The Lion Beat the Unicorn

The Lion Beat the Unicorn


That night, when everyone was asleep, Buffy crept out of bed and sat in front of the fireplace.

“Would you like some company?”

“I was actually looking for you.”

“I know.”

“Hogwarts is a safe school?”

“It is extremely safe, Miss Summers.”

“Good.” Buffy took a deep breath. “I need to send Dawn there.”

“Why?”

“Because you heard the prophecy! It doesn’t matter if they kill my friends. As long as I remember them, I can kill him. But if they kill Dawn, then that’s it. It’s over.”

“In the prophecy, when it came to ‘your fellow sister’ you named Faith. Not Dawn, your blood sister, yet she seemed to understand why.”

“Faith is my sister Slayer. You see, I drowned for about two seconds, but in those two seconds, Kendra was called. But she died, and Faith was called. That’s why I didn’t name Dawn…She’s the Key.”

“Please elaborate.”

Buffy began her tale.

“The Key is a mystical ball of energy who can unlock the gateways between dimensions. The Key could only be used once, at a specific time, at a specific place. The monks who made the key decided that it needed protecting. So they took my blood, and made the key into a person. They put memories of Dawn growing up in her head, my head, my mother’s head, and everyone else that they needed to. Then Glory came to town. She was a Hellgod who had been banished from her dimension. So she made it her mission to find Dawn and use her. And she did too. You see, when Dawn was bled at that specific place at that specific time, Glory was trying to bleed the lining of every dimension into every other one. She knew that in the end, the only thing on Earth would be a living Hell and since she couldn’t go home, she was going to rule it. Well, I killed her with a Troll Hammer, but by the time I got to Dawn, she had already started it. And until Dawn was bled dry, the portal wouldn’t close. And then I realized that we shared the same blood.”

“So you jumped.”

“Yah. And the portal closed and then Willow brought me back from the dead.”

“I see.”

“That’s why no one can know that Dawn’s the key. The less people that know, the smaller the chance of it getting out.”

“So you want our protection?”

“Yes.”

“You got it.”

“Thank you.”

“In two days, Dawn will ride the Hogwart’s Express to Hogwarts and start there. Professors Lupin and Snape will join her.”

“Okay. I’ll have Giles take her.”

“Then all is settled.”

“Thank you Professor.”

“It is no problem my dear.”

“Well thank you anyway.”


____________________

Two days later, Dawn was all packed up. No one but the Scoobies, and Professor Dumbledore knew why they were sending her to Hogwarts in such a hurry. Dawn hugged everyone and said her goodbyes. Giles took all her luggage out to the rental car. They decided that the more normal her mode of transportation, the less chance they would be attacked.

Dawn engulfed Buffy in a tight hug. There were tears in their eyes.

“Rule number one.” Buffy began…

“Stay Alive.” Dawn finished.

“And stay away from hyena people, or any lizard-type athletes, you know, or if you see anyone that's invisible…” *

“I know! You never know what's coming. The stake is not the power. To Serve Man is a cookbook. I love you. Go away.” *

“Good girl.” Buffy gave her a slight push out the door. “Go.”

“Bye everyone!” Dawn waved once more, and then she was gone.

Buffy sighed and walked over to the couch. Draco put his arm around her and kissed her head.

“I’m fine.”

“Good!” Willow chirped.

“I have taken it upon myself to rewrite that prophecy.” She handed some papers to Buffy.

[Under the ninth of twelve, in the year of the rooster, - September, 2005
He who fell shall rise again.
Mortals shall fear him, demons shall envy him
And the Chosen one shall strike him down – Buffy will kill him
The Dragon, the Pirate,
Her fellow sister,
The Heathen Goddess,
The Father, and the Key – Draco, Xander, Faith, Willow, Giles…Key.
Together they will win the war.
For as long as they live in her memory,
At her hands, he will fall.
But if the Key is taken from its lock
And blood is spilled upon the Earth – If the Key is taken and bled
Every mortal will cease to live – everyone will die
And the master will join his minions. – and the Master will rise to the vamps
Under the ninth of twelve, - September
When the ground is bright under the full of the moon, - 28th /full moon
In the year of the rooster, - 2005
He who fell shall rise again. – Master will rise
And one alone can strike him down. – Buffy will kill
But if her key is not in her lock, - unless Key is dead
The Chosen one will fall.

On September 28th, 2005, under the full moon, the vampires will resurrect the Master on the hellmouth in Sunnydale. As long as Buffy remembers Draco, Xander, Faith, Willow, and Giles, she’ll be okay. But if the key is bled, then Buffy has no chance, and we’ll all die.]

“Gee. Thanks Willow.”

“Well I had to make it so that Xander could understand it!”

“Was I supposed to be offended by that?”

“No?”

“Okay.”

Buffy just watched this scene from her seat.

“Hey all! Damn it! Did I miss Dawn’s big farewell?”

“Yes Faith you did. By about half an hour.”

“Darn.”

Buffy twisted around to look at her.

“Why did you go to bed so late last night anyway?”

“Wanted to kill someone so I went out.”

“And?”

“Nothing. The streets are quiet.”

“Well, we are in England.”

“That’s not it B. and you know it. No matter where we’ve been, the vamps have always flocked to us. They know something’s up. Just like the last time something big rose.”

Buffy sat there, mulling this over when she screamed out in agony.

“Buffy?” everyone was around her at once.

“Something’s wrong.” She clutched her chest and her stomach and groaned, twisting and turning on the couch.

There was a great ‘pop’ in front of them.

Remus Lupin stood there.

“Hello.” He greeted them.

Willow frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Hogwarts with Dawn?”

It was his turn to frown. “I was supposed to pick her up at King’s Cross. But she never showed up.”

All eyes turned to Buffy’s form, obviously in pain. There was another yelp and then a thud. All eyes turned to where Faith had been standing on the stairs.

Willow ran up to her. “Faith?”

Faith was gritting her teeth so hard that Willow could hardly make out the words. “B is in some pain over there Red. Serious pain.”

Willow and Xander understood, and explained for Lupin and Draco.

“They’re linked. Faith and Buffy. In really big situations they feel what the other is feeling.”

“She stopped.” Draco said. Buffy had indeed stopped writhing on the couch. She had passed out.

“She didn’t.” Xander said. Faith was still awake. She lay still for a moment before rising to her feet.

“It’s gone.”

They all sat down around Buffy. Willow moved her hand above Buffy.

“What is she-?”

“Shh.” Lupin was cut off by Xander.

Willow closed her eyes and her hair started to blow about her. Much to Xander’s relief, it stayed red.

[A/n: This is all in Willow’s head…she is having a vision]

Dawn and Giles were sitting in the car. Dawn was singing along to the radio and Giles was keeping his focus on the road. Just then a long black limo swerved and hit them.

Dawn screamed, and Willow screamed too.

The sky got dark and at least 10 vampires emerged from the limo. Two of them lifted an unconscious Giles out of the car and laid him on he ground. One of them morphed into game face but was shoved to the ground.

“Leave him as a warning. We want the girl.”

Willow looked around. There was no one there.

“So…girl. Where is it?”

Dawn whimpered and so did Willow.

“Where is what?”

“The key girl! Where is the key!”

“I don’t have it!” Dawn struggled.

“All signs point to you. You must have it!”

Dawn said nothing.

“Ah. Does that mean it’s in you?”

“No!” Dawn screamed again and Willow did too.

“No?”

“I know where it is… I’ll tell you. Just don’t hurt me.”

“I won’t. At least, I won’t until you tell me.” The invisible voice let out a sinister chuckle and directed the vampires into the limo, leaving Giles on the ground.

-_END OF VISION_-

Willow’s eyes snapped open the same time that Buffy’s did.

“God.” Buffy whimpered again.

Xander looked worried. None of the Scoobies were used to seeing Buffy like this. She was normally in charge and barking orders and all for hunting the bad guys down and chopping them to pieces, but they knew that her one weakness was her sister. Lupin and Draco were just plain worried.

“The don’t know.” Willow finally spoke.

“What?”

“They think Dawn has the key. They don’t know...” Her voice broke.

“Know what?”

“Dawn is the key.” Buffy said, her voice slightly muffled, due to the fact that her face was buried in Draco’s chest.

“The Key is a mystical ball of energy that can unlock the gateways between all the dimensions. The monks who made the key decided to take Buffy’s blood, and make the key into a person. They put memories of Dawn growing up in her head, and everyone else that they needed to. But a while back, Glorificus came looking for Dawn. She was a Hellgod who had been banished from her dimension, so she was going to use Dawn and create a new one. The key could only be used at a specific time, in a specific place. And Glory was bleeding every dimension into every other one. She knew that in the end, the only thing on Earth would be a living Hell and since she couldn’t go home, she was going to rule it. Well, Buffy managed to kill her with a Troll Hammer, but by then, Dawn had already been cut. And the prophecy said that until the blood stopped flowing, the portal wouldn’t close. So Buffy…jumped. And it killed her. And I brought her back.”

Lupin and Draco just sat there in silence.

“That’s why I needed to send her to Hogwarts. To keep her protected.”

Buffy stood up and ran upstairs. Xander started after her.

Faith put her hand out. “She’s not running. She’s preparing.” And Faith ran after her.