Chapter 10

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When both Dawn and Steven dissapeared Buffy and Angel had their suspicions. Angel's first thoughts were that Holtz had done something to him. Angel banged on Holtz door late one night until Holtz answered.

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Angel: We both know I cannot enter your house, but do you know what a Molotov Cocktail is?

Holtz: Yes.

Angel: Then you probably don't want me to throw them in here.

Holtz: This is not a good time. Steven is missing.

Angel: Yeah, did you do something to him?

Holtz: No, did you?

Angel: No.

Holtz: He's been secretive lately. I wondered if you had approached him.

Angel: No, I've been obeying our little truce. And for better or worse I believe you. You were always pretty upfront about your desire to hurt me.

Holtz: For once we have a common goal, protecting our son.

Angel: You'd be willing to work with me?

Holtz: Only on this one matter. I know the ritual for revoking a vampire's invitation. But for now, come in.

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Holtz and Angel becoming allies, that was a surprise for most of Buffy's team. But they did have a common goal, protecting their son. So perhaps, in the short term, they could work together. Buffy had her own suspicions about who might be responsible for his and Dawn's dissapearence. She called Faith, who went to get the president-elect. She put him on speaker, he continued putting while talking to Buffy.

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Wilkins: Ms Summers, what can I do for you?

Buffy: Dawn has dissapeared.

Wilkins: I'm sorry to hear that.

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Wilkins did seem genuinely sorry that Dawn might be in danger. But he was a politician, he was very good at faking emotions.

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Buffy: Did you have anything to do with that?

Wilkins: No.

Buffy: Because with all the problems we've been facing recently, I can't help but think that someone, very powerful, is trying to keep me and my friends distracted.

Wilkins: I was mayor of Sunnydale. Certain problems are a normal part of life on the Hellmouth.

Buffy: This is true. But I also suspect that Ethan Rayne is involved in some of this, and I know he's worked for you.

Wikins: Mr Rayne is an independent contractor. At times I have employed his services, if he had anything to do with Dawn's dissapearence I wasn't involved. But if he took your sister, I want to help find her. Believe me, I was serious about a potential alliance.

Buffy: Honestly, at this point I might actually be desperate enough to accept your help.

Wilkins: How about if Faith comes to Sunnydale and lends a hand.

Buffy: Fine. By the way, Dawn is dating Angel's son Steven. He dissapeared too if that helps.

Wilkins: I'll talk to some of my sources, see if either of them was targeted.

Buffy: Thank you.

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After the phone conversation ended and Faith left for the airport Wilkins called Ethan Rayne.

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Wilkins: Mr Rayne, by any chance are you responsible for the dissapearence of Dawn Summers and Steven Holtz?

Ethan: I knew that it would keep Buffy and Angel distracted. I thought that was what you wanted.

Wilkins: I suppose I should have been more clear in my instructions. I like much of your work, switching Xander and Willow's bodies, giving them nightmares. But Dawn is the Key.

Ethan: I thought that the Key could only be used once, and that was over three years ago.

Wilkins: Gory could only use it that one time to return to her home dimension. And hopefully the will of the beast faded, but I fear she could still be a threat. At any rate the Key could still be useful to me later. Also we might need Buffy Summers as an ally, hurting her sister will not help.

Ethan: Dawn and Steven are alive, at least they were when I sent them away.

Wilkins: Mr Rayne, unless you want my new torture people to have a chance to show off for me, you will get them back. And if possible you will make certain they don't know of my inadvertantly involvement. Am I clear?

Ethan: Yes sir, it will be done.

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Dawn and Steven weren't sure exactly what had happened. They had been sucked into this bright light, and now they were here. They had previously been in the woods just outside Sunnydale, and they were once again in the woods outside Sunnydale. They were in the same place, apparently. Something seemed different, but they weren't sure what. Then they saw them, a group of vampires, six of them. Steven prepared to defend Dawn, Holtz had trained him for this. But one of the vampires looked different, more like a demon, unable to pass for human. Holtz had taught Steven about these vampires, those who had outgrown human features. Dawn feared that she knew exactly who this particular vampire was. It was the Master, and they were not capable of fighting him. Dawn and Steven fled, and the vampires gave chase. They were fortunate enough to be rescued by the White Hats, led by Rupert Giles. Giles told them to get in the van and they quickly drove away.

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Dawn: Thank you Giles.

Giles: I'm sorry, do I know you?

Dawn: Yeah, I'm Buffy's sister.

Giles: Buffy Summers? The slayer?

Dawn: I think she's just a potential.

Giles: No, she was a slayer. I didn't realize she had any siblings.

Dawn: What do you mean she "was" a slayer.

Giles: She was killed six years ago. She came to fight the Master, whom we just escaped, he snapped her neck.

Steven: Where exactly are we?

Dawn: I think I know. The Master dead, Buffy killed six years ago. We're in the Wishverse.

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Dawn told Giles and the others the whole story, how Xander had cheated on Cordelia, she made the wish that Buffy never came to Sunnydale, and that had created this new universe. Giles had a hard time believing that his entire universe had been created by a single wish.

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Giles: I do remember the demon Anyanka. When Cordelia told me these things, I had hoped that maybe things could be reversed. All the people I had lost, that they could come back.

Dawn: Like Jenny?

Giles: There many I had lost. But yes, she was the one I truly wanted back. I destroyed Anyanka's source of power, but ti didn't change anything. It did make her dissapear. I've spent the last six years fighting the Master, and researching exactly what I did wrong. Anyanka didn't have the power to change the entire universe, frankly I'd be surprised if D'Hoffryn has that kind of power. Anyanka only had the power to take Cordelia to a different world, one where Buffy Summers never came to Sunnydale. She came here to check up on her charge, but then I destroyed her source of power and sent her back to her own universe as a mortal. But the Master still killed Buffy here, he still operates his factory, and us White Hats still fight the good fight.

Steven: So this is the multiverse.

Giles: Yes, basically.

Dawn: So exactly sent us here?

Giles: I don't know. As to how to get you back, I don't know that either. I'm afraid you might be stuck here.