Who: Dawn Summers and NPC’d Faith, Buffy, Connor Where: Glory’s tower When: Big Epic Battle Rating: High for feels, mentions of character death
Dawn had been working at her bonds the moment it seemed Glory was distracted, trying to get free, to the point that her wrists were raw and bloody. When the cutting had finally begun, she’d bit back the cries this time, struggling not to cry, but the pain was overwhelming, so much so that she could barely even hear Connor struggling next to her as much as she. "I promise I won't let you die," she thought she heard him say, but Dawn only shook her head. Her mind swam as she opened her eyes to see the portal beginning to slowly open in the air beneath the platform they were on, bringing to the forefront memories of a similar night. The players were almost the same, and all she could think was what she'd remembered.
Buffy, you have to let me go. Blood starts it, and until the blood stops flowing, it'll never stop. You know you have to let me. It has to have the blood.
There were more words, words she'd never said. She was never supposed to even exist; she shouldn't even be there. If she died, the world wouldn't miss her. Not like it would the Slayer. Buffy Summers. Her sister.
Now it was all happening all over again.
Her head snapped up when she heard a voice. Buffy. "HERE! I'M HERE! BUFFY!" Maybe, just maybe, Willow and the other witches had realized a way to stop the portal. They had more magic on their side, now, right? Maybe this didn't have to end in death. She watched as Faith ran over and moved to Connor to untie him, then shifted her attention when Buffy came into view. Dawn sagged with relief, but then tensed a moment later when she realized her sister wasn't meeting her eyes. "No," she whispered faintly, then shook her head. "Don't-" She was cut off by her sister and before Buffy could shift her, she turned towards the platform, ready to take that leap. The one that she should have taken all those years ago, not Buffy. Reaching for Connor's hand because she knew he'd come to the same conclusion, she froze as Buffy moved between her and the portal and started to speak.
Shaking her head halfway through the speech, tears filled her eyes. "You can't do this! Buffy, no!" Faith grabbed for Dawn, keeping her from going towards her sister, and Dawn watched helplessly as her sister drank from Connor seconds later, having realized the full truth and why this time was different. Breaking free again, Dawn started to run just as her sister did, only to be once again caught by Faith, who also reached out and grabbed Connor; when he managed to knock the Slayer out, the younger Summers didn't even notice. A shriek escaped Dawn's throat as she watched her sister take that leap all over again, still shaking her head in denial. Last time, Dawn had turned her face away when the lightning took her sister's soul, and her life. This time, she couldn't make herself look away, and she saw the energy tear through Buffy, turning her to dust in seconds. Another cry escaped Dawn as she fell to her knees on the platform, staring as the portal once again closed. Not again.