Five Classic Dawn-As-Key stories

[punch-kicker15.livejournal.com]

Here are five classic stories that involve Dawn's role as The Key in some fashion.

Humanity’s Enduring Asset by flurblewig Dawn/Kate, implied past Dawn/Faith, R-ish. Kate is fighting demons with Dawn, who is not quite human and has suffered losses, in this dark tale.

Fade by Branwyn (no rating listed, probably R for scenes involving cutting). Dawn begins to disappear after Buffy dies and the purpose for the Key spell fades away.

I Am the Puzzle by voleuse. Willow/Dawn, R. Dawn reaches out to Willow to teach Dawn magic. Dawn's role as Key is a little more oblique in this tale than others, but I think it's still there and important. The description of how it feels to do magic is lovely and evocative.

Terra Firma by Tulipp, Willow/Tara, R, is considered a classic W/T fic, but I found Dawn's storyline, the way she comes to terms with what being The Key means, to be far more engaging. There are other lovely character moments for the other Scoobies; my favorite is Anya delivering an incisive analysis of one of Xander's issues in her typical blunt fashion.

Habits Real Girls Have by wisdomeagle, Dawn/Tara (no rating listed, but probably R-ish, warnings for character death, blood, cutting, and implied sex). After Tara's death, Dawn tries to use her power as The Key to help, but the results are stranger and less straightforward than she hopes.

Comments

[punch-kicker15.livejournal.com]

I agree about it being relatively unexplored; I'm so glad that so many writers took up the challenge with such interesting results.