Buffy looked around as the portal closed up behind her. Darkness. Everywhere was darkness. Buffy was starting to regret not bringing a flashlight. She appeared to be in a cavern, as she could barely see the silhouettes of rock fragments and stalagmites. As she looked around more, she notice a dim glow at the end of the cavernous hall. Buffy had seen that glow all too many times before. Fire. What was it with creepy places and fire?

Buffy felt her way toward the light until it was bright enough to see her way. She was greeted by a large seemingly impenetrable door surrounded by candles. Buffy felt the smooth door with her hand, tracing the demonic designs with her fingers.

"Buffy, I presume?" She jumped, then turned around. It was an attractive black man with a long ponytail and a red leather suit. The suit looked like something from a video game, with an impossible amount of buckles.

"Im Dante. A dimension hopper of sorts. Been assigned by the powers to be your guide through this hell dimension."

"Dante huh? Can I really trust a guy named Dante?" Buffy giggled. "So Dante, what do I have to do? Fight a dragon, kiss a frog, and the like?"

"Not quite" Dante said, pursing his lips. "Though you are correct about one thing, the challenges you face will be great. Impossible for you and I to face alone."

"Hmm, did the powers forget to mention that I'm a slayer?" Buffy scoffed.

"Did they forget to tell YOU that the last slayer who went in alone... well... lets just say she died horribly and leave it at that." He grinned.

"So how the hell are we supposed to get through?" She asked, not wanting to wait another minute.

"The powers have selected at random four champions to help you on your quest for the keyblade. Well, five counting me, but I always come with the package."

"So, these champions. Anyone I know?" Buffy asked.

"Quite possibly. They can be plucked from any moment in time, from any universe." He said. "You could end up working with a six-eyed overgrown squid from narnia."

"Hmm, or a munchkin from the great land of Oz?" Buffy quipped. After she stopped giggling from her own joke, The door began to open.

"Ah, It seems they're done choosing. Why don't we go meet the fellowship, eh?" Dante said, leading the way into a giant atrium filled with beautifully carved marble statues of creatures she had never seen before, and quite frankly, didn't want to meet. Connecting to the grand room were six doors; The one they had just entered, as well as another huge door opposite of it, and two smaller doors on either side.

The first of the four smaller doors began to open, a radiant light much like the one she saw while going through the portal emanating from it. And out stepped...

"Spike?" Buffy said.

"Oh bollox. Where am I?" Spike said adjusting his black duster, his hair a little muddled.

"You okay, Spike?" Buffy asked.

"Long night. Looks to be getting longer. Are we in Peter Jackson's basement?" Spike said, looking around. Dante walked up to him and placed his hands on either side of his face.

"Hey! 'Least buy a bloke a drink first!" He yelped.

"Be silent." Dante said. "Im putting the jist of what we're doing in your head so I don't have to spend an hour re-explaining everything."

"Oh..." Spike said. Then he shuddered for a moment, as if a whole font of knowledge had invaded his brain.

"Ooooh, sacred mission. This should be fun." After Spike finished his statement, the second door began to open. And out stepped... Buffy? No not Buffy, the Buffy-bot from a few years ago.

"Hello real Buffy. We're very pretty." She giggled. "And Spike. I don't love you anymore. Willow said it was wrong! She's gay!" She said once again, with an inhuman amount of bubbliness. Dante placed his hands on her head and repeated the process.

"Oh my, we'll kill things! It's our job!" She giggled again. And then the third door opened. Out stepped Faith in a white tank and prison pants.

"What the hell?" She said as once again, Dante implanted his thoughts into her head.

"Anything to help, B." She said. All was quiet for a while, and Buffy checked her watch.

"Er... Umm... The Powers must not be clear on their last champion... yep... any minute now." Dante laughed nervously. A flash of light. The last door was opening.

"Xander? What's with the goth-boy look?" Buffy said, raising her eyebrow.

"Slayer..." He said, snarling.

"Im guessing this is one of them that aren't from our universe?" Buffy asked Dante.

"Either that or Harris finally grew a pair." Spike chimed in.

"No you're right. This Xander is a vampire, not from your world. Umm, Buffy, I might need your help on this one." Dante said.

"Already on it." She said slowly walking up to Vamp Xander.

"Oh, scary." He laughed, but Buffy decked him, changing his giggle to a slight whimper. Buffy then straddled him and made sure he couldn't move. "Okay, Devil-boy. Make your move."

Dante walked over and placed his hands on his head and did the same thing he had done to the others. But Xander's face flooded with unconcealable fear.

"What did you say to him?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, I just added what would happen to him if he defied the powers. Something involving a barbeque fork and his man parts." He laughed.

"Well, this is quite the motley crew isn't it?" Faith said, looking around. "So what do we do next?"

"Patience." Dante said. "The fun is about to begin."