Chaos Theory – Re-keyed. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Neon Genesis Evangelion/Stargate SG-1/Star Wars/Star Trek/Halo/Lord of the Rings Crossover...

Title: Chaos Theory: Re-keyed
Rating: PG - Language and Violence.
Genre: Crossover
Author: PitViper
Date (Epilogue): 2013-08-06

Summary: This is a BtVS/NGE/SG-1/SW/ST/LotR/Halo crossover. Based on the Halloween costume episode. Very AU. The Key's spell goes both forwards and backwards in time… what happens when it interacts with Ethan's Halloween?

Disclaimer: I don't own it, wish I did. I'm not making any money off of it – so please don't sue me. BtVS is the property of Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox. Neon Genesis Evangelion is the product of Gainax and ADV Films. Star Wars is owned by George Lucas. Stargate SG-1 belongs to Double Secret Productions and Sci-Fi channel. Lord of the Rings is the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and his family. Halo is owned by Bungie. And Star Trek is the property of Paramount Pictures (Who obviously understand nothing about Gene's vision of the future)

Chaos Theory: Re-Keyed

Epilogue: "When Snow Falls in the Sahara"

"Who am I?
What am I?
Is this all that I am?
Is there nothing more?"

-Introduction to the Autobiography: Dawn Summers: Who am I? Published June, 2013.

Our universe is defined by Moments. Moments of transition – Moments of birth and of death abound in this universe we call home. Moments of beginning… and Moments of ending: One Moment leads to the next; an irrevocable, unbreakable chain of Moments. And in this Sea of Moments, we often lose ourselves, our purpose, and our very being. And yet, it is within this Sea of Moments that we also find ourselves. We are, all of us, luminous beings – each experiencing the Moments that define who and what we are while we exist here – only to become lost and to start all over again. Such is the way of things, of the Universe, and even the Multiverse: we are simply the tools of understanding, each one of us a very small part of a much greater and, with luck, grander whole.

It is, therefore, not inconceivable that what we see here is only a tiny fraction of what truly exists. And that what exists now is not merely the sum of all that has passed before, and not necessarily an indication of everything that is yet to come. After all, chaos holds equal sway with order. Balance is what keeps the universe intact – allowing entropy to continue its eternal flow from beginning to end.

And while we may fear that the balance is an easy thing to disturb – we should have faith that it is not so simple a matter to destroy a universe. But we should always keep in mind, that destroying a thing is always much more simple than creating it.

And as these moments passed, one into the next, bringing with them such mundane and eternal thoughts: Dawn forced herself to focus on the present. The answers of her existence would not be solved in this moment, nor in the next. Perhaps, in one form or another, she had been contemplating this very thing – her existence – since the beginning of time. It certainly felt that way to the young woman in the cloying darkness.

Deep in her soul she felt the longing for her friend – for Xander. The memories from the Angelic device had disappeared like the phantoms they were – except for a few brief glimpses of the life that almost was. Those thoughts had been overshadowed by the truths revealed to her – but she couldn't help herself. She was a living, breathing, and thinking being. She wondered if she could be forgiven for longing for what could have been. It was a simple thing: so simple. But it was also infinitely complex: she wasn't human anymore. Perhaps she had never been human. It would have been so much simpler if Xander had accepted that and felt nothing towards her as well – treating her differently from her false memories.

But he didn't. He still treated her as Alexander Harris always treated her: as a person… as a human. Dawn squeezed her eyes shut in a vein attempt to force away the tears that would eventually fall. She had come to this place for that reason, after all: So that her tears could fall and so that the emotions associated with it could be released. Anything to relieve the pain in her heart, even if she no longer knew the source of that pain.

Xander knew though. She knew he did. She saw it in his eyes… haunted, passionate eyes. She saw her death through those eyes, and knew that he would rather die a thousand times than to ever see her die again. She didn't want a Protector! She wanted love! She wanted someone who would be a companion, a mate.

But Xander Harris would always be her protector. He had always been, in a way: Therefore he always would be. The White Knight – oh how cruel that was! Even if she didn't remember, she wished for all the universe that he would one day be hers.

"A Penny?"

Two quick wipes rid her face of the silent tears. In the darkness they were invisible – of course. But now the light from the open doorway splashed across the floor. No matter that she wasn't standing in the illumination – soft as it was – her companion would know she was there. She let out a self-conscious chuckle, "They aren't really worth that Xander."

"You're right, Dawnster, They're worth a lot more. But I don't have anything else to offer."

She whispered, "Then it's more than enough." She turned from her contemplation of the darkness to find Xander standing next to her. Her heart leaped, and before she knew it, her body was wrapped around his, and her tears no longer flowed silently. "It's not fair!"

Xander automatically began stroking her hair, holding her head in the crook of his shoulder. Her wings wrapped around him – as they had been countless times in the virtual world. "Nobody said it was, Dawn."

She pulled away enough to look up into his eyes, "Tell me about it? I want to know. I have to know." Her voice was a whisper that begged for an answer.

"I love you, Dawn." Xander started, immense sadness in his eyes. With a short sigh, he began. After all, he could never resist a direct request from her. "It started with us appearing in an empty plain of tall grass…"

The illumination in the room rose to a soft candlelight, and the door silently closed. Far off in the center of the city, the central computer went about its work, as an ancient and powerful intelligence prayed in silence that the harm done by his actions would one day be forgiven and that these two souls would be one day granted their peace.

Author's Notes:

Well, this is the end of Chaos Theory: Rekeyed. The first chapter in this story was written on October 2nd 2006. The Epilogue was written around the same time along with several other critical segments. :) Its been almost 7 years since I started writing this, and its been one heck of a trip. As you might be able to guess, I've got more planned. Getting to this point, through all the tough days and all the difficult moments when my muse refused to budge, has been hard but worthwhile. This is one of the few long-term stories I've been able to finish – but I'm not done yet. I've got the start of two more stories in this universe. The first is a direct continuation of this story, and picks up right where this one leaves off, building the forces that will eventually be required to face the 'Enemy'. The second is more of a bit of side-story, following a related branch. Both are part of the same universe and while they occur at different times they also are linked together.

I've also got plans for an original story coming up. I'm probably going to start posting some of it to Fiction Press in the coming months, as I doubt anyone would ever want to publish it – I'm just not good enough for it. Its a labor of love, and I'd rather share it with people who enjoy both reading and writing science fiction, fan fiction and fiction in general than to see if my terrible writing might actually make any money. Please remember, all reviews are welcome. Until the next post...

Later,
P.V.