Chapter 12

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Note: Yes, Dawn and Steven are in the same universe as the movie version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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Dawn knew that she and Steven were in yet another parallel universe. She didn't understand exactly how this had happened, but this version of Buffy was older, and had no siblings. This Buffy did look a little like Dawn's sister, maybe this was what Buffy would look like when she got older. At any rate this Buffy did agree to help them get back to their universe, they just had to figure out how.

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Ethan had hoped that getting Dawn and Steven back would buy him some trust with Ripper and his mates, but something went wrong. He tried to deflect suspicion towards Dracula, and the Concilium Mortuum. Giles was well aware of this "Council of the dead." They were a group of twelve powerful vampires, the slowest thing there had ever been to a real vampire government. Centuries ago they had maintained a certain degree of order amongst vampires. They would ally with one noble, and wipe out the noble's enemies. They and their followers were responsible for many slaughters until they "Dissapeared, about four centuries ago. Noone knew exactly where they went. the Watcher's Council hoped they had been destroyed, but always feared they would come back. Dracula was believed to have been a member of the Council, and he was suspected of destroying them to take their power. But now, he wanted them back, supposedly as allies against the Master. As bad as they were, they didn't want to destroy the world. There were five other people with Ethan in the library, Ripper, Buffy, Faith, Angel and Holtz. All of them were suspicious of Ethan.

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Ethan: I swear, I have no idea what happened to the kids. And I don't know what went wrong in bringing them back.

Buffy: Keep this in mind Ethan, I made a wish that changed the universe, all to protect Dawn. Imagine what I'd do to the person who hurt her. Not to mention, those two guys hate each other, but they're willing to work together for Steven. They're both very adept at torture, and I'm willing to let them do that if I think you're responsible.

Faith: And keep this in mind too, she's the nice one.

Ethan: Believe me, I haven't forgotten these facts.

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Ethan was very worried about his own safety. He just hoped that his most recent spell might save him, if it was in time.

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Dawn and Steven still weren't certain how this universe's version of her sister was older, and looked this different. Some higher power was clearly responsible for choosing new slayers, perhaps every universe needed its own Buffy. Or maybe this power just liked Buffy and wanted to see more of her. But the more pressing matter was how to get back to her own universe. This Buffy brought Dawn and Steven to a witch she knew. In Buffy's experience most of those who called themselves witches were just harmless neo pagans, or frauds who conned people out of their money. But there were a few exceptions, those with real power, including this person. But before they could get to their destination, they were attacked, by a somewhat familiar group of enemies. It was Dracula, and a pimply faced vampire calling himself Lestat, as well as vampires calling themselves Barnabas Collins, and three other vampires whose names Buffy and her group couldn't remember. They didn't seem like the real deal, just a bunch of wannabes. But they did outnumber them 2-1. It was a brief fight, but in the end the six vampires were defeated. Surprisingly their bodies remained intact.

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Dawn: Why aren't their bodies turning to dust?

Buffy: They usually don't. Do they turn to dust in your world?

Dawn: Yeah.

Steven: On the rare occasions when they don't, it's a good idea to immediately burn their bones.

Buffy: I guess that's another difference between my universe and yours. In any event, let's get you home.

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The six of them woke up in a highschool library, none of them seemed to have any idea how they got here, noone even knew their own names. Most had IDs, so they deducted that their names were Ethan Rayne, Rupert Giles, Daniel Holtz, Faith Lehane, and Buffy Summers. The last man, had no ID, noone was certain what his name was. For whatever reason Holtz's instinct was that this man might be a vampire. The others thought that was ridiculous, but they checked the mirror in the library, and sure enough this mystery man had a reflection, at which point Holtz apologized to him. As the six of them made a plan to go to the hospital, they were attacked by three warrior vampires. Buffy and Faith fought well, as did the mystery man. Holtz seemed to know how to fight them, but he was old, Angel had to protect him. During the fight Ethan came up with an idea, that vampires hated fire. He started a fire, and the school's sprinkler system activated. The water greatly hurt the three warrior vampires. It seems that the school officials had been smart enough to put holy water in the sprinklers. But the mystery man, who had a reflection, was also hurt. Holtz had to rush him out to protect him from the holy water. The three warrior vampires were not so lucky, two were destroyed, the third was great hurt but not yet dead. The sprinklers soon stopped, and this guy might linger in pain for hours before he died.

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Buffy: You tell me why you tried to kill us, and I'll end your suffering.

Vampire: Very well. The Master sent me. He wants all slayers and potentials eliminated. You may have defeated us, but others will come. You will never be safe.

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Buffy wasn't sure exactly what a slayer, or the Master was. But this was probably all they would get from this guy. She took the stake and plunged it into his heart, instantly turning him into dust. Buffy then went to her group, and she didn't even notice the crystal and the ground as she stepped on it, breaking it. It was then that their memories came back. Holtz had been tending to Angel's wounds, and suddenly he remembered their past. Both men were embarrassed at helping each other, Holtz went back inside to the rest of the group. Like the others he was still suspicious of Ethan.

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Buffy: Someone erased all of our memories. I remember one of Willow's spell did the same thing to us once in the old world.

Ethan: So why are you suspicious of me?

Giles: Because as far as we can tell, you're the only one with motive to want us to forget certain things.

Buffy: Faith, is there anything you'd like to say?

Faith: The president-elect wanted you all distracted. I don't know all of the details, I was busy on other tasks. Maybe he hired Ethan, but he didn't want Dawn hurt.

Buffy: Why wouldn't he want Dawn hurt?

Faith: I don't know. It Ethan did anything to either of them, he did it on his own.

Giles: Is that true Ethan?

Ethan: Yes. Wilkins wanted you distracted, hired me to do some harmless pranks. Switching Xander and Willow's bodies, messing with your dreams. I thought sending them away temporarily would score me some points. I figured it would be better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Giles: And this spell?

Ethan: Yes, that would be me as well. I hoped to just erase your memories of my, mistakes. For what it's worth, I was telling the truth about Dracula. He was trying to make an alliance with Steven. Supposedly it was to free his mother, as well as the Concillium Mortuum.

Buffy: We'll deal with that later. Help us get them back, or you're not getting anyone's forgiveness. Got it.

Ethan: Yes I understand, it's not a particular subtle message that you're sending. I will help you find them.

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Buffy brought Steven and Dawn to her "friend." Steven and Dawn recognized him as the real Dracula.

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Buffy: You're telling me that this guy is the real count Dracula?

Steven: Yes.

Buffy: How is it that I've never notices.

Dracula: My powers of persuasion.

Dawn: Yeah, he did the same to my sister. Are you from our universe?

Dracula: Yes. It was not easy to find you in this other world, but I need both of you.

Dawn: To release your friends to cause murder and mayhem?

Dracula: I need them to help stop the Master from rising. I realize you have little reason to trust me, but none of us want the entire world to be destroyed.

Dawn: Okay, let's go.

Dracula: Goodbye slayer. A pity we could not have been paramours.

Buffy: Sorry, I don't date vampires.

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Buffy had no idea why Dawn found that statement so funny. In any event they said their goodbyes and Dracula used his powers to bring them back to their own universe. They were back, and Dracula then knocked Steven and Dawn unconsciouss. There were aspects of this plan he had neglected to tell them. Particularly the part about how opening the barrier required their blood.