Chapter 2
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Buffy could tell from the looks on their faces how shocked, and disappointed, Angel and Spike were about her making as wish that apparently changed the world. Then another thought occurred to Spike, and he smiled.
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Spike: Did you make the wish because I died?
Angel: Spike, you're an idiot.
Spike: You're right, I wasn't thinking. So it was just a mistake that Angel came back too right?
Buffy: You two coming back was definitely part of it, but it wasn't the only thing that I wished for.
Angel: How come we remember and noone else does?
Buffy: I figured I would need both of your help, to try and repair whatever unintended damage came.
Angel: Why would you make a wish from D'Hoffryn?
Buffy: Because Dawn was killed, and I wanted her back.
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One week ago
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Buffy couldn't believe that Dawn was really dead. Dawn was the reason she fought so hard, for all her annoying habits she reminded Buffy what they were fighting for. Now Dawn was dead, and Buffy would have sold her soul to get her sister back. As it turned out, D'Hoffryn had a similar proposal. He approached Buffy in private, away from certain prying eyes.
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D'Hoffryn: Good day ms Summers. I am D'Hoffryn, king of Arashmaharr...
Buffy: I know who you are, Anya's old boss.
D'Hoffryn: Indeed. I heard about your sister, I am deeply sorry.
Buffy: Thanks, I guess.
D'Hoffryn: Perhaps I can rectify that.
Buffy: You're offering me a wish?
D'Hoffryn: You know the procedure, good that will save time.
Buffy: Why are you so eager to give me a wish?
D'Hoffryn: You saved the word from the First Evil. I feel you deserve some kind of reward.
Buffy: What's the catch?
D'Hoffryn: There is always the possibility of consequences, things that neither of us could possibly forsee.
Buffy: What if I ask that noone die, or at least no innocent people die as a result of the wish?
D'Hoffryn: I would suggest being as specific as possible with this wish. The greater the ambiguity, the greater the chance of something going wrong.
Buffy: Would I be able to maybe write it all down?
D'Hoffryn: Ofcourse.
Buffy: Could I maybe wish for others to come back?
D'Hoffryn: It's your wish. You could change things however you choose. You can bring back anyone, with or without memories. And as long as you only have one wish, why not include fame and fortune with it.
Buffy: I can change the past?
D'Hoffryn: Only events within your own lifetime. You cannot kill Hitler, you cannot save Lincoln.
Buffy: Could we stop 9/11 from happening?
D'Hoffryn: I could arrange to kill the 19 highjackers on September 10th. But solving the geopolitical problems that led to this attack, that might be beyond my powers.
Buffy: That's something. What exactly is in it for you if I make this wish?
D'Hoffryn: I have my reasons.
Buffy: I really shouldn't be trusting you.
D'Hoffryn: It's your choice what to do. Why don't you give the matter some thought, and call me when you're ready.
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Buffy began spending more time alone, writing down how much she wished things were different. All the innocent she was unable to save, all the loved ones she had lost. Like anyone else, Buffy sometimes wished things were different. In many ways Dawn's death was simply the last straw. But she had to be careful, she would only get one chance to make this wish, so she tried to write down as many specific details as she could think of. With all the time she was spending alone Xander, Willow, and Giles feared she might hurt herself. Giles asked to speak with Buffy in private, fortunately her wish writings were elsewhere.
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Giles: I wanted to make certain you're okay.
Buffy: As well as can be expected. I mean, we thought that Dawn wasn't even the Key anymore.
Giles: I supposse we should have anticipated that some evil cults would nevertheless believe that her blood would still have magickal abilities. Or that the black market would believe they could sell it to these cults.
Buffy: Yeah, plenty of blame to go around. You ever wish things were different?
Giles: All the time. Like anyone else I sometimes ponder how things could be, how they should be. But we are not gods, all we can do is try and make certain that fewer people have to endure the pain that we have.
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Giles then gave Buffy a hug, she was grateful for this comfort. Buffy didn't even notice as Giles stuck her with a needle, until it was too late. Buffy began losing consciousness, but in her rage she was able to knock Giles against the wall. As a result, Giles short circuited. Buffy realized that this Giles had been a robot, but it was too late, and she soon fell asleep. When Buffy woke up she was in a cell. Roger Wyndam-Price, Wesley's father, was standing outside.
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Buffy: How long has Giles been a robot?
Roger: That was the first time you met cyborg Giles.
Buffy: Angel told me about the cyborgs who attacked Wolfram and Hart, you were the ones who created them?
Roger: Yes. We hoped to bring Angel back, to reason with him. We sent a robotic version of myself in cast things went bad, so that the Watcher's Council would have plausible deniability.
Buffy: Why'd you sent a robot Giles after me?
Roger: Because the real Rupert Giles has a blind spot when it comes to you. He must have known what you were planning to do with D'Hoffryn, and still he gave you your space. Rupert Giles never would have abducted you like this.
Buffy: I've been writing it down very carefully what can be changed. I can make it so that Wesley never died, or do you not care?
Roger: Do you not think that I want my son back?
Buffy: I've heard things about you, maybe its just talk but...
Roger: I loved my son. But if D'Hoffryn is giving you the chance to change the world, there will certainly be a catch. We cannot take the chance. As soon as we find your proposed script we will destroy it.
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After Roger left Buffy tried calling for D'Hoffryn. He appeared, but only outside of the cage.
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D'Hoffryn: The watchers built this cell to keep me out, I regret to say it is working. I cannot let you out, and as long as you're inside you cannot make the wish. I have your script however, I have not changed a word. Perhaps I can convince one of your friends to release you.
Buffy: Roger was right about one thing, there will be a catch. I want to know what it is, right now.
D'Hoffryn: Very well, did you know that I was once human. I had a talent for vengeance, and I was recruited to become a vengenace demon. I started at the bottom and worked my way up to overthrow my predecessor and become king of Arashmaharr. The thing about tyrants, is we only stay in power when we're winning. When we lose too much, we are often overthrown by our own subordinates. I have to give my people victory, to convince them that we know what we're doing. To convince a slayer to make a wish that will change the world, to show that I have the power to change the world, that will help me stay in power.
Buffy: And no innocent people die because of this?
D'Hoffryn: Correct, and everyone that you mention in your list, you will have saved all of them. Although eventually they will die, even I cannot stop death from coming forever.
Giles: I am convinced.
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It appeared that D'Hoffryn wasn't just speaking to Buffy, he was also trying to convince the real Giles to release Buffy from her cell.
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Giles: I know there will be consequences, but perhaps I am weak, because I want them back. Dawn, Jenny, even Spike. Do it Buffy, make your wish.
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Buffy held her script and said "I wish for this to happen."
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Present
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Buffy had told her story to Angel and Spike. They understood why Buffy had made this wish. Whether it was morally right or not, that was more debateable.
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Angel: Okay, I appreciate that we now know exactly who sent those cyborgs after me. We died on May 19th 2004, what date is it now?
Buffy: September 28th 2004.
Spike: We've seen a few of the changes, why not fill us in on some of the rest.
Buffy: Remember Harmony?
Spike: What about her?
Buffy: She has her own reality show, she's more or less the leader of the "Reform Vampirism" movement. Vampires kind of live in the open, she's trying to convince them not to eat humans.
Spike: No kidding. Is that because they want to reform, or because they don't want to get dusted?
Buffy: Probably both. So a fair amount of innocent people are still alive because of my wish.
Angel: There's a really big catch, isn't there.
Spike: You know how much I hate to agree with Angel on, well pretty much anything. But yeah, he is right about that, isn't he?
Buffy: Yeah, Richard Wilkins.
Angel: The mayor, he's not dead in this new world?
Buffy: It's worse than you think.
Spike: It usually is.
Buffy: He's running for president of the United States. And in 35 days, there's a pretty good chance he'll be elected.