Author's Note: When we come to the soul swap. It will be like the following. Body/Mind.
Chapter 6: Enter the Demon Part 2
October 19, 2001 – Friday
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe/Paige put on her best face of concentration, stood on the fourth step of the basement stairs and jumped, attempting to levitate but failing miserably.
"I take it that you are trying to practice Phoebe's powers, Paige?" Buffy said as she came down the stairs behind her daughter.
Phoebe/Paige nodded. "Yeah, but I can't seem to get the handle of it," she replied as she tried several more times to levitate, but to Buffy it looked more like she was trying to do stretching exercises instead.
"Concentrate." Buffy told her.
"What are you doin?" Cole asked from behind Buffy as he shimmered in unnoticed.
"She's working on her levitation," Buffy said.
"So, you've decided to make training your priority?" he asked sounding hopeful.
"Yes." Phoebe/Paige answered straight away. "Absolutely."
"Good. We'll pick up where we left off," he said walking towards her.
"Great." Phoebe/Paige agreed with a nervous nod. "Cool."
Buffy rolled her eyes wondering how Paige could be any more un-Phoebe.
"I'll throw a couple of, low voltage energy balls at you," Cole began watching her carefully. "You just try to avoid them."
"Energy balls?" Phoebe/Paige repeated incredulously. "OH!" she yelped when Cole threw one at shoulder, striking her then another at her backside. "AH!" she yelped jumping then spun to him. "Okay, now that's just rude. I am not having fun!"
"Fighting the Source isn't supposed to be fun," Cole shot back heatedly.
Buffy let out a sigh as she watched all this happening. She thought back on all her training with Giles and Angel, while not fun either, was not this extreme also.
"That's up pal!" Phoebe/Paige exclaimed. "You are not the Source and you do not treat your girlfriend this way," she reprimanded with narrowed eyes. "Murderers, demons, phone solicitors maybe, but not your girlfriend."
Cole frowned. "What's gotten into you?"
Buffy shook her head. "Paige."
"Mom means..." Phoebe/Paige said looking briefly at Buffy. "I told Paige how you've been treating me and she just thinks you're way out line, buddy."
Cole stepped closer to Phoebe/Paige and looked right into her eyes. "Phoebe you're the most important thing in my life. If I don't push you hard, I will lose you," he told her matter-of-factly.
Phoebe/Paige nodded and said gently but firmly, "Keep pushing her that way…..and you'll push her right out the door."
Cole frowned again. "What do you mean "her"?" he asked confused.
Phoebe/Paige looked at Buffy panicked. "I mean….me."
"You said her," Buffy gently reminded her daughter
"Did I, Mom?" Phoebe/Paige said feigning ignorance. "Well, I'm, I, I'm just very angry, you know, because….." she trailed off looking down, "Well, you tore my jog bra, Cole." She indicated the rip in the strap. "And now I just…..I have to go change," she said then walked up the stairs.
Buffy shook her head. "Cole, she did have a point," she told him. "Training to defeat the Source is important and we all should be doing it myself and Dawn included. But she is right also, you are pushing too hard. You don't throw energy balls at your girlfriend and expect her to remain your girlfriend. Besides wanting to train Phoebe 24/7 you're not allowing her to have a normal life."
Cole sighed. "I just worry, okay. I love her; I don't want to see anything happen to her." He shimmered out.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Paige/Dawn and Mason enter the herb shop and she began looking for the ingredient that Paige had been missing.
"Uh, hmm. What is this place?" Mason asked noticing a jar of squids.
Paige/Dawn sighed as she glanced at Mason. "I just gotta find some powdered toadstool. Ah, here it is.," she said as she took a bag out of a basket.
"Okay, I-I gotta warn you. I'm not into the whole herbal scene."
"Oh, neither is Paige, I don't think," Paige/Dawn said.
"You always talk about yourself in the third person like that?" Mason wondered.
"Uh…" Paige/Dawn said trying to come up with an excuse. "It's kind of a character flaw."
"So what's the toadstool for?" Mason asked.
Paige/Dawn smiled. "It's an aphrodisiac," she said as she walked over to the counter.
"Really? My Dad was right. He said you were, uh, unique. I believe is the word he used," he said.
Paige/Dawn smiled. "Oh, yeah? What else did he say about me?"
"He said that if he doesn't hurry up and make a social worker, you'll probably quit and start your own agency. That or end up in jail. He wasn't sure which," Mason answered.
Paige/Dawn nodded. "I could see that," she said as she paid for the powdered toadstool. She looked at Mason and sighed. "I'm not showing you a very good time. Am I?"
"Well, I don't know," he said. "I mean we're in Chinatown shopping for a sexual stimulant. I'm surrounded by chicken claws and goat brains. I haven't this much fun in a long time."
"Neither have I," Paige/Dawn said with a smile," she said as thunder clapped outside. "Uh-oh. Yen-Lo."
"Uh, what's that? Another aphrodisiac?" Mason asked.
"I got to go," Paige/Dawn said as she ran out of the store, leaving Mason behind.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"There is actually nothing in here on how to reach limbo." Piper sighed in frustration as she and Leo stood around the book. She turned to Buffy who was gazing aimlessly out of the attic window. Piper frowned. "Mom?" she called and Buffy jumped slightly.
"Yeah?" Buffy asked turning to Piper expectantly.
"You okay?" Piper asked walking a little closer.
"I just hate thunderstorms," Buffy said with a shrug.
Piper smiled. "Prue was the same way. But she loved watching the rain." She laughed. "Which is kind of weird if you ask me." She giggled then frowned. "But she only watched the rain when she was worried about something. And if it is one thing Prue took after you. Which means you're worried about something and don't say it's the rain itself."
"It's nothing really," Buffy said. In truth she was worried about Dawn. That her sister was out somewhere in the city alone with a man she didn't know all because she was in Paige's body.
"Un huh," Piper said not believing it for one moment. "What are you worried about?"
"Dawn, alright," Buffy said snapping at her daughter. She walked out of the attic leaving her daughter, An'ling and Leo watching her departure in complete confusion.
Leo glanced at An'ling and frowned. "Should you have that water up here?" he asked in regards to her small bowl of water. "What if Yenlo uses that as a portal?"
"It's okay," An'ling assured him. "The surface if too small for him to enter."
"So….what are you doing?" Piper asked walking towards An'ling.
"My father could use water as a looking glass into other worlds." An'ling explained then smiled. "Once, when I was young, he reached into a bowl of water and picked me a plum from the Garden of Eden."
Piper and Leo smiled sadly at her, seeing her conflicting emotions shinning behind her eyes as she tried not to cry.
"Can you see your father now?" Leo asked curiously.
An'ling's smile disappeared. "No," she answered tightly placing the bowl of water back down again. "I only see water. I, I wish he were here. He'd know what to do."
"Since we have yet to hear back from Willow, I better go check with the Elders. Maybe they can help us reach Limbo," Leo suggested then orbed out.
"Sometimes I think Yenlo was right," An'ling said sadly. "My father made the wrong choice. Yenlo was always the better student."
"Oh, I doubt that," Piper said as An'ling laughed lightly. She took a seat across from the other woman. "You beat him in battle," she pointed out gently.
"But I didn't kill him. I made him stronger," An'ling countered, anger towards herself and Yenlo evident. "Strong enough to remove my father's magic and wisdom from the world. I don't feel worthy of following in his footsteps."
Piper sighed as she looked toward the door that Buffy had exited out of just moments earlier. She reached out to grasp An'ling's hand from across the table. She smiled at her sympathetically. "It's hard," she said sadly. "I understand. I recently lost my big sister who was…pretty good at just about everything she did. And as you know, mom, she was reincarnated. She only recently came back into our lives, after Prue died when we learned about Paige. You see she died when we were very young and then our father left," she told An'ling. "Prue tried to fill some pretty big shoes. We had our Grams of course, but Prue she felt that she had to be the mommy and the daddy to me and Phoebe. When Prue died, I was lost. It was Aunt Dawn that helped with that. And now I'm kind of doing the same trying to fill some pretty big shoes."
"So Dawn helped you to…"
"Fill those big shoes," Piper said. "Not really, she helped me to realize though that no one can fill those big shoes. What Aunt did…well Aunt Dawn is the most supportive, loving, caring young woman I've ever met. And I am very proud to consider her my aunt. My advice to you, if you need someone to talk to. Aunt Dawn is a very good listener and she too has been through exactly what you and I have."
"How so?" An'ling asked confused.
"About six months ago," Piper sighed. "Aunt Dawn lost mom. Mom died for her sister so that Aunt Dawn didn't have to. A very powerful witch brought mom back, ripping her from heaven. But for five months Aunt Dawn didn't have her sister."
"Where did she find the strength?" An'ling wondered.
"She never did," Piper sighed as she remembered what Dawn had told her of the months Buffy had been dead, of the suicide attempts. "Mom doesn't know this, and I don't intend to tell her. But Aunt Dawn she tried to kill herself to be with mom." An'ling looked at her in shock. "The attempts never succeeded of course, because she remembered her promise each time."
"What promise?" An'ling asked.
"For her to be brave, to live," Piper said. "There was this whole speech mom gave Aunt Dawn. Aunt Dawn said it was the only thing that truly kept her going. She told Aunt Dawn that she loved her. Told her that what she was about to do, she had to. She said to tell a Mr. Giles, who used to be a mentor of my mother's that she had figured it out and that she was okay. She told Aunt Dawn that she had to take of their friends, that they had to take care of each other. She then told Aunt Dawn that she had to be strong, that the hardest thing in this world is to live in it. She then made Aunt promise to be brave, to live for her."
An'ling smiled at Piper and nodded. "Thank you," she whispered as tears came to her eyes.
Piper smiled back and brushed some hair from An'ling's face. "You're welcome. Come, on. With all this rain, we have to protect the house from Yenlo." She said as another batch of thunder struck. They all left the attic, neither of them noticing the puddle of rain water beside the window. Seconds later Yenlo jumped up through the water, looked around the now deserted attic and smirked.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Paige/Dawn came running through the Manor's front door, purse clutched tightly to her chest, hat on her head and raincoat pulled tight. She placed her purse down on the table and fished out the bag of toadstool, oblivious to Yenlo creeping down the stairs to her left, stopping in his tracks when he laid eyes on her, watching silently.
Paige shook of her coat and pulled her hat down, turning to her right and crashing right into Cole. "AH! Cole, you scared me."
"Sorry," Cole apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to."
Yenlo crouched down further hiding himself from view and listening intently.
"With the rain outside and everyone on Yenlo alert…" Cole continued casually leaning against the doorpost.
"Yeah Yenlo," Paige/Dawn agreed. "That's why I rushed home."
Yenlo pressed his palm down against his now bleeding wound.
Cole walked towards her. "You're chilled," he stated. "Here. Put this on," he instructed shrugging off his own coat.
Paige/Dawn took a large step backwards. "Eh….you keep it."
Cole shrugged it back on. "I'm sorry. Am I making you uncomfortable?" he asked trapping her between his body and the wall.
Paige/Dawn frowned. "No. of course not," she answered tersely. "I was just wondering what Phoebe would think about this."
Yenlo saw that they were distracted and swiftly moved from the stairs and around the corner.
"Phoebe?" Cole questioned puzzled.
Paige/Dawn placed one hand on her hip, glaring at him. "Yeah, your girlfriend, Phoebe. Remember?"
Cole sighed. "Yeah, you see the problem with Phoebe is, she's so obsessed with training, she's not interested in romance anymore. You on the other hand," he said, "strike me as being full of passion. Desire. I miss that."
Paige/Dawn stared at him in disgust then pushed him away. "I got to go." But Cole grabbed her, pinned her to the wall and kissed her passionately just as Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe came down the stairs.
"HEY!" Dawn/Phoebe yelled eyes wide in surprise.
"How could you do this?" Paige/Dawn demanded angrily.
Cole held up his hands. "Oh, come on. I'm just trying to have a little fun, Phoebe," he defended casually. "Isn't that what you were complaining about me not doing?" he asked smugly.
"Did you just call me Phoebe?" Paige/Dawn asked when she realized what he had called her.
"Would you rather I kissed her?" he asked pointing at Phoebe/Paige.
"I don't think Phoebe would want you kissing Paige while she is in Phoebe's body," Paige/Dawn said.
"Aunt Dawn is correct," Dawn/Phoebe said as Cole's eyes went wide in realization at the fact he had assumed incorrectly that Phoebe was in Paige's body. "
"How do you know?" Paige/Phoebe wondered before answering her own question. "Probably the same way Mom does."
"Buffy knows?" Paige/Dawn asked as Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe nodded.
"Who is Kendra?" Dawn/Phoebe asked.
"She's the Slayer called after Buffy drowned in the Master's cave. She is Faith's predecessor," Paige/Dawn said. "Cole, you want to answer Phoebe's question?"
"Well, one thing," he said simply as he looked at Phoebe/Paige, "you suck at levitating. And for another, both you and Buffy set me straight about the way I've been treating the real Phoebe as only a sister and a mother could."
Dawn/Phoebe smiled. "You did?"
Phoebe/Paige shrugged. "Someone had to. And apparently I wasn't the only one."
"Okay, I'm going to go," Cole announced. "Let you guys work this out. When you're yourself again, give me a call." He went to smack Dawn/Phoebe on the rear and then thought the better of it. After all Phoebe was in the body of a teenager who's big sister was the Slayer and he really didn't want to piss Buffy off. "We'll have some fun." He shimmered out.
Paige/Dawn turned to Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe. "Okay, we've got to get back into our own bodies," she said determinedly. "I am even getting confused."
"PIPER, LOOK OUT!" they heard An'ling shout from the kitchen followed by a loud crash.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"PIPER!" Buffy yelled and ran towards her.
Yenlo turned and slashed her on the stomach with his sword, spinning her around and backwards.
"AH!" Buffy screamed as the blade sliced her flesh and she hit the ground.
Yenlo turned his sword on An'ling who drew the Dragonblade, tilting it from side to side until it glowed green. His smirk faltered. "The Dragonblade," he stated before lunging and they began fighting again.
Paige/Dawn Dawn/Phoebe and Phoebe/Paige came running round the corner and into the kitchen to see both Buffy and Piper down and An'ling engaged in a sword fight with Yenlo.
"PHOEBE STOP HIM!" Piper yelled pointing at Yenlo as he slashed An'ling's forearm, causing her to cry out in pain and drop the Dragonblade.
Phoebe/Paige jumped into the air, Yenlo ducked anticipating a kick, but instead she started spinning around in a circle.
Buffy and Piper frowned while Dawn/Phoebe groaned. Yenlo smirked flipped backwards over Buffy and disappeared into the sink water as Paige/Dawn grabbed Phoebe/Paige and pulled her down to the ground.
Paige/Dawn's eyes went wide at the wound she hadn't noticed until now in her sister's side. "Buffy," she whispered knowing her sister's Slayer hearing would pick it up.
"I'm okay," Buffy said as she smiled at Paige/Dawn.
"LEO!" Piper yelled sharply and he appeared instantly. "An'ling's hurt," she informed him. "Mom too," She nodded at her mother.
Leo's eyes widened and Buffy waved her hand dismissively, "I'm fine," she said. "Slayer, remember?" She looked at the kitchen table. "I think we need a new kitchen table though."
"In this house that's nothing new," Piper said. She rounded on her two younger sisters looking beyond pissed off. "You two." She pointed at Paige/Dawn and Phoebe/Paige threateningly. "Follow me!"
Paige/Dawn was hesitant to leave her sister. "I'm okay," Buffy repeated. "Go see what she wants I'll be there in a minute."
Paige/Dawn resignedly nodded as she led Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe out of the kitchen as they followed Piper to the sun room.
"Alright!" Piper exclaimed as she spun on her family. "What the hell is going on?" she demanded tersely.
"I was soaking some potion pots in the sink and…..forget to drain them." Paige/Dawn answered sheepishly.
Piper shook her head. "That is not what I mean. I smell something witchy. Phoebe, what is wrong with your powers?" she demanded, her anger increasing when Phoebe remained silent. "Phoebe?" she tried again.
"Uh…..I'm over here," Dawn/Phoebe said sheepishly raising a hand in the air.
Piper frowned, her eyes skirting over to her now youngest sister, looking very puzzled.
"Don't get mad at Phoebe or Aunt Dawn," Phoebe/Paige jumped in to defend Dawn and Phoebe. "This is all my fault."
"Yeah but Paige, Phoebe and I agreed to keep it secret," Paige/Dawn argued.
"Yeah but I was the one who messed up the potion. I wasn't concentrating, I just guessed," Phoebe/Paige argued back. "You tried to stop me, remember."
Piper her gaze went from her sisters to her aunt and back again in utter confusion by what was going on. "Oh. My. God!" then came the anger.
"Oh my god what?" Buffy asked as she walked towards them.
"Are you okay?" Paige/Dawn asked looking her sister up and down.
"I'm fine, Dawn," Buffy said as she smiled at her sister.
Piper shook her head. ""They, they switched bodies!" she exclaimed incredulously. "And you knew, mom?"
"I figured it out," Buffy shrugged. "Several things drew my attention to the fact that Phoebe, who is in Dawn's body, was not my sister. It was cinched when Dawn didn't know a key bit of trivia from my past. Now, I was letting Paige try and fix this on her own. It after all was an accident to begin with."
"Accidents like that get people killed," Piper said sharply, looking extremely disappointed. "We could've lost an innocent in there," she said pointing at the kitchen. "Or you, mom. What, what if it wasn't Yenlo? What if it was the Source that broke in?" she asked angrily. "They could've gotten us all killed!"
"Enough!" Buffy said loudly, placing her hands on her hips. She looked at Paige/Dawn. "Did you pick up the ingredient that Paige was missing?"
"Yep," Paige/Dawn answered.
"Once you three are back in your bodies. I have an idea," Buffy admitted.
Piper and Paige/Dawn looked at Buffy as a frown creased their faces in realization of what Buffy was thinking.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Alright, what else did you….?" Piper asked looking at Paige/Dawn; they were all gathered around the pot in the kitchen, then turned to Phoebe/Paige. "I mean you, put in this?" she corrected herself with a roll of her eyes.
"Just the powdered toadstool," Phoebe/Paige replied as she stopped stirring.
"Alright soul sisters, back in your own bodies," Buffy quipped as Paige/Dawn giggled.
Phoebe/Paige nodded and lifted up some powdered toadstool. Paige/Dawn took Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe's hands and together the three of them chanted, "I wanna be me again." Phoebe/Paige dropped the toadstool in the pot. The potion exploded and they jumped, their souls going back into the right bodies. Everyone watched on with baited breath, hoping that the potion worked and the confusion ended.
"Oh, it's nice to see you, Aunt Dawn." Phoebe said happily with a sigh of relief.
Dawn smiled. "Back at you, Phoebe," she said before looking at Paige. "And it's nice to see you, Paige."
"It's nice to be seen, Aunt Dawn." Paige replied with a smile then she frowned. "God, what did you have for dinner?" she asked rubbing her stomach.
Dawn grinned. "Kung Pao Chicken, sorry." She apologized not sounding sorry at all.
"Okay. Not to cut this reunion short," Piper interrupted. "But we don't have a lot of time."
"Right," Buffy agreed with a nod. "So, the only person who knows how to enter limbo is in limbo himself. And since we can't get to An'ling's father down there, my plan is to bring him up here. Or at least his soul."
Leo frowned. "Wait, you want to swap souls with An'ling's father?" he asked seeking confirmation.
Buffy turned to her son-in-law. "He's the only one who knows how to get in. Besides, it's the best way to surprise Yenlo."
Leo shook his head, he didn't like the plan. "It's too risky. There's got to be another way."
"Willow couldn't find one," Buffy said. "And unless the Elders have any other ideas."
"They don't," he said regretfully.
"Then this is the only way," Buffy pointed out.
Paige frowned. "Who's going to do it?" she asked looking between Buffy and Piper.
"I'll do it," Piper said firmly with a nod. Phoebe hesitantly held out the bowl of powdered toadstool to her. Sher took a deep breath, taking some into her hand. She was about to drop it in the bowl when Buffy caught her arm. "Mom?"
"You might need the Power of Three," Buffy said with a sigh. "If you are in his body then you won't have access to your powers. And as we saw with Paige when she was in Phoebe's body…"
Piper sighed in understanding that An'ling's father would not be able to contribute to the Power of Three.
"I don't like it, Buffy," Dawn instantly objected. "If something happens I'll lose you again."
"You both have good points," Piper sighed looking between her mother and her aunt. "On the one hand we might need the Power of Three, but on the other we risk losing you, mom."
Buffy looked at her sister for a few moments. "Can I have a moment with my sister?" she asked as Phoebe, Leo, Piper and Paige nodded. She led Dawn out of the kitchen. She looked at Dawn as she sat down at the dining room table. "Tell me what happened during the summer."
"I can't, Buffy, I love you, you know that. But this, I can't, I'm not ready," Dawn said.
"Does it have to do with why you went from…"
"Being a brat to the way I am now?" Dawn asked. "Somewhat."
"Okay, I'll give you time. But know this I am here for you. Okay? Just like you were here for me when I came back. Whatever it is, I will be there, okay?" Buffy said as Dawn nodded. "Now how would you like to come rescue your big sis?"
Dawn smiled as she wrapped her arms around her sister. "That would be a change," she admitted with a chuckle. They turned and walked into the kitchen and saw everyone was waiting for them.
Buffy took the powdered toadstool from Piper. "Before I do this, know that I'm not leaving any of you, ever again. I promise," she said. She let out a sigh as she dropped the toadstool into the pot. "I want to be the Zen Master."
The white essence exited Buffy's body and it sank through the floor. Another essence rose up and entered Buffy's body.
Buffy turned sharply to An'ling then to Dawn and smiled. "You have a very brave sister."
"I know," Dawn said as she smiled.
"Father?" An'ling asked hopefully.
Buffy/Zen Master turned back to An'ling. "Yes, An'ling, I'm here. We don't have much time," she said with a small smile. "Where is the Dragonblade?"
An'ling looked instantly ashamed. "I used it to fight Yenlo but he knocked it out of my hands." She turned and looked at Dawn. "Dawn, did you pick it up?" she asked.
Dawn's eyes widened ever-so-slightly and she shook her head. "No. Piper? Phoebe? Paige?" she asked and they shook their heads.
"Then, who has the Dragonblade?" Piper/Zen Master asked the silent room.
Limbo
Yenlo stared at the Zen Master/Buffy, playing with the Dragonblade in his hand. "What happened old man?"
"I don't know," The Zen Master/Buffy replied. "What happened?"
Yenlo narrowed his eyes. "I was telling you how I stole the Dragonblade from your useless daughter when you blacked out."
"I did?" he asked feigning ignorance. "I mean, I did. If you say so."
"Who are you?" Yenlo demanded pointing the Dragonblade at his neck.
The Zen master/Buffy eyed it nervously. "I…am one with the universe," he replied uncertainly.
Yenlo laughed. "You think you can fool me? I was his disciple for twenty years." He dropped the blade to his side. "An'ling doesn't have the power to switch souls," He mused aloud. "So you must be one of the witches," he concluded. "Which means that An'ling and her father will come to rescue you. The question is: how are they going to get your soul back, when I've got it?" he asked holding up the Dragonblade as it glowed green again and touching it to the Zen master/Buffy's chest, over the heart and sucking out the soul.
Halliwell Manor
"This is all we could find," Phoebe announced holding up the Dragonblade's case as she, Paige and Leo came running into the attic and over to Dawn, Piper, An'ling and Buffy/Zen Master who were crowded round the puddle on the floor.
"Then Yenlo must have the Dragonblade." Buffy/Zen Master concluded gravely. She waved her hand over the puddle and the body of the Zen Master appeared in it, She looked at Dawn sadly. "And used it to capture your sister's soul."
"What does that mean?" Dawn asked wide eyed. "How do we get Buffy back?"
"We need to get the Dragonblade away from Yenlo," An'ling answered Dawn.
"Okay," Dawn spoke again. "So what are we waiting for? Show us the way."
"I should go alone," An'ling insisted. "Buffy did this for me, to save my father's life."
"No," Piper, Phoebe and Paige said in unison. "She's not only Aunt Dawn's sister, but she's our mother," Paige continued. "Well all go." She smiled.
Dawn turned to Buffy/Zen Master, "We are not staying here, while my sister is in trouble. She's saved my life more times than I care to admit. She even gave her life for me. So it is time I repay the favor with the help of my nieces. So…." She gestured to the puddle, "….do your thing. Show us how to get to Limbo."
"Is that what you were fighting to save?" Buffy/Zen Master asked An'ling, "My life?"
An'ling smiled. "Of course, Father," she replied. "When we bring you back, their Whitelighter can heal your wound," she said gesturing to Leo. "He's a miracle worker. I've seen him." She smiled broadly.
Piper bit back a chuckle and raised her eyebrows at her husband. "You hear that, Leo? You're a miracle worker," she winked at him and he chuckled.
Buffy/Zen Master said nothing to that. "You are right," she said to Dawn and Paige. "We should all go but it is a different realm down there," she warned. "With new rules. Yenlo has had time to learn and adjust."
"Fine then, let's go," Leo said impatiently and Piper placed a calming hand on his arm.
Buffy/Zen Master turned to him. "If you go, you risk being pulled into the vortex. Who would heal our injuries?"
"She's—he's right Leo," Piper corrected herself quickly as Phoebe handed him the case. "You should stay here."
Dawn tugged on his arm lightly. "Don't worry, we'll bring my sister back," she told him, her voice filled with conviction and determination.
Buffy/Zen Master stepped forward and into the puddle, disappearing into it, followed by An'ling.
Dawn inhaled deeply, "I'm coming, Buffy," she said as she jumped in too.
"Okay, here goes nothing," Phoebe said as she jumped in. Paige screwed up her eyes and pinched her nose then jumped after Phoebe.
Piper smiled at Leo. "I'll be right back, with mom," she reassured her husband and he nodded. She then kissed him soundly before she she stepped up to the puddle. She looked over her shoulder, "Love you," she said and winked before disappearing too.
Limbo
Buffy/Zen Master, An'ling, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige stepped out of the misty smoke and into the vast land of limbo.
Dawn immediately noticed the Zen Master's unconscious body. "Buffy," she said walking past the rest and towards him, grabbing Phoebe's hand as she passed.
"The Dragonblade. Where is it?" Paige asked looking around the ground beside the Zen Master/Buffy.
"Quiet," Buffy/Zen master commanded gently.
"LOOK OUT!" Piper exclaimed as Yenlo appeared behind them sword raised. Buffy/Zen Master jumped and ducked while An'ling blocked the sword and kicked Yenlo. Yenlo quickly recovered, knocked An'ling off of her feet then flipped in the air, striking Buffy/Zen Master sending her flying backwards and towards the vortex.
"FATHER!" An'ling yelled as Buffy/Zen Master gripped the side of the opening so she wasn't sucked in completely.
"Welcome to my turf." Yenlo smirked. An'ling raced towards Buffy/Zen Master and tried to pull her back.
"Look! Yenlo's belt," Paige cried pointing towards the Dragonblade concealed there which instantly appeared on her outstretched hand in a swirl of blue and white orbs. "I didn't even call for it. It just happened."
"Our powers must be expanded here," Piper replied tensely watching Yenlo like a hawk.
Phoebe turned to Paige. "You get mom's soul, out of the Dragonblade. I'm going to keep Yenlo busy."
"Not alone, your not!" Dawn said firmly.
"Aunt Dawn?" Phoebe said shocked.
Dawn back toward Paige and the Dragonblade. "That's my sister, remember? Remember some of the stories we told? It's my turn to save her. You are not pushing me to the sidelines."
Phoebe glanced at Piper as if to ask, what should I do? "Two against one," Piper answered. "Better odds. She glanced at An'ling. "I'm going to held An'ling but…call if you need me okay."
"Oh it's you," Yenlo said in mock fear as Phoebe and Dawn approached. "Black belt Barbie."
Phoebe glared. "You're going to be sorry you said that," she warned him confidently.
Dawn smirked as she spun and with a roundhouse kick she sent him soaring backwards, dropping his sword. She reached down and picked it up testing the sword's weight. "Good blade. I think I will keep it." She looked at Yenlo. "That's of course if you don't mind."
Paige looked at the blade in her hands bewildered. "PIPER, WHAT DO I DO?" she asked, yelling over the sucking noise of the vortex.
Piper whipped her head round while pulling on Buffy/Zen Master's arm. "Uh…USE YOUR POWERS, PAIGE! ORB MOM'S SOUL!"
Paige closed her eyes tightly and orbed Piper's soul into her hand. "NOW WHAT?" she yelled.
"PUT IT BACK IN THE BODY!" Piper replied as she yanked on Buffy/Zen Master's arm. "Come on damn it!"
Paige closed her eyes and did as she was told. The Zen Master/Buffy gasped, opening his eyes. "Thanks for the lift, sweetie," he said then looked at the rope. "Untie me."
"We got to do something." Paige said as Phoebe was struck with a nasty blow to the side of her face.
"What?" the Zen Master/Buffy asked her. "I don't have my powers in this body."
"PIPER!" Paige yelled and Piper whipped her head around once more.
"WHAT?" she yelled back frustratedly.
"AUNT DAWN!" Paige replied pointing to Dawn as Yenlo kicked her off the rock and onto the ground.
Piper followed her hand and glared. "SON OF A BITCH!" she yelled and swung out her hand flicking her wrist. With the force of her explosion power she sent him flying off of the rock and across the ground.
Dawn smiled as she rolled over, Piper giving her enough time to catch her breath. Yenlo jumped to his feet and advanced on her and Phoebe.
Phoebe whispered into Dawn's ear and Dawn smile grew wider.
"OW! My ankle," Dawn cried gripping it tightly as Phoebe knelt next to her in mock concern. "I think it's twisted. I need a time-out."
Yenlo chuckled. "A time-out?" he repeated. "This'll be easier than I thought," he said grabbing the sword he had knocked out of Dawn's hands.
"For me too," Dawn muttered. "PAIGE!" she yelled behind her. Paige, catching on, orbed the Dragonblade into her hand.
Yenlo dived at Dawn and Phoebe as Dawn lunged forwards, stabbing him right in the shoulder sucking out his soul. Yenlo fell to the floor beside Dawn and Phoebe as the vortex disappeared.
"Well, thank god for that!" Piper exclaimed loudly. "It's about friggen time."
Dawn, Phoebe and Paige chuckled in amusement as their surroundings turned from dead and depressing to colorful and beautiful.
"Oh, my god, it's so beautiful," Paige mused as she and Phoebe came to a stop beside Piper. "What happened?"
"Beats the hell out of me," Buffy said walking down to Piper.
"Buffy!" Dawn shouted as she happily wrapped her arms around her sister.
"Hey, Dawnie," Buffy said as she smiled at her sister and returned the embrace. "You did good."
An'ling walked towards her father. "The natural order of things has been restored, including our souls," he explained addressing Buffy.
"But, how?" Buffy asked confused.
"You know the answer to that, Patty," the Zen Master said as he smiled at Buffy. "Since you have been here once before." Buffy looked around and then nodded, he was right she did know. "This was all a reflection on Yenlo's fears," he explained for the others, "of a man afraid of crossing over. In truth, this is a peaceful place, welcoming."
An'ling smiled taking his hand. "We need to get you home and heal your wound."
"No." The Zen Master shook his head. "I was mortally wounded. It is my time to die. To be reborn."
"Their Whitelighter can heal." An'ling persisted.
He shook his head again. "An'ling…you know better than to cling to the physical world, the way you clung to my hand at the bridge."
"But you're my father," she said fighting tears.
"I'm no grater or less than anyone facing death," he stated simply. "That's the only lesson that keeps you from being a true Zen Master," he informed her then looked over at Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige. "Death is a part of life. A transition, a rebirth. Something that you're young friends here, have had to learn far too many times," he said sadly.
"Go easy on her," Dawn said. "As someone who lost my mother and then briefly my sister all in the span of a few months. Loss can be a difficult thing to deal with." She then held out the Dragonblade which he took with a kind smile.
"Yes. Yenlo must be reborn too," the Zen master said calmly. "It is the natural order of things." He then began walking to the opening.
An'ling grabbed his arm. "I love you."
"And I'll always love you, An'ling," He replied sincerely.
"You picked that up from me didn't you?" Buffy asked.
"It is true though, just as true as when you told the same thing to your sister," the Zen Master said as then he continued walking.
Piper leaned over and whispered into Dawn's ear and Dawn nodded in understanding. Dawn broke away from their group to stand beside An'ling, not touching her directly but standing near enough that their hands brushed one another's', as An'ling watched her father disappeared. An'ling closed her eyes and grasped Dawn's hand tightly.
"Be brave," Dawn whispered softly to An'ling. "Live! For him!"
"Does anyone know how to leave here?" Paige asked with watery eyes.
An'ling nodded and smiled. "I think I know how to do it now." She held out her other hand for Buffy.
"One second," Buffy said as she removed her top leaving her topless except for her bra. She wrapped it around herself as a belt and then grabbed Yenlo's sword and stuck in the makeshift belt. She knew her sister had been joking, but she intended to gift it to Dawn anyways. The first weapon to go in Dawn's own weapon's chest. She turned and walked back over to An'ling and took her free hand. She then took Phoebe's who then took Paige's, who took Piper's. Dawn reached out to Piper with a tender smile. An'ling looked heavenward and they all rose into the air.
October 20, 2001 - Saturday
Golden Gate Park - Botanical Garden
"Aloe plant: medicinal uses," Dawn said as she, Piper and Paige walked down the path. She and Paige were listing off plants and their uses. "Taro root: magical herb."
"Saint-John's-Wart: medicinal herb," Paige said. "Ragged robin: magical herb."
"Cupid's dart: strictly aromatic," Dawn said as they approached a small picnic area.
"And that one?" Piper asked pointing at a particular plant. .
"That is angelica." Dawn answered.
"And it's use?" Piper pried.
"It's used mostly to flavor fish," Dawn answered amused. "I think we used that last night, Piper, when we made dinner."
Piper laughed. "Yes we did." She turned to her left, "They got every answer right!" she announced proudly to the rest of the family as Dawn and Paige took a bow. They all cheered.
"So, Paige, uh….what inspired the turnaround?" Buffy asked from her place on the picnic rug.
"Well…" Paige began as she, Dawn and Piper took their seats, "…I kind of liked the power boost I had in Limbo, so it kind of made me want to work harder, faster." She answered honestly.
"And what about you, Dawn?" Buffy said looking at her sister.
"I just want to make you proud of me," Dawn answered.
"I already am," Buffy smiled as she wrapped an arm around her sister, hugging her tight. "After all you saved me, remember?"
"I did," Dawn said as she smiled at her sister. "Didn't I. But you know what. I also want to do what you do. I want to help people. And it kind of made me want to work harder to control my powers."
"Don't be in too big a hurry, either of you," Phoebe advised from her spot. "Trust me, you want to fight like hell to keep a life separate from magic."
"Hear, hear," Piper and Buffy agreed.
"And having a guy around the house like Mason is not such a bad thing," Dawn added under her breath but loud enough for all to hear.
"Dawn?" Buffy said with a shake of her head.
"Two things, Buffy," Dawn said. "One, I'm gay. And two, I can look you know, there is nothing wrong with that."
"You liked him, Aunt Dawn?" Paige asked as Dawn shrugged. "That's too bad. He cancelled on me for tonight," she informed her aunt with a small glare. "He said I was, trying too hard and that I was not comfortable in my own skin." She folded her arms and Dawn laughed.
"So much for impressing the boss huh?" Leo quipped.
"Well, I can take comfort in the fact that he cancelled on Phoebe and not me," Paige pointed out with a smirk and a giggle.
"Hey," Dawn shot back throwing a piece of fruit at Paige.
"Buffy." Leo said. "I found out some information. The reason you have your powers and your memories is because of who you are. The Elders said they knew there was the possibility of your memories as Patty coming back. And they knew you would want to help Prue, Piper and Phoebe. So they weaved into your DNA, Patty's DNA. Till Willow's spell Patty's DNA only became active when she was summoned. With Willow's spell Patty's DNA became permanently active merging with yours completely."
"What about Dawn?" Buffy wondered. "Why does she have powers?"
"Because I was made from you," Dawn answered. "Remember? They used your DNA and blood. Which means…"
"You share part of Patty's DNA and blood," Buffy said in realization. "Which means like me you technically have two sets of parents now."
"Guess so," Dawn said as she hugged her sister tightly.
"Well, here comes your personal trainer from hell." Leo said to Phoebe as Cole approached the group.
"Literally," Piper added under her breath as Phoebe turned in his direction.
"Ooh," Phoebe said jumping to her feet. "Got to go. Hi," she said happily stopping in front of him.
"Wait a minute." Cole stopped her. "Who are you?" he asked as a joke.
Phoebe narrowed her eyes and pulled him down for a very passionate kiss.
"I know," Cole whispered huskily. "Dawn."
Phoebe gasped and hit him on the chest. "So what's in our training schedule for today?" she asked him seriously. "Lightsabers."
"Actually, I was thinking we could have a private picnic of our own," he informed Phoebe with a smile.
"But what about training?" Phoebe asked with a small smile. "I have to be ready for the Source."
Cole shrugged. " I know, but not right now." He smiled at her and she smiled back. "Right now, I was thinking I could take you to this great little picnic spot in the south of France," he said walking away with her.
"Really?" Phoebe asked excitedly.
"Really," Cole replied then kissed her slowly shimmering out.
Buffy smiled as she looked at Piper and Leo and then thought of Phoebe and Cole. The people they both love are not someone she would have chosen. Even her relationships in both lives ended badly. She and Victor got a divorce. She and Sam were forbidden. Angel and Riley both left her. Still she was happy her daughters had men that made them happy. Of course she thought it could be worse. They could be like Grams.
October 22, 2001 – Monday
Halliwell Manor
Over the weekend Buffy had done two things. One was to take Yenlo's sword to Xander, Leo had orbed her to Sunnydale. She had asked him to make a display case for it. The other thing she did early in the morning after Dawn had left for school was to go shopping. She found the perfect chest, and using profits she had acquired from when she had reopened the gallery in Sunnydale, she bought the chest.
Now Buffy looked at Dawn's room and smiled. At the foot of the bed stood the chest. She had filled it with some of her own supplies. And hung on the wall above Dawn's bed was the display case with the sword.
"Mom!" called Piper from downstairs. "She's home."
Buffy nodded as she looked out the window and saw Dawn coming up the sidewalk. "Send her on up," she called back. Within moments Dawn opened the door and stepped into the room.
"Hey, Buffy," Dawn said as she sat her books down on the desk that Leo and Piper had gotten for her.
"Take a look around and see if you can see what's different," Buffy said, though she was sure that Dawn already had seen both.
Dawn had seen the chest and the display case and sword. But she knew her sister wanted her to pretend to find them and be surprised. She was more than happy to oblige. "Wow," she said as she looked at the chest. "Nice."
"Open it," Buffy said. Dawn nodded and opened the chest and looked inside. "Stuff from my own supplies. You have your own weapon's chest now."
"Wow!" Dawn said as she smiled at her sister. "Thanks."
"Now there is one more thing," Buffy said as she waved at the display case. "It's not only meant as decoration. If you ever need a sword for anything. Well…"
"Thanks, Buffy, it's perfect," Dawn said as she hugged her sister tight.