled at the young girl. Dawn stood her ground in the middle of the graveyard waiting for the beast to strike. This was the ultimate test. She had worked hard for this. If she was made out of Buffy, there had to be a reason. And this was the way to prove it.

The vampire lunged at her with incredible speed. At that moment, time seemed to slow down for Dawn. She saw the vampire try to grab her by the waist. She easily dodged out of his reach. As the demon passed by, she lifted her leg and slammed it down on the vamp's back. The vampire stumbled and tripped over a tombstone. He seemed to be upset. On the other side of the emotion chain. Dawn felt a rush of excitement. The vampire growled at her in pure rage. He walked up to her in a steady pace. He fired a right straight towards the little girl. Dawn easily blocked it and was ready for next one. The vampire wasted no time in firing a left uppercut. Dawn grabbed the arm and twisted it hard. The vampire screamed in pain as he knelt down. The next thing he saw was the brunette's knee crashing on his face. He was somewhat dazed now.

Dawn on the other hand controlled the beast well. She pulled the arm upward making the body of the monster flip over. She than twisted the arm again and kicked the vampire in the ribs. The vampire grunted in pain just as Dawn pulled out a stake from the black jacket she wore. The vampire watched in fear as the girl rammed the wooden weapon right through his heart. It exploded instantly.

Dawn looked at the dust that covered her black boots. She had done it. She felt a surge of excitement inside her. Than suddenly she stopped and listened. The air was not right around her. It felt thick. For some strange reason, she felt something not in place. She started to run. She sprinted rapidly out of the cemetery and into the streets of the town. It was almost two a.m. now. Dawn felt someone behind her. A few seconds later Dawn reached her house and rapidly opened the door. As she slammed and locked the door behind her she looked through the window. Nothing. The feeling was gone.