Chapter 26: Becoming Part 1
May 10, 1998 – Sunday
Restfield Cemetery
The moon hung high in the darkened sky, casting an ethereal glow over the cemetery. Buffy and Dawn were battling five vampires as Nakamura watched from the shadows. Buffy twirled and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick, sending one vampire sprawling backward. She swiftly staked another vampire with precise accuracy, dusting it instantly.
Dawn gracefully dodged an oncoming vampire's attack. With a swift motion, she fired her crossbow, the bolt piercing through the vampire's heart and reducing it to ashes.
The remaining vampires lunged forward, their movements feral and vicious. Buffy and Dawn bobbed and weaved, striking with a lethal combination of punches, kicks, and stakes.
Dawn swung her crossbow like a weapon, using it to block an incoming vampire's fists before delivering a powerful blow to its jaw. Buffy seized the opportunity and swiftly plunged her stake into the vampire's heart.
As the final vampire lunged toward Dawn, its teeth bared in a savage snarl, she sidestepped the attack with a dancer's grace. She twirled around, her momentum building as she released a high-velocity kick that sent the vampire crashing into a nearby tombstone.
With one last, powerful swing of her stake, Buffy eliminated the last remaining threat. Silence descended upon the cemetery once more, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing and the distant howl of a lone wolf.
Buffy and Dawn turned and walked over behind a gravestone, where Buffy reached down to help Xander up.
Xander took hold of Buffy's hand, and Buffy pulled him to his feet. "I'm good, don't worry about me…" he said groggily.
"You know, you don't have to patrol with us," Buffy reminded him.
Xander rubbed his neck. "Hey, I had that guy under control until he resorted to fisticuffs," he said. "What is that: ten vampires in three nights?"
"Yeah and no Nakamura," Dawn groaned in frustration.
"Are you really that anxious to come up against him?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dawn shook her head and said, "I just don't want to sit back and do nothing while he's out there. Who knows what kind of damage he could do with his future knowledge? I came back to save you and our friends, remember? He could undo all of that if I wait to deal with him."
Buffy nodded in understanding. "I know you're worried, but we have to be careful. Rushing into things could make the situation worse. Let's come up with a plan and approach this strategically," Buffy suggested. "We'll make sure he doesn't cause any harm and change the future for the better. We better go." She sighed as they walked toward the exit of the cemetery. "I haven't even started studying for finals yet."
"Oh, yeah, finals," Xander groaned. "Why didn't you let me die?"
"Look on the bright side," Dawn replied. "It'll all be over soon."
As Nakamura watched Buffy, Xander and Dawn walk away, he smiled. "You will be mine again, my love," he said looking at Buffy. "I have plans in motion that will put you back on the path you should have been on if not for that bitch's interference and will remove her from this time period forever."
May 4, 2004 – Tuesday
One Year After the Battle of Sunnydale
Original Timeline
Sunnydale, California
Faith was fighting a group of Turok-Han and Bringers in a dimly lit alley. Her movements were quick and fierce, but she was clearly outmatched. Bruised and battered, she fought bravely, refusing to give up and refusing to let her charge die.
Dawn watched from the sidelines, fear and concern etched on her face.
"Dawn, stay back!" Faith grunted. "This is too dangerous!"
Dawn clenched her fists, torn between the desire to help and the realization that Faith was right. She wasn't a Slayer; she was barely a witch. In the time since she and Faith had been separated from Buffy and Willow, she had begun teaching herself magic from books they had liberated from the Magic Box in an attempt to harness the Key.
As Dawn watched Faith, a wave of determination washed over her. She couldn't let the woman she had come to love die. "No, Faith!" she said, her voice trembling. "I can't let you face this alone."
Summoning her strength, Dawn charged forward, delivering kicks and punches to the Bringers, letting Faith deal with the Turok-Han. Together, they fought side by side, their synchronicity a testament to the romantic bond they had forged.
However, the vampires prove to be relentless, overwhelming Faith with their sheer numbers. One Turok-Han managed to land a devastating blow, sending Faith crashing to the ground. She struggled to get up; her breath was labored. "Dawn," Faith said, gasping for breath. "Listen to me."
Dawn knelt beside Faith; her eyes filled with concern. "Faith, we have to get you out of here," she said as tears glistened in her eyes. "I can't lose you."
Faith's face softened, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips. "You've come so far, babe. It's time for you to embrace your destiny."
Dawn's voice quivered with emotion. "But I still need you, Faith. You're not just my protector, but my lover and my friend."
Faith reached up to Dawn's face and cupped her cheek. "I'll always be with you, Dawnie." She leaned in and pressed her lips to Dawn's, savoring the taste of her one last time. "But it's time—time to accept the destiny that was hidden within your blood by the monks who created you. Embrace your power. Become the Last Slayer."
Dawn's eyes widen in realization, tears streaming down her face. "No, Faith," she whispered. "Please don't leave me."
"You've got this, Dawn," Faith said, her voice growing faint, her strength failing her. "You're stronger than you know. I believe in you." With those final words, Faith's hand went limp as it fell from Dawn's face, her eyes stared lifelessly up at the sky.
Dawn clutched her girlfriend's lifeless body, grief washing over her. "Thank you, Faith, for protecting me, for being my friend and for being my lover," she sobbed. "I'll make you proud. I promise."
As Dawn rose to her feet, a newfound purpose showed in her eyes as she accepted the destiny that Faith had ignited within her with her death, the destiny of the Last Slayer. She turned to face the Turok-Han and the Bringers intent on avenging Faith, Buffy, Willow, Xander, everyone she had lost.
May 11, 1998 – Monday
Summers, Payne, Harris Residence
Dawn sat bolt upright in bed, her eyes wide as she looked around, trying to recognize her surroundings. Slowly, she realized she was at home in her own bed next to Faith. She let out a sigh of relief and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream that had jolted her awake.
"Dawn?" Faith said as she lifted her head and looked at her lover. "What is it?"
Dawn took a deep breath and replied, "I had a dream about when you died in the other timeline."
Faith's expression softened as she reached out to hold Dawn's hand. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere," she said reassuringly.
Dawn nodded, feeling comforted by Faith's words. "I know, but that fear it's still there," she admitted.
Faith squeezed Dawn's hand gently and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
Sunnydale Museum of Natural History
Giles walked into the research lab of the museum. There he spotted a large rectangular chunk of rock as a female technician ran a brush across it.
"Hello?" Giles called.
Dr. Doug Perren, one of the museum curators, walked toward Giles. "Rupert Giles?" he asked.
"Yes," Giles answered.
"Doug Perren," Perren said and he shook Giles' hand. "Thanks for coming."
"Oh, not at all," Giles stated. "I'm…flattered to be asked."
"I spoke with Lou Tabor at the Washington Institute, and he told me we had the best authority on obscure relics right here in Sunnydale," Perren told him.
"Oh…" Giles laughed. "He may have, uh, exaggerated a little." He looked toward the obelisk. "Is this the...?"
"This is our baby," Perren answered the unfinished question. "Construction workers dug it up outside of town," he informed Giles as they approached it, "you know where they're putting up those high-rises. I know there were Spanish settlers here from way back, we've found plenty of artifacts. But whatever's written on this…well, it isn't Spanish."
"No. Not Spanish," Giles agreed as he stared at it.
"Any ideas?" Perren wondered.
Giles looked the rock over. "A few. None I'd care to share until I can verify," he said as he noticed the runes on it. "You have, uh, carbon-dated it?" he asked as he inspected the writings.
"The results will be back in a couple of days," Perren answered. "I'll go out on a limb and say 'old.'"
"Um, yes, it certainly…predates any, uh…settlements we've read about," he said as he found a faint line running up the side. He motioned to one of the workers to hand him a brush. "Um, may I?"
"Yeah. Sure."
Giles leaned in and began to brush away the dirt. "You haven't tried to open it, I assume."
"Open it?" Perren asked as Giles pointed to the crack. He leaned over to take a closer look. "Ah, I'll be damned. I figured it was solid. What do you think is in there?"
Giles stared intently. "I don't know."
"Well...I guess we won't know until we open it up," Perren stated.
"If I could ask, um...would you wait? Let me work on translating the text. It might give us an indication as to what we'll find inside."
"You don't want to be surprised?" Perren asked in surprise.
"A-As a rule, no," Giles answered.
"All right. You're the expert. But I'm pretty damn curious, though."
Giles removed his glasses. "Yes. Yes, so am I."
Sunnydale High School
Faith sat at the table in the library, her gaze fixed on Chloe, her shoulders slumped with what Dawn had told her that morning.
Chloe leaned forward, offering a gentle smile. "Faith, is something wrong?" she asked with concern.
Faith sighed. Her voice was tinged with sadness. "Dawn had a dream last night. Or a memory replaying in her dreams. She dreamed of my death in the original timeline."
Chloe's expression softened as she listened attentively. "I'm sorry, Faith. That must have been difficult for both of you," she said sympathetically. "But remember, when it comes to you, we've already changed the timeline. Your fate is no longer set in stone."
"Tell that to Dawn," Faith said. "Something must be telling her that I could still die; why else would she be remembering that timeline now?"
Chloe nodded in agreement. "She's probably just worried about you. But we'll do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy, Dawn, Cordelia, Willow, and Oz sat in the cafeteria, eating lunch, as they listened to Xander recap the previous night's events.
"You can't sneak up on me!" Xander said, he used two fish sticks and a toothpick for the visual. "Tell Nakamura I'm going to kill him—no—wait—I'm going to kill you! Die! Die!" He made the toothpick wielding fish stick stab the other. "ARRGGHH! Mother!" He let the toothpickless fish stick fall to the plate.
"Is that it?" Cordelia asked.
Buffy nodded, taking a sip of her soda. "Yeah, that's just exactly how it happened," she confirmed.
"I thought it was riveting," Oz chimed in. "I was a little unclear about some of the themes."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "The theme is that Nakamura's too much of a coward to take me face-to-face."
Xander raised an eyebrow. "The other theme was 'Buy American,' but it got kind of buried," he added jokingly.
Willow raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you're ready to fight Nakamura?" she asked from where she sat in Oz's lap.
Dawn huffed. "Can everybody stop asking me that," she said. "Yes, I'm ready. I'm also willing and able."
"Buffy," Willow said, suddenly changing the subject. "Are we meeting in Ms. Calendar's classroom after school to rock on chemistry?"
Buffy nodded. "I'm ready to rock. I'll be there. Thanks for reminding me. It's the one test I might actually pass."
"Don't say that," Willow said, concerned. "You're going to pass everything. I'm going to get you through this semester if I have to sweat blood."
"Do you think you're likely to?" Xander asked. "Because I'd like to be elsewhere."
"It was only metaphoric blood," Willow informed him.
"I think you'd sweat cute blood," Oz informed his girlfriend.
"Boy, Willow, you've really gotten the teaching bug," Cordelia stated. "Assisting Ms. Calendar in her computer class, tutoring..."
"I love it. I really do," Willow said happily.
"I think it's great to do that before you go out and fail in the real world," Cordelia said. "Because then it's not like falling back on something; it's like falling... well, forward."
"And almost sixty five percent of that was an actual compliment," Xander told his friend before looking at his girlfriend. "Is that a personal best?"
"Gee, Xander, what are you going to teach when you fail in life? Advanced loser-being?" Cordelia asked sarcastically.
"I will teach…" Xander said as he took on a bad French accent, "…the language of love."
As Xander reached for Cordelia, she shrank back. "Don't touch me! You have fish hands!"
Xander smirked as he moved his hands toward her face. "Come, let me caress you…"
Cordelia laughed, batting away his hands. "Stop it!"
Snyder came into the cafeteria behind them. "That's enough of that," he said before looking at Willow. "And you! Are we having a chair shortage?"
Willow frowned, confused. "I haven't read anything about it," she said before realizing what he was wanting. "Oh! I get it." She slid off Oz's lap and into her own chair.
"These public displays of affection are not acceptable in my school," Snyder informed them with his usual sneer. "This isn't an orgy, people. It's a classroom."
Buffy rolled her eyes at Snyder's comment. "Yeah! Where they teach lunch," she said sarcastically.
Snyder glared at her. "Do you have something to say?"
"This is a cafeteria," Dawn answered for her sister.
"Always with the wisecracks," Snyder said, looking at Dawn and Buffy. "One day you two are going to go too far."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Dawn, I think we should go with the classroom theory," she suggested as Dawn nodded.
"Just give me a reason to kick you both out. Just give me a reason," Snyder gloated before walking off.
"How about because you're a tiny, impotent Nazi with a bug up his ass the size of an emu?" Cordelia said to Snyder's departing back.
Dawn chuckled. "Sums it up."
Cordelia nodded. "Don't you think?"
Xander smiled. "Now, 'lunch," I could actually teach."
"I can see that," Oz agreed. "Baloney," he said, mimicking a teacher. "It's not a toy. Let's put it on the bread—the rye bread! Careful!"
Willow smiled at Buffy. "Do you want to come by tonight and do some cramming?"
"Maybe…" Buffy said, looking toward Dawn. "Are you going out with Faith to patrol, or am I?"
"I will," Dawn said. "You can have the night off."
"Thanks, Dawn," Buffy said with a grateful smile. "I could use a break." She turned back to Willow. "I'll come by later. I need all the help I can get for that chemistry test."
"Do you really expect Nakamura to turn up tonight?" Willow asked Dawn.
Dawn shook her head. "No, I don't expect him to. But that's usually when he does."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
After school, Willow tutored Buffy in the computer science classroom. Buffy gave up in frustration and slapped down her pencil. "Waah! This doesn't make any sense." She pouted at Willow.
"Well, sure it does. See…" Willow took the paper and looked at Buffy's work. "Oh, no, this doesn't make any sense."
Buffy shrugged. "It's senseless," she said as she played with her pencil.
"It is, but at least you know that! So, you're learning." Willow looked at the problem more closely.
"Yay, me!" Buffy cried. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. I mean, when in the real world am I ever going to need chemistry, history, math, or the English language?"
Willow shot Buffy a glance. "Okay. I see your problem."
"I'm a moron?" Buffy asked.
Willow gave Buffy a look. "Will you stop that? You're not stupid! You can learn this really easily, but if you're just going to give up, then don't waste my time."
Buffy was impressed. "Wow. You'd make a really good teacher." She smiled.
Willow smiled. "Good pep talk?"
"I got the pep," Buffy informed her.
"Okay. Look at this," Willow informed her friend. "It's a covalent bond—which means these two atoms are linked by this one electron. You know, basic linkage. Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Chlorine..."
"Yes!" Ms. Calendar cried from her desk.
"Ms. Calendar?" Willow said, looking at the computer teacher with a raised eyebrow.
"I may have a way of helping Dawn with Nakamura," Ms. Calendar said. "I need to finish this translation before I know for sure."
Crawford Street Mansion
Drusilla wandered into the garden from outside, looking at the night. "Nice walk, pet?" Spike greeted her.
"I met an old man. I didn't like him. He got stuck in my teeth," Drusilla said as she looked up. "And then the moon started whispering to me. All sorts of dreadful things."
Spike raised an eyebrow. "It's a naughty moon."
"What did it say?" Nakamura said he walked into the garden from inside the mansion.
"Oh, look who's awake," Spike said sarcastically.
"What did the moon tell you?" Nakamura asked, looking at Drusilla pointedly. "Did you have a vision?
Is something coming?"
Drusilla giggled, twirling around in her white dress. "Oh yes, something terrible."
Nakamura raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Where?"
Drusilla stopped twirling and looked at Nakamura. "At the museum. A tomb. With a surprise inside."
Nakamura put his hand on Drusilla's head. "You can see all that in your head?"
"No, you ninny, she read it in the morning paper," Spike replied sarcastically as he held up a newspaper.
Nakamura looked at Drusilla, who smiled apologetically. He grabbed the paper and scanned it. "I wondered where Angelus had gotten it from. I knew it had to be in town, and now I know where."
Drusilla came up behind Nakamura and looked over his shoulder. "Is that what's been whispering to me?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," Nakamura said as he grinned at her. "Don't worry though. Soon everything will be right back on track for the future I came from."
Restfield Cemetery
Dawn and Faith stood back-to-back, surrounded by a swarm of vicious vampires. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow on the cemetery where they found themselves. The air was thick with tension as the creatures of the night closed in, their fangs gleaming in the pale light.
Dawn, armed with her stake, narrowed her eyes, her determination shining through while Faith, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders, gripped a dual-edged battle axe tightly.
Without hesitation, the vampires lunged forward, their snarls echoing through the silent night. Dawn and Faith sprang into action, moving as one, their individual fighting styles complementing each other flawlessly.
Dawn used her agility and quick reflexes to evade the vampires' attacks, gracefully sidestepping their lunges and countering with precise stabs of her stake.
Faith, on the other hand, unleashed a whirlwind of devastating strikes, her battle axe slicing through the air with deadly precision. She spun, twirled, and somersaulted, taking out vampires left and right.
Their movements were fluid and coordinated, each anticipating the other's next move without the need for words. They fought with an unwavering focus, never allowing the overwhelming odds to deter them.
With each vampire they dispatched, their confidence grew. The tide of the battle turned in their favor, the vampires now on the defensive, struggling to match the prowess of the couple.
Finally, the last vampire fell, collapsing into a pile of dust at Dawn's feet. She and Faith stood tall, their chests heaving with exertion, yet victorious.
May 12, 1998 – Tuesday
Sunnydale High School
Jenny held a printout as she faced Giles, Chloe, Dawn and Buffy, who stood before her, while Oz, Cordelia, Willow, and Xander were seated at the table.
Giles walked up to Jenny. "What are you saying?"
Jenny took a deep breath before responding. "The curse that was used on Angel." She held out the printout. "This is it."
Buffy glanced at her sister. "Dawn, you didn't mention that she found it in the original timeline."
"Because I never knew how Angel got his soul back after he lost it," Dawn admitted sheepishly with a shrug. She looked at Jenny. "That said, though, that is the reason Angelus killed you. To keep…"
"To keep me from giving him his soul back," Jenny finished for Dawn.
"This is good, right?" Cordelia asked as Dawn paced, thinking. "I mean, we can curse Nakamura."
Jenny shook her head as she looked at Cordelia. "It's not that simple. I'm actually missing some things to perform the spell. Also, we don't know if it will have the desire effect on Nakamura given that, unlike Angel, he hasn't had a soul for centuries."
"I can help you, Ms. Calendar," Willow offered before looking at Dawn. "Assuming you think I am ready?"
"Magically, yes, you're ready," Dawn admitted. "But emotionally, I'm not sure. This is a dark spell. It rips a soul from the heavens and channels it into the vampire. That dark magic could be what sent you on your original path."
"Will, I don't want you putting yourself in danger," Buffy added.
"And I don't want danger," Willow agreed. "No to danger. But Dawn can't do it since she will be with you fighting Nakamura. So, I'm the only person who can help Ms. Calendar."
Summers, Payne, Harris Residence
Dawn sat on her bed, her face etched with worry and fear. She looked up as Faith entered the room, her usual confident demeanor replaced with concern.
Faith closed the door behind her and walked over to sit beside Dawn. She could see the fear in her lover's eyes and knew that something was weighing heavily on her heart. "The dream the other night where you dreamt about my death wasn't because you were worrying about me, was it?"
Dawn let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, Faith, I'm scared. I'm scared that Nakamura will kill me, leaving you and Elizabeth all alone and ensuring the future I came back to change still happens."
Faith reached out and took Dawn's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll protect each other, Dawn. We're stronger together than we are apart. And we won't let Nakamura win."
Tears welled up in Dawn's eyes as she looked at Faith. "But what if he does win?" What if he does kill me?"
Faith's grip on Dawn's hand tightened. "We won't let that happen. We'll fight with everything we've got, and we'll come out on top. And even if the worst does happen, I promise you, I'll make sure your memory lives on."
Dawn nodded as she looked at her beautiful girlfriend. She knew that no matter what, they would face the future together and make the most of every moment they had. With a determined smile, Dawn squeezed Faith's hand back and said, "I believe in us."
Faith's eyes sparkled with love and admiration as she leaned in to kiss Dawn.
Sunnydale Museum of Natural History
Perren sat at his desk, working late. He looked up, swearing he could hear something whispering. "Hello?" he called out as he looked around. "Danny? That you?" he asked as he heard more whispers. He looked over at the artifact as he stood and moved slowly toward it. As he reached it, he held his hand out and touched it, just as the whispers grew louder. He moved his hand away, and the whispers subsided. As he put his hand back, the whispers grew louder again.
Suddenly Drusilla appeared behind him, her face in her vampiric visage. She grabbed him and bit into his neck. She clamped her hand over his mouth as he thrashed and strained against her.
Nakamura walked up to the artifact, flanked by a couple vampires. "Let's see. I'll have one of these," he said, pointing at the artifact. "To go."
The vampires began throwing ropes over the artifact, securing it.
"Be careful," Nakamura said. "I don't want this thing cracked; it's needed to put the timeline back on track. Your weak imitations of life depend on it."
Summers Home
Buffy was on her way downstairs when Joyce came up behind her. "Are you going on patrol tonight?" Joyce asked.
Buffy turned around to face her mother. "Yeah, I am," she replied. "I'm heading over to Dawn's to meet her, and then we'll go patrol. Then she's going to drop me off at Willow's afterwards to study. "I've got two finals tomorrow."
Joyce nodded understandingly. "Make sure you and Dawn stay safe out there. And good luck on your exams tomorrow. And if you come back late, be sure to see if Dawn will swing by Willow's and pick you back up."
Summers, Payne and Harris Residence
As Buffy approached the front door, she could hear the faint sound of music playing from inside. She knocked lightly, and a moment later, Dawn swung open the door, a smile lighting up her face.
"Buffy, it's about time," Dawn said, dressed in her signature leather jacket, ready for action. "Another minute, and I was going to leave without you."
Buffy returned the smile. "Well, you know how mom gets," she admitted. "Are you ready to kick some demon butt?"
Dawn nodded. "When you are."
Streets of Sunnydale
"And mom said if I need a ride back from Willow's to call you," Buffy said as she and Dawn walked down the street.
Dawn nodded. "Sure thing. Just give me a call, and I'll come pick you up."
Buffy smiled at Dawn as they walked past a row of tall hedges. They suddenly stopped looking around. "Did you hear...?" she asked as Dawn nodded.
Suddenly, someone burst out from between the hedges right behind them. Buffy and Dawn quickly turned around, ready to fight, but relaxed when they saw that it was Kendra.
"You know, polite people call before they jump out of the bushes and attack you," Dawn quipped.
Kendra smiled. "I just wanted to test your reflexes," she said.
Buffy and Dawn exchanged a look, both amused and relieved to see Kendra. "Would you like to test my face-punching?" Buffy said it jokingly. "Because I think you'll find it's improved."
Kendra chuckled. "I was on my way to your house, Dawn, when I saw you both walking. I couldn't help myself."
Buffy and Dawn both smiled at Kendra's unexpected arrival. "Which begs the question and don't think we're not glad to see you, but why are you here?" Dawn asked.
"Wait. Let me guess," Buffy suggested. "Your Watcher has informed you that a very dark power is about to rise in Sunnydale."
Kendra nodded in agreement. "That's about it."
Buffy looked toward Dawn. "What was going on around now?" she asked.
"Angel was trying to wake Acathla," Dawn answered. "But since I stopped him from becoming Angelus, that shouldn't be happening any longer."
Buffy furrowed her brow. "I don't like the sound of this. We need to investigate and make sure there's no connection between this Acathla and this dark power. Especially with Nakamura around trying to put us back on track to the other timeline."
Kendra nodded; her expression serious. "Agreed. We must act quickly before it's too late."
Sunnydale High School
Giles emerged from his office, joining Jenny, Buffy, Kendra, Chloe, Faith, Dawn, and Willow in the library. Kendra was putting a duffle bag on the table.
"I've just been on the phone with the museum. The artifact in question is missing. And the curator has been murdered. Vampires," Giles informed them.
"And we're sure the artifact was Acathla?" Chloe questioned.
"Yes, the information Kendra's Watcher has provided seems conclusive," Giles replied.
Chloe turned and looked at Dawn. "What do you know about...?"
"Not much," Dawn admitted sadly. "A few years from now, Buffy told me that Angel took Acathla to try and end the world. She didn't go into details, likely given my memories of when he turned."
"What memories?" Buffy wondered, looking at her sister.
"My memories, even though I didn't exist back then, say I was here at school when you confronted him," Dawn said, trying to hold back the tears that glistened in her eyes. "He told you that while his hand was clasped around my back, as a message to you, he had intended to kill me, Xander, and Willow and leave our bodies for you to find."
Buffy, Chloe, and Faith exchanged looks before moving closer to Dawn and wrapping their arms around her in a group embrace.
Dawn took a deep breath and continued, "Buffy stopped him, but I don't know how. I thought that with the fact that Angel is in Los Angeles and didn't lose his soul, we had prevented Acathla from being woken."
The group listened intently; their expressions filled with concern. "What do we do now?" Faith asked, breaking the silence.
Kendra glanced at Dawn. "Do you think Nakamura since he knows your future...?"
Dawn nodded. "Yes, he might be trying to set future history back on track for the future I came back to prevent."
"We don't know where they are," Willow reminded them.
"Yeah, Dawn and I swung by the factory on patrol not long after the deal with the Judge," Faith said. "They hightailed it out of there."
"Since Nakamura knows the future of the other timeline, he might have gone where Angel did," Dawn admitted. "But we have no way of knowing for sure. We need to come up with a plan to find them before it's too late."
Buffy nodded in agreement, her mind already racing with ideas on how to locate Nakamura. "Ms. Calendar, Willow, how close are you to trying the curse?" She asked, looking at her best friend and the computer teacher.
"Nakamura should be eliminated," Kendra countered. "He poses a threat if..."
"I'll fight him," Dawn interrupted. "But if I lose, or I don't find him in time... Ms. Calendar and Willow might be our only hope.:
"We have," Kendra said as she pulled a sword from her bag. "Blessed by the knight who first slew the demon. If all else fails, this might stop it. I think."
"Let's hope all else doesn't fail," Giles said hopefully.
Chloe turned toward Jenny and Willow. "How close are you two to being able to do the ritual for the curse?"
Willow glanced at Jenny. "A day?"
"A day," Jenny confirmed. "And we're going to need an Orb of Thesulah. I'll have to search a couple stores for..."
"I've got one," Giles interrupted. "I've been using it as a paperweight," he said sheepishly.
Willow glanced at Buffy. "This means I can't help you study for tomorrow's finals."
Buffy smiled. "I got a backup," she said as she glanced at Dawn. "Assuming you don't mind helping me study."
Dawn smiled. "No problem, I would be happy to."
Buffy grinned gratefully at her sister.
"Well, Nakamura has a ritual of his own to perform before he can remove the sword and awaken Acathla," Giles said hopefully. "With any luck, that may take some time as well."
Crawford Street Mansion
As the artifact hit the floor with a thud, Nakamura regarded the sleeping demon. "It's a big rock. I can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big," Spike said as he and Drusilla flanked Nakamura.
Nakamura rolled his eyes at Spike's comment. "Spike, boy, you never did learn your history," he said.
"Let's have a lesson, then," Spike retorted.
Nakamura cleared his throat and began, "Acathla, the demon, came forth to swallow the world. It was killed by a virtuous knight who pierced the demon's heart before it could draw breath to perform the act. Acathla turned to stone, as demons sometimes do, and was buried where neither man nor demon would be wont to look. Unless, of course, they're putting up low rent housing. Boys?"
Two vampires took crowbars and, standing at either side of the artifact, wedged it open. The front fell to the floor with a great, dusty thud. Inside was the very stone demon of which Nakamura spoke, his face in a horrible grimace, a stone sword sticking out of his chest.
"Oooh, he fills my head," Drusilla said. "I can't hear anything else."
Nakamura approached Acathla slowly.
"Let me guess. Someone pulls out the sword," Spike said, looking at Acathla.
"In the original timeline, Angelus pulled the sword, and the demon began to wake up," Nakamura explained. "Buffy stopped him just in time from ending the world. I don't intend to end the world. But I do intend to repeat what Angelus did with one small change. When the sword is driven into my chest, I will grab ahold of Dawn, and she will be pulled in with me. The First will release me to continue my mission of returning the timeline to the way it should be. But poor Dawnie will suffer for eternity in everlasting torment."
"And what do you need to do that?" Spike wondered.
"One man knows the ritual I must perform to awaken Acathla," Nakamura answered with an evil grin. "Rupert Giles."
May 13, 1998 – Wednesday
Sunnydale High School
The morning sunlight shone brightly through the classroom windows. Buffy, Dawn, Faith, Xander, Willow, and Cordelia sat taking their English final exams.
They didn't notice a woman with a shawl wrapped around her head walk into the room until she spoke, "Tonight. Sundown. In the graveyards."
"Excuse me," the teacher said as she stood up.
Dawn looked up at the woman, who was looking directly at her.
"You will come to him," the woman said as she pulled off her shawl to reveal that she was a vampire. She moved toward Dawn, deliberately stepping into the sunlight. As she began to smoke, students started moving away from her. "You will come to him, or more will die! Tonight!" Flames engulfed her as the students began to scream. "His hour is at hand!" She suddenly exploded into dust.
0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0
Everyone was in the library watching Dawn pace. "She said more would die. I have to go," she said.
"And Buffy and I should go with you," Kendra countered.
"Buffy will go," Dawn said. "I need you here with Faith, just in case. We'll be all right. As long as Nakamura's fighting us, he's not trying to awaken Acathla, and that's good."
"Jenny?" Chloe said, looking at the computer teacher. "How close are you?"
"Half an hour to set everything up, then Willow and I will be ready," Jenny answered.
"Which means you two just have to hold Nakamura off. Don't let him close on you. If the curse succeeds, you'll know," Giles informed the sisters.
"So what if he shows up with an army?" Xander wondered, worriedly, for his friends.
"That's why Buffy will be there," Dawn answered before looking at Buffy. "We better go."
Buffy nodded in agreement and turned to leave with Dawn.
"Please be careful," Xander called after them.
As they walked away, Dawn couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. She knew that if anything went wrong, it would be up to first Buffy, and if Buffy were killed, then Kendra and Faith to protect everyone she loved.
As they walked out the door, Kendra came up behind them. "Here," she said as she handed a stake to Dawn. "In case the curse does not succeed, this is my lucky stake. I have killed many vampires with it. I call it Mister Pointy."
"You named your stake," Buffy said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes," Kendra answered, embarrassed.
"Remind me to get you a stuffed animal," Buffy said as she smiled at Kendra.
Dawn took the stake and smiled, feeling grateful for Kendra's gift. "Thanks."
"Watch your backs," Kendra said, looking at the sisters, who nodded before walking toward the exit of the school and their confrontation with Nakamura.
Restfield Cemetery
Dawn and Buffy made their way through the cemetery. The full moon illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the tombstones. As they walked, their senses were on high alert, anticipating Nakamura's presence.
Suddenly, they heard a rustling sound behind them. "Hello, lover." They quickly turned around to find Nakamura standing twenty feet behind them, grinning at Buffy.
Dawn waved her sister back and stepped forward. "So, Acathla…" she said.
Nakamura grinned evilly at Dawn. "Well, I have to get the timeline back on track, don't I?"
Dawn narrowed her eyes. "No, you don't," she disagreed. "I am not letting you put us back on the path that sees my friends and family dead, and with me, as the Last Slayer."
Nakamura chuckled. "You don't have a choice, Dawn." He leaned in closer to her. "I have already started the process of bringing the timeline back in line with the one we left."
"If that were true, you wouldn't have sent that vampire to give me a message," Dawn countered. Nakamura's expression hardened. "That was a necessary step to ensure your compliance. But make no mistake, Dawn, I am in control here."
Dawn felt a shiver run down her spine at his words, realizing the gravity of the situation she and Buffy were in. This was a trap. She needed to come up with a plan quickly before things got worse. She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady as she asked, "What do you want from us, Nakamura?"
"Gosh, I was hoping I could sire Buffy and then she would kill you when she woke to her true nature," Nakamura replied with a chuckle. "What do you think?"
Dawn glared at him. "Not happening."
Sunnydale High School
Willow and Jenny sat at the table, the Orb of Thesulah resting on the table between them. Cordelia stood beside Jenny, waving a burning sage bush, and did not love the task. Giles stood beside Willow, holding the copy of the ritual Jenny had handed him.
Nearby on the balcony, Xander and Faith stood watching while Chloe stood with her eyes closed as she used her Whitelighter sense to keep track of Dawn and Buffy, making sure they didn't need help for any reason.
"Quod perierat, invenietur," Giles said, reciting what was written in Latin.
"Not dead, nor not of the living," Willow and Jenny said in unison. "Spirits of the interregnum, I call."
Restfield Cemetery
Buffy watched her sister's every move as Dawn engaged Nakamura. She positioned herself strategically, ready to strike when needed.
Nakamura lunged at Dawn, aiming to overpower her, but she skillfully parried his strikes and delivered a swift kick to his chest, sending him stumbling backward. It was the opening Buffy had been waiting for. With a burst of speed, she charged forward, her stake aimed at the vampire's heart.
Nakamura, sensing the threat, twisted out of the way at the last moment, narrowly avoiding Buffy's attack. "Ah, love, how I missed sparring with you."
Buffy's eyes narrowed. "I'm not your love," she spat.
Sunnydale High School
"Let him know the pain of humanity, gods—reach your wizened hands to me, give me the soul of—" Willow and Jenny spoke in unison just as two vampires burst in behind Xander, Faith, and Chloe.
Faith and Xander spun, ready to fight. "Chloe!" Xander shouted at the Whitelighter.
Chloe's eyes opened, and she spun around to see the vampires Xander was facing, as well as two vampires that had burst in behind Kendra. "I'm going for Buffy and Dawn," she said as she disappeared in blue and white orbing lights.
Xander nodded as he turned to Faith. "Get Willow, Ms. Calendar and Cordelia out of here."
Faith was hesitant to leave. After all she was a Potential this was her thing. But she knew Xander was right. There were innocents to protect. "I'll make sure they get out and then I'll come back and help you, Giles and Kendra with them."
Xander nodded in agreement and turned back to the vampires, determined to hold them off until Chloe returned with Buffy and Dawn reinforcements. He whipped out his stake and lunged at one of the vampires as the other made its way down toward the ritual.
Kendra punched the third vampire, sending him back into the wall as the fourth passed her, heading for the ritual.
As the second and fourth vampires converged, Faith hustled Cordelia, Willow, and Jenny toward the stacks and the library's rear entrance. Giles turned to face them, and the vampires handily knocked him down and out.
The first vampire grabbed Xander's wrist and bent it, breaking it.
Kendra punched at the third vampire, knocking him out for the count. She then turned toward the fourth vampire, who stood over Giles.
The second vampire leapt onto the table and over the railing. He slammed into a bookcase, knocking it over on Willow and Jenny, who fell hard and into unconsciousness.
Xander fell to his knees, dropping his stake, as Faith hustled Cordelia past the first vampire. The first vampire turned toward them just as Xander got to his feet and threw him into the second vampire. "Go!" Xander instructed.
"Once I make sure Cordelia is far enough away I will come back," Faith told Xander who nodded. She hustled Cordelia out of the library.
Xander turned his attention back to the vampires as he picked up his stake with his good hand, determined to protect his friends.
Suddenly, Drusilla wafted into the library and saw Kendra throw the fourth vampire through the window into Giles' office as the third vampire hit her from behind.
The first vampire knocked Xander unconscious before looking down at Kendra, who was fighting off the other vampires.
"Enough," Drusilla ordered as the vampire backed away from Kendra, who turned to face her. She dropped her shawl and looked dreamily to the heavens.
Kendra lunged, and Drusilla evaded. The mad vampire slashed at Kendra with her fingernails, drawing blood. As Kendra and Drusilla sparred, Kendra got in some good hits while Drusilla mostly weaved and giggled.
Eventually, Drusilla saw an opening and grabbed Kendra's throat, pushing her against the wall. Kendra struggled, pulling at the vampire's arm.
Drusilla looked deeply into Kendra's eyes, hypnotizing the Slayer. "Look at me, Dearie. Be in my eyes. Be in me."
As Kendra stared at Drusilla, she felt the will go out of her to do anything other than what Drusilla wanted.
Drusilla stepped back as she let Kendra go. Kendra stood still, swaying slightly. She hesitated for a moment and then slashed her fingers across Kendra's throat.
Kendra's eyes widened as she grabbed her throat, blood welling out between her fingers. A second later, she dropped to the floor, dead.
"Night, night," Drusilla cooed before turning to the vampires. "Let's get what we came for, dears."
Two of the vampires bent down and lifted Giles up. They followed Drusilla out of the library, taking Giles with them.
Restfield Cemetery
Dawn pulled out the stake Kendra gave her. "Are you ready to meet Mister Pointy?" she asked. "Let's finish this. You and me."
Nakamura chuckled. "I take it Buffy didn't tell you how this all goes down? I only needed one more thing to do the ritual."
Dawn raised an eyebrow, confused. "What?" she asked.
Nakamura grinned wickedly. "Rupert Giles. You see, I didn't know the ritual, but I knew he was instrumental in helping Angelus perform it the first time around."
Buffy and Dawn looked at each other, realizing this was a trap designed to get them away from the school so that Drusilla and Spike could get Giles. "Chloe," the sisters yelled in unison just as Chloe appeared in blue and white orbing lights.
"Quick, orb us to the school. Nakamura sent Drusilla and Spike after Giles," Buffy explained urgently.
"I know," Chloe said as she held out her hands. "I came here to get you two when they attacked."
Buffy and Dawn quickly took Chloe's hands, and they disappeared in blue and white orbing lights.
Streets of Sunnydale
Cordelia and Faith sprinted down the bustling street, their footsteps pounding against the pavement. The wind whipped through their hair as they weaved through the crowded sidewalks, their eyes fixed on an unseen destination. Cordelia's heart raced in her chest, matching the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Beside her, Faith wore a fierce determination on her face, her muscles taut with anticipation.
And then Faith started to get a feeling like something was different all of a sudden.
"Faith?" Cordelia said when Faith came to sudden stop. "Faith, what is it? What's wrong?"
All of a sudden Faith felt a rush of energy, of adrenaline, running through her, hitting her like she'd bitten down on a power line. She felt totally juiced, her body humming, alive, overwhelmed, crazy, filling up with strength, with power.
"Faith?" Cordelia repeated.
"Kendra's dead," Faith said looking at the cheerleader.
Cordelia's eyes went wide. "How do you know?"
"Because I'm a Slayer," Faith answered. "I need to get back. Keep going." She spun around heading back the way they had come.