Life is never dull when Ethan Rayne's in town. An old friend of Giles's, Ethan has popped up in town from time to time to see 'Ripper' and generally cause mayhem. They were friends at University and when Giles decided to use magic to get away from his calling as a Watcher, Ethan came along for the ride. Unfortunately, that ride got a little bumpy when Giles, Ethan and some other chums called forth the demon Eyghon and were then unable to send him back. Giles went back to being a Watcher while Ethan embraced the dark side and decided to liven up the world though the 'amusing' use of magic.

This brings us back to Sunnydale Junior Year, when Ethan, having tracked down 'Ripper' decides to open a costume shoppe, just in time for Halloween. But these costumes aren't just for show, once Ethan activates a spell they turn their wearers into who they are play-acting. Take Xander, Willow and Buffy for example. Xander was wearing army surplus, hence Army guy, Buffy became a character out of a Jane Austen novel, all fainty, while Willow became a ghost. And all the kids of Sunnydale become nasty little demons (not much change there then?)

Giles soon realised who was doing this and tracked Ethan down, giving him a little pummeling before breaking the spell, which Ethan used as a cover to get away.

Then Eyghon tracks Giles and Ethan down, using the tattoos they branded themselves with. Ethan, not wanting to die, lures Buffy back to the costume shoppe and knocks her out. He then ties her to a table and tatoos the Mark of Eyghon onto her neck and removes his own with a bottle of acid. This means that Eyghon will come for Buffy instead and he'll live to fight another day. Once again Giles comes to save the day, (with a little help from Angel), but once again Ethan escapes.

He just can't stay away though and is recruited bu Mr. Trick to make some 'special' candy bars which the school sells to the unsuspecting adults of Sunnydale turning them into children again and stealing their babies for a ritual while they re-enact thier youth. This time Buffy tracks him down, with Giles and her mother in tow and Giles tells her to hit Ethan because she's his Slayer. Buffy goes to save the babies and once again he manages to get out of town before the Slayer and her Watcher can do him some serious damage.

Which brings us the the present and the next visit from Ethan. He's back in town to cause Giles some trouble (as usual) but this is a little more elaborate as he transforms Giles into a demon and lets the Ex-Watcher cause all the mayhem in Sunnydale. This time it's Buffy and Riley (with a little help from the magic shop) who find Ethan, who is getting beat up by the Demon Giles. Buffy forces him to change Giles back and once he does Riley uses his military powers to arrest Ethan and get him taken to a secure military facility so he can be 'rehabilitated'.

Is this the last we will see of Ethan, figures crossed that he manages to break out to cause Sunnydale some more grief. :)

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