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The Core, Part Three is the twenty-third issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine comic book series. Joss Whedon is the executive producer.

Synopsis[]

Dawn’s life hangs in the balance, and Buffy will stop at nothing to save her little sis. Willow, Xander, and Buffy reunite to save the girl they love and begin a journey that reveals betrayal amongst the ranks as they descend into the mysterious Deeper Well, former home of Illyria and many powerful Old Ones.[1]

Summary[]

Simone and Severin descend into the Deeper Well. Simone is irked when Severin is overwhelmed by the power he drained from Illyria and mistakenly calls her Clare. Meanwhile, Buffy and Willow decide not to help the Mystical Council fight the Siphon. Severin and Simone and jump down into the well, leaving Xander behind with the Brahma.

Spike is enraged at finding out that the memories he recorded of Dawn on the tape recording have become static and blames Andrew for giving him a bum recorder. He is also frustrated that he has forgotten her name. Dawn interrupts Spike from where she is listening at a doorway and shows him her hand which has become transparent - she tells them she’s disappearing.

Buffy and Willow continue their descent and neither one of them can recall the name of Buffy's sister. Illyria and Eldre Koh also move down the well to try to stop the siphon. Xander begs the Zen demon guarding him to let him go down and stop The Siphon too, but the demon tells Xander to accept his place in the universe. Xander receives a telephone call from Spike who informs him that the Slayer's sister is disappearing and that he is giving him a chance to say goodbye. Xander also can't remember Dawn's name.

Severin is in the Deeper Well drawing power and calls out for Simone's help but she has left his side, saying she has her own reunion planned. Buffy follows Willow through the tombs as Willow seeks the magic she needs to save Dawn. Willow begins glowing red and excitedly tells Buffy there might be enough magic in the well for everyone. 

Xander tells Dawn not to worry and that Buffy will figure everything out. He says that even if Dawn fades and everyone forgets her, she is still a part of him and he will never stop fighting for her. Dawn smiles at this but she is no longer able to hold the phone and her arms are both fading. Spike tells Xander the news that Simone is turning slayers into zompires.

Simone cuts herself in order to summon Maloker, the demon who sired the first vampire. Everyone in the well begins to hear a loud roar. Buffy and well Willow stumble across Maloker's now empty tomb and Willow convinces Buffy that she should go and do her slayer duties while she gets the magic for Dawn. Buffy hesitates when she remembers that Willow left previously, abandoning her without saying goodbye but soon agrees to go. 

Maloker fights off The council and Illyria and Eldre Koh slip past him to find Severin. Buffy mistakes Xander for Maloker and almost attacks him but he warns her of Simone's plan. Buffy recognizes the slayer Tessa as the extra strong zompire that attacked her. Xander asks why Buffy is bleeding and she says she's not and they find Simone's lifeless body on the ground. Buffy realizes Simone's real plan and moves to slay her prone body but Simone reaches up and stops Buffy, breaking her wrist. Simone is now a slaypire.

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Preview[]

Quotes[]

Dawn: "It's not his fault. I'm disappearing."
Xander: "And what about my fist? Where is its place in the universe?"
Xander: "You're part of me. And as long as you're part of me, I will never stop fighting for you."
Willow: "Maloker."
Buffy: "Why does that sound like a name Giles lectured me about?"
Willow: "It was a name Giles lecutred you about."

References[]

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