Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series and all the characters that appear on the show are the exclusive property of Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, The WB, UPN, Mutant Enemy, Inc. and any one else with a legal binding claim to the shows and/or characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Part Ten: Emotional Rescue

Dawn Summers knew her Lewis G. Carroll. She was falling fast, but she tried to steady her nerves with thoughts of the Wonderland stories. Alice had survived her tumble down the rabbit hole relatively unscathed, after all; she should be able to manage this plunge into an enchanted bowl of water. Or whatever was happening to her. Which meant she really should stop screaming...

She landed with a less than gentle thud and lay gasping for air. A quick check of all limbs revealed no serious injuries...but a surprising change of wardrobe. She had been wearing a worn pair of cords and a cool pink t-shirt she'd borrowed from her sister a long time ago. Now she was dressed in a gown of pearlescent green, tightly cinched at the waist and full skirted. She had matching silk slippers and stockings on her feet. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, and Dawn could not have been more frightened.

That was what she thought, anyway, until she got a good look around her and saw more eyes than she could quickly count staring back at her. Excited whispers she couldn't quite make out surrounded her, and she started scurrying backwards like a crab, using her hands to propel her until she hit a wall of rock. The eyes emerged out of the darkness and became faces, and Dawn knew what they were immediately. They grew closer as she tried to press herself into the rock, whimpering. When she saw hands reaching for her, she did the first thing that came to mind. Or, more accurately, came without any thought at all. Dawn screamed.

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"Dawn!"

Willow's eyes flew open and she half sat up in alarm. She found herself staring into Anya's concerned brown eyes, and pushed gently back to the ground. She felt a hand grab hers and turned her head, wincing at the pain that shot through it. She was relieved to see Tara lying beside her, struggling to smile. She turned back to Anya.

"Where's Dawn?"

"Gone," Anya said sadly. "What did you do to my spell? It was working just fine when I-"

"The book," Willow cut her off. "The spellbook. Where is it?" Anya shrugged.

"Probably confetti, like every other book that was near ground zero. Tara said Dawn was trying to do something with it."

"Yes, and she dropped it in the bowl we were using for the scrying," Willow said, remembering. "Then everything's a little fuzzy."

"Dawn screamed. Shop exploded. I just about lost my head to a flying bowl. When I looked up, she was gone."

“Gone? She left the shop?” Willow asked weakly, knowing in her heart that wasn’t what Anya was saying. The former demon shook her head, sighing in annoyance.

“Gone. Poof. There one second, not the next.”

"She got translocated," Tara said, struggling into a sitting position. The other two looked at her sharply.

"We weren't doing that kind of spell," Willow protested. "Translocation is, is very tricky, and we didn't even have the right tools or..."

"I know. I just...I think that’s what happened. I think it was the book. While we were preparing to do the spell to transfer your power to me temporarily, I saw a spell you could use to alter a scrying spell into a translocation spell."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Willow said, her expression hurt. Tara blushed in embarrassment.

"Because I was afraid you'd want to try that, Will. I knew if you thought there was a way to get to the guys to help them, you'd take it. It was too dangerous, I couldn't let..." Tara trailed off, unable to look at Willow's injured expression anymore.

"Whatever," Anya said sharply. "What you're saying is that Dawn is in that place? With Xander and the others?"

"I think so. But there's no way of telling exactly where she is," Tara said.

"And we can't see what's happening. We need get our picture back. Go on, get to scrying," Anya insisted. The two witches exchanged worried looks.

"We might not be able to," Willow admitted, then put on her resolve face. "But we're going to try. And we're going to figure out how to get Dawn back."

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"It came from near the mountain," Giles stated. He was referring to the scream they had heard moments before, the sound that had brought them all close to panic. The ground began to shake again, and all of them had to struggle to keep their feet. Giles couldn’t help but notice with annoyance that the tremors seemed to have no effect at all on the gnomes.

"We've got to get out of here! We've got to help her!" Spike said, echoing the feelings of his companions. Angel struggled to maintain some objectivity.

"There's too many of them, and if you can't fight...I don't think we'd make it," he said.

“I’ll fight. Don’t care what kind of headache I get,” Spike groused.

"We need to find some kind of weakness, something we can use," Giles said desperately.

"Well, we're taller. And better looking. And it's just a guess, but I think we're cleaner," Xander said, desperately scanning the area near the mountain for a glimpse of Dawn.

"Dammit Harris, don't make me have to kill you," Spike growled.

“As if, Sir Neutered,” Xander scoffed.

"Everybody just calm down!" Angel demanded forcefully. The others stopped talking and stared at him. "Okay, that's better. Giles, have you got anything, any way we can make our little protection field mobile?"

"No, I'm quite certain I...wait! I just thought of something. I might be able to manage...I mean, I never tried to, but my abilities seem to be greatly enhanced here and I-"

"Just do it, Giles. Whatever it is, if it will get us to past these guys and to Dawn, just do it," Xander said, Spike and Angel nodding agreement. Giles took a deep breath.

"Very well, we'll need to form a circle. Angel take my hand, Xander take his, Spike..."

"You want me to hold your hand?" Spike spit out distastefully.

"You want to save Dawn?" Giles responded, and Spike grabbed Giles and Xander's hands without another word. "Now, I need you all to close your eyes and imagine that there's a current of electricity running through the circle. I'm going to count to three. When I get to three, I need you to imagine you're sending all the energy in the circle into me. Are you ready? Take a few deep breaths...if you need to," he finished lamely at the vampires' looks. "Oh, and right after we do this, get ready to run. I'm going to have to lower the protection field to make this work."

"You want to tell us what we're doing?" Angel asked, but Spike spoke louder, clearly beyond worry over Dawn's welfare.

"Just do it!" he said. The four men closed their eyes, and felt tingling and warmth through their arms almost immediately. After a few seconds they heard Giles begin to count.

"One...Two..."

The tingling had built up to the point where it was nearly painful. They could feel something building inside them, something powerful. The air around them was crackling with energy as they prepared to release the energy.

"Three!" Giles roared, and the three men mentally pushed the strange feeling of power towards Giles. Almost immediately they heard screams of fear coming from the army. They felt empty and lethargic as they opened their eyes. All but Giles gasped at the sight that greeted them. The gnomes were all dangling twenty feet off the ground, struggling and crying out in fright. Giles touched Angel's arm, nearly falling over from exhaustion. Without a word Angel swung the Watcher over his shoulder and they began to run. Spike was the first to reach the mountainside, finding himself facing a craggy rock wall with smaller rock formations in front of it. He swung in a wide circle, sword at the ready, looking for some sign of Dawn. Finally he hit the wall in aggravation.

"Where is she?" he yelled as the others joined him. Angel put Giles down, steadying him. The Watcher was already recovering from his effort, but he was still pale and a bit anxious for Angel's liking.

"How long will that last?" he asked, just as all the gnomes fell to the ground.

"Not long," Giles said unnecessarily. "But the fall should have knocked them out. We've got to get moving before they wake up."

"Where?" Xander asked, seeing what Spike had already noticed. "She’s not here. There’s nothing here."

"Dawn!" Spike screamed, pounding ineffectually on the rock wall again.

"There has to be a way into the mountain. It's the only place she could have gone," Angel said, feeling the wall more carefully then Spike's pounding. "There's probably a trigger, or something..." Xander looked behind them nervously. Some of the gnomes were beginning to stir.

"We're about to have company, guys," he warned as he joined the others at the wall. Spike, his hands scraped and bloody from the pounding, backed away. Overcome with rage and frustration, he kicked a nearby rock. The four of them nearly fell as the ground suddenly began to quake. Xander and Giles grabbed hold of the wall while Angel turned to Spike, just in time to see him fall into a hole that had suddenly opened up underneath him. He saw that Spike's fingers still gripping the side and came to help just as the ground stopped shaking. The blonde vampire looked up at him, straining with effort to keep his precarious hold. He was highly annoyed to see Angel was grinning.

"What? You're not going to pull me out? I pulled you out when you fell into a big hole in the ground!" Spike spit out.

"Just let go," Angel laughed. Giles and Xander joined him leaning over the edge of the crevice and chuckled. Spike looked down and glowered up at them in embarrassment. His feet were dangling inches from a ledge that was essentially the top step of a spiral staircase that descended beyond where their eyes could see.

"Bloody hell," he muttered as he let go. Giles located a series of steps carved into the side that he and Xander used to climb down as Angel dropped down easily beside Spike. Giles gestured towards the steps.

"Clearly the gnomes use this. Perhaps it was even constructed by them. And Dawn likely found this passage before us; I bet that was why were heard that rumbling before."

"Then these buggers have the girl," Spike said.

"We don't know that," Xander said, clearly not believing his own words. He stole a nervous glance above, knowing that the awakening gnomes would certainly be following them any moment.

"So we go down and find out. Unless someone has a plan." Angel said shortly, starting down the stairs without looking back. Spike and Xander both looked at Giles for a moment before following. The Englishman snorted as he brought up the rear.

"Why do you keep looking at me? Are none of you capable of coming up with a plan?" Giles said, dropping his voice to a whisper as they went deeper.

"Not a good one," Xander replied softly. They tried to proceed with as much speed and as little noise as possible, keeping their ears out for any sign of the missing girl. There was no sound at all other than the noise that they themselves were making. Giles stole nervous glances behind them, but was surprised to find they weren't being followed. It wasn't a happy feeling of surprise, either.

"I'm starting to think this might be some kind of-" Giles whispered.

"Don't say trap," Xander said quickly.

"Why not?" Giles replied.

"Because as soon as you say it..." Xander began, just as Angel reached the bottom of the stairwell and disappeared under myriad swarming gnomes. Before they could even think of going to his aid, the steps they were standing on vanished and they found themselves plunging into the crowd. Within minutes they were all effectively bound and had been dragged to their knees. A smug gnome general walked past them looking triumphantly into each of their faces. Spike moved his head forward to try to bite the gnome and cried out with pain from both his chip and from the gnome that pulled his head back The gnome general laughed. He raised his hands over his head in what was clearly a gesture of victory and all the gnomes cheered. Angel, Spike, Xander and Giles found themselves being prodded to their feet and led single file into a tunnel, gnomes surrounding them on all sides. Angel sighed.

“Now this reminds me of Pylea.”

“What doesn‘t?” Spike said irritably. Angel pointedly ignored him.

“We went to rescue Cordy, and found ourselves as prisoners. Then it turned out they had made her princess.”

“Right. You mentioned that. So you’re thinking Dawn’s been appointed queen or something?” Xander asked skeptically.

“I know it’s not likely but I’m hoping,” Angel admitted, “Cause right now the rescue mission’s looking a bit more likely to fail than I’d like.”

“Things are looking a bit grim,” Giles concurred.

“Wait! We’re forgetting something. What about Buffy?” Xander asked suddenly.

“What about her? She’s probably painting her nails pink on the other side of this soddin mountain, wondering what’s taking us so long?” Spike asked.

“She’s not allowed to help us, Xander,” Giles said. Xander nodded.

“I know. But that doesn’t mean she can’t help Dawn, does it?”

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“What do you mean I can’t help?” The furious Slayer stopped just short of pummeling her angelic counselor. He regarded her calmly for a moment.

“I believe the statement is pretty self-explanatory,” he said. Buffy shook her head angrily.

“But Dawn’s in trouble!”

“Yes, it does appear so,” he answered reasonably. “And her fate is in the hands of your friends. Just as your own fate is. Are you saying you don’t have faith in them now?”

“Yes. No. That has nothing to do with this. She’s my sister!”

“Indeed. Buffy, do you remember what this is all about?”

“Yes. It’s a test. Of love,” she responded miserably.

“Consider this one more factor in the test. Granted, an unexpected one...” he added, frowning.

“You didn’t know this was going to happen,” Buffy said.

“No, can’t say I did,” he responded with deceptive casualness.

“I thought you had everything under control,” she added accusingly. He gave her a sad smile.

“If the outcome was predetermined, Buffy, what kind of test would it be? Your friends have everything they need to surmount these challenges. What wasn’t already there has been given to them, they need only reach for it. But you must know that there are dark forces that don’t wish to have you returned to the living.”

“So you’re saying they’re not playing by your rulebook?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you that these kinds of elements have little need for rules.” Seeing that the Slayer had started pacing furiously, he sighed. “Look, Buffy, you must relax. You have a lot of friends, you know. They have many skills...and sometimes they find themselves inspired.”

“Divinely inspired?” Buffy asked, freezing him with her hopeful gaze.

“Anything’s possible,” he answered with a small grin.

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“I don’t think we can count on Buffy to bail us out of this,” Giles said regretfully. “I think we’re on our own. And no, I don’t have a plan,” he added testily off of their looks. The passage they had been brought through was so narrow they’d had to proceed in crouches. They were weary but relieved when the tunnel finally widened out and they were prodded into a large well-lit anteroom. They blinked, stretched and tried to get a lay of their surroundings.

“I think Angel’s princess theory’s a no go too,” Xander said solemnly. “Look!” The others had already seen what he was talking about. There was a fairly small metal cage at the front of the chamber next to a platform, much like one might see in a zoo. The occupant had laid eyes on them and was reaching through the bars frantically.

“Dawn!” Spike yelled. He tried to break free and was quickly beaten down for his trouble.

“Spike!” Dawn screamed. “No! Please! Don’t hurt them!” she called to the gnome guards.

“Dawn, are you all right?” Giles asked, getting a rough shove from one of the guards in reply. He fell to his knees, and his companions soon were pushed down to join him. Giles dared look at Dawn, who was nodding and trying to smile reassuringly despite her trembling lips.

“Silence from the prisoners,” the gnome general ordered. “All Hail Queen Unxada! Queen of the Black Gnomes and Ruler of the North!” The gnomes all got quiet, bowing low, as a throne was carried in by a contingent of servants and settled on the dais near Dawn’s prison. Despite her royal finery, the queen had the same squat, unattractive appearance as the other gnomes. She waved her hand regally, and all the gnomes returned to attention. The four were prodded to their feet and brought before the throne. She regarded them with interest, her eyes glittering as she leaned down to look more closely at them.

“You are...human?” she said flatly, gesturing to Giles and Xander. Before they could say anything she waved her hand at Spike and Angel, her lip curling up in distaste. “You appear human, but you are not. What manner of creature are you?”

“Vampires, Your Highness,” Angel said quickly before Spike could respond. The queen frowned.

“Vampires are wizards?” she asked. “Magical beings?”

“Not...very...”Angel responded cautiously. He sensed there was more behind her question than what it seemed. The queen seemed to lose interest in the two vampires immediately and returned her attention to their human companions.

“You are wizards, yes?” she asked intensely. Giles and Xander looked at each other for a long moment.

“We are merely four knights on a quest, Your Majesty. We seek the Blade-”

“Bloody hell! Don’t tell ‘em what we’re after, you pillock!” Spike yelled. One of the gnomes behind him clubbed him in his left knee, making him fall with a cry of pain and causing Dawn to scream in dismay. He was back on his feet a moment later, clutching his knee while glaring at the queen and Giles. Angel gave him a warning look, and Spike’s eyes met Dawn‘s worried gaze. He smirked a bit to let her know he was alright, and she nodded, slightly relieved.

“Interesting,” the queen said, looking back and forth between the two men as if they had said something particularly amusing. Then she looked back at Giles and gestured behind her, towards the cage. “You know that girl?”

“She is my ward,” Giles answered honestly. “She...left where she was to be and followed me to your kingdom. I would greatly appreciate it if you could return her to me and allow us to continue our journey.”

“I’m certain you would,” Queen Unxada said, raising an ironic eyebrow. One of her servants came up and whispered something in her ear and she nodded. Then she pointed at Xander.

“You!”

“Me?” Xander answered back meekly.

“Are you a knight or a wizard, boy?”

“I‘m a knight, Your Worshipfulness,” Xander answered, adding as an aside to Giles, “Do I look like Harry Potter?”

“Not in the slightest,” Giles responded. The queen sat back and pondered them, drumming her fingers idly against the arm of her throne. She seemed to be considering something very grave.

“So the four of you are knights on a quest...might I assume it’s a noble quest? Aren’t they usually noble?” Queen Unxada added coolly. The four nodded, and the queen gestured towards Dawn again. “This girl is your ward, who simply wandered off and you wish to collect her?” she added. The four nodded more tentatively, and Dawn approached the bars, trembling.

“Please, Your Majesty. I just want to go home,” she said. The queen regarded her for a long moment, then sat back with a sigh.

“Very well. Generals, step forward,” she commanded. They approached and bowed to their queen. Giles looked back at the others a bit smugly.

“There, you see? It appears that one of the clear rules of this place is the truth will set you free,” he whispered. Dawn clutched the bars hopefully as the generals stood at attention, awaiting the queen’s orders. The queen finally made a sweeping gesture, looking away nonchalantly.

“Kill them all.”

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