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Chapter 15- Whoa! Offline Troll!

Magic Box

Buffy and Peter were sparring as she ducked to avoid a flip kick of his before sweeping herself at his feet but he flipped back to avoid too.

"You're good", she complimented.

"Fast learner I guess", Peter shrugged as he threw a punch which she deflected before he deflected her kick.

"So you really think they might be able to help us?" Buffy then asked Giles who was watching from a corner.

"Uh, if you mean are they gonna help us find out something about Glory ...", Giles tried to explain. "Uh, the resources that the ... Watchers Council has at their disposal", he got wistful now. "I mean the Central Library alone is just..."

Buffy stopped sparring, making Peter stop too.

"Don't talk about the books again", she said to Giles sternly. "You get all ... and sometimes there's drool."

"Hey, books are nice", Peter said, making Buffy resume sparring with a punch as he blocked in time.

Giles said apologetically. "I'm sorry, but we, we've really exhausted the materials I have here, and we're coming up empty."

Buffy tried to sweet Peter's feet from underneath him but he did a cartwheel to avoid and tried to kick her in a spin motion but she leaned back to avoid too.

"So, Glory's all you're gonna talk to them about, right?" Buffy then asked Giles as she stopped again.

Giles nodded and said to them. "You two should take a break."

Peter nodded as Buffy asked Giles. "Answer me."

Giles moved away and gestured with his hands. "I, I'm not gonna mention Dawn's name. I wouldn't do that, I promise."

"But you're gonna tell them about the Key? That Glory's looking for something called the Key?" Buffy then asked.

Giles said. "Well, knowing her goal is, is crucial. I mean, i-i-if anything helps them uncover her origins, her, her plans..."

"I know. It's just I trust these Watchers about as far as ... you could throw them", Buffy said.

Giles poured himself a glass of water. "Thank you very much."

"What did the Council do so bad though?" Peter asked, still in the dark about that.

"They had Giles drug me for my 18th birthday so they could make me fight a really bad Vampire, but he escaped and mom and Dawn both got in trouble, but I replaced some pills he took with holy water, which killed him", Buffy said as Peter looked at Giles incredulously.

"You drugged her?" He asked.

"I know what I did was wrong, so I have no feet to stand. Any apologies won't make up for that", Giles said, still guilty he had done to Buffy, even he had felt pressure from the Council.

Buffy sighed, not wanting to talk about that incident anymore. "I'm just freaked about the idea of giving them any information that could possibly lead them to Dawn.

She came over and sat on a bench. Giles sat next to her and Peter next to him.

"Truly, Buffy, if I saw an alternative ... if, if the Initiative were still around, I'd consider using them, but... they're gone, and then Riley was, was, uh, the last link we had to the government", Giles wiped his face with a towel. Buffy looked down sadly as Peter put an arm around her, making her smile at him.

Giles started. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay. You can say his name", Buffy said pensively. "I'm doing all right. These things happen. People break up and they move on ... for a while it feels like the end of the world, you know, but ... big picture..."

"Not so huge."

Buffy looked at Giles in disbelief. "Not so huge? I just said it feels like the end of the world, don't you listen?"

Giles looked dismayed. Buffy leaned in closer toward him and whispered. "I'm teasing."

Giles gave a relieved smile. "Oh."

"Sort of. I'll be okay", she said.

"Well, I do hate to go if you're feeling badly", Giles started.

"Look, if it help you find out something about Glory", she patted him on the back. "I'm thrilled to have you gone.

She hopped off the bench and walked away.

"She's not thrilled, right?" Peter finally asked.

"Nope, not one bit", Giles shook his head before turning to Peter. "You take care of her, Peter."

"Me, I'm just a k-"

"I know, you are about the same age as Dawn, but you have maturity beyond your years because of what you've experienced", Giles said to Peter, putting a hand on his shoulder as Peter felt flattered and even proud. "I know you can take care of them in my absence."

"I will", Peter assured with a nod as Giles nodded with a smile and walked away.

Later

Anya, Xander, Willow, Tara, and Buffy sat around the round table looking at books and papers. Xander had Willow on his right and Anya on his left. Giles stood next to the table fastening his tie.

"You're going away for a week?" Anya asked. "That's great!"

"Yes, yes, everybody seems delighted about it", Giles picked something up to read.

"Well, I get to run the store, right?" Anya asked. Giles looked alarmed.

"You? Ah, w-well, it's quite a lot for one person to take care of", Giles said. "Well, I-I mean, the trash men, for example, I mean, they, they, they've been making such a mess in the back alley, the recycling people can't get in there to collect. Well, somebody has to talk to them.

"I can take care of that", Anya said.

"I'm envious, Mr. Giles", Tara told him. "A trip to England sounds so exciting and exotic", she then realized something. "Un...less you're English." Giles grinned.

"Look, don't worry about the shop. We'll take care of it. We can open and close, and, and we'll deal with everyone", Buffy assured as Anya frowned.

"We can come by between classes!" Willow said. "Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens ... but it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know, insane."

"I said "quirky"", Tara reminded.

"Hello, I work here!" Anya said, annoyed. "I'll take care of everything.

Xander didn't look up from his reading. "Yeah, Anya can do it!"

"Thanks, sweetie", she patted his shoulder. "Well said."

"Um, Anya, while, while I completely trust you uh, uh, to take care of the inventory and the money, um ... dealing with people requires a certain, uh ... finesse", Giles said carefully.

Anya was angry now. "I have finesse! I have finesse coming out of my bottom! I can completely lie to the health inspector. I can, you know, distract him with coy smiles, and, and bribe him with money and goods."

"See there? She'll be great", Xander said.

"Don't worry, Giles. I'll help her take care of everything. It'll be ship-shape. Better, it'll be shop-shape", Willow smiled.

"Xander, she's talking to Giles like I'm not here. Make her stop", Anya said.

"Perhaps I'd better call the airline..."

"I'm just trying to help out! Xander, tell her", Willow smacked Xander in the arm.

"…..schedule an earlier flight back, excuse me." Giles finished.

"Tell her that I don't need her help", Anya said to Xander about Willow. Xander sat between Anya and Willow looking uncomfortable.

Xander asked Buffy. "So, how goes the slaying?"

"I killed something in a convent last night", Buffy said.

"In any other room, a frightening declaration. Here, a welcome distraction", Xander said. Anya and Willow both looked at him. "Tell us all about the killing, Buff."

"Pretty standard. Vampire staking. Ooh! But I met a nun, and she let me try on her wimple", Buffy said.

"Okay, now we're back to frightening."

Later

Spike said softly. "Um ... there's something I got to tell you. About showing you Riley in that place." He took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to ...", a long pause. "Anyway, I know you're feeling all betrayed - by him, not me."

He was talking to a mannequin, which had no legs but wore a blue blouse and a blonde wig. It was set up on a block of stone so that it was about Buffy's height.

"I was trying to help, you know. Not like I made him be there, after all. Actually trying to help you. Best intentions."

He got a little agitated, paced a few steps away. "I mean, you know, pretty state you'd be in, thinking things are all right", moved back toward the mannequin. "While he's toddling halfway round the bend."

He stared at the mannequin, getting madder. "Oh, I'll insult him if I want to! I'm the one who's on your side! Me! Doing you a favor!" He got very angry. "And you, being dead petty about it - me, getting nothing but your hatred and your venom and - you ungrateful bitch!"

He lost control of himself, smashing the box of chocolates over the mannequin's head. "Bitch!"

He hit the mannequin with the chocolates again and it fell over. The box of chocolate went flying. Spike sighed. He picked up the mannequin and replaced it. He carefully rearranged the wig, sighing again, then picked up the box of chocolate, trying to stuff the chocolates back in. He composed himself and faced the mannequin again. "Buffy ... there's something I wanted to tell you…."

Later, Magic Box

Anya sat on a stool near the shelves, holding a pencil and notepad. Willow was at the counter, where she had a large cauldron and a bunch of vials and containers laid out. "Fleabane...", she measured some stuff into her mortar.

"Fifteen cents", Anya wrote.

"Salamander eyes..." Willow put them into the mortar.

"Ten bucks for twelve. Bargain", Anya wrote.

"Bindweed", Willow put it in.

"Ugh, ooh, that's a pricey one", Anya wrote.

"Would you stop that?" Willow asked. "It's very distracting."

"Fine. Make your little ball of sunshine. I'll be quiet", Anya said.

"Good, because this spell is very sensitive. Once I begin, any non-ritual word can disrupt it", Willow mashed the ingredients together with the pestle.

"Fine."

"Okay, here we go", Willow poured the mixture into the cauldron. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Did you start yet?"

Willow exhaled loudly, turning to give Anya an annoyed look. "Shh, no! This is it."

Again she closed her eyes and inhaled. "Spirits of light, I invoke thee. Let the gloom of darkness part before you."

A small circlet of yellow-orange light arose out of the cauldron and began to spin.

"Let the moonlight be made pale by your presence. Spirits-"

"Is it done?"

"Shh!"

The circle of light flashed brighter and grew a bit larger.

"Spirits of light, grant my wishes."

"Sorry, I thought you were done."

Willow got angry. "Do you wanna screw this up?"

Willow turned away to yell at Anya. The circle of light grew bigger and brighter, and its spinning became less smooth. It continued to grow and twist crazily.

"No. No. I'm sure you can do that all on your own."

"Hey Anya, whatever really has you mad, why don't you just say it, like you do every other thought that stomps through your brain?" Willow asked.

Anya stood up. "I believe I have said it."

"No. You haven't. Come on. Let it out!" Willow said.

The circle of light suddenly dropped down through the glass of the countertop and touched a large crystal that was in the display case underneath. It gave off a big flash of light and a large demon suddenly appeared next to the counter. Willow and Anya shrieked and grabbed each other. He stumbled a bit, got his balance and looked around. He was about seven feet tall, with long hair and green scaly skin and a big beard covering most of his face, and two curved horns on his head. He held a large hammer.

Anya and Willow stared in shock. He looked at himself, looked around. He turned and saw the two women, and roared loudly. They shrieked again and clutched each other. He turned and used his hammer to smash a display case full of merchandise, then another, growling all the time. Then he smashed a statue on a pedestal. He went to the door and stumbled outside, still roaring. Willow and Anya came forward.

"He's not a ball of sunshine", the former finally said.

Later

Giles's convertible zoomed down the streets of Sunnydale. There was another car by the side of the road with its side all smashed in.

"There, that parked car! We're still on his trail", Anya said driving while Willow sat in the passenger seat holding a bunch of papers. The car screeched around a corner.

"I don't even get how we made that guy, because, wow, advanced!" Willow continued looking through the papers.

"No one made him", Anya said. "He must have been trapped in that crystal, and you released him."

"I released him?" Willow asked angrily. "No, this was definitely a "we" thing. Or, or a "you" thing! I-it definite feels like a "you" thing."

"Look, just find the reversal spell. And hurry! Look what he did to that lamppost!" Anya said as they saw a lamppost lying on the ground, broken in two.

"I'm trying. Put the top up, the pages are all blowy!" Willow warned.

"Well, I don't know how to put the top up, I only just figured out what the left pedal does", Anya turned to smile at Willow. "It makes us stop!"

Anya slammed on the brake and they slowed down with a screech. Willow grabbed the side of the car for balance. Anya resumed driving.

"You don't know how to drive? Why didn't you say you don't know how to drive?" Willow asked incredulously.

"Well, I couldn't know if I could until I tried, could I?" They exchanged an angry look.

Willow started. "This is very, very bad. There, there's an ogre on the loose-"

"Troll."

"What?"

"Troll on the loose. Now hold on, I'm gonna press the right pedal harder", she smiled. "I expect us to accelerate."

She pressed on the gas pedal and they both leaned back in their seats as the car sped up. Willow looked very angry.

She yelled over the engine's noise. "There's a troll on the loose, and you're gonna crash Giles' car!"

Anya actually agreed. "It's likely. We're going very fast. You should have listened to me and not done the spell. Giles put me in charge."

"Giles can be an idiot", Willow said. "The smart kind, but still."

"Xander agreed", Anya said.

"Oh, right. Xander doesn't step out of line", Willow said.

Anya turned to look at her. "Well, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing", Willow looked ahead, pointing at something. Anya looked, twisting the wheel quickly. The car screeched around another corner, narrowly missing hitting another parked car, which had its roof bashed in. Some of the papers flew out of Willow's hands and were gone with the wind behind the car. Willow watched them go.

"Find that spell quickly!" Anya said.

"Whoa, that's gone", Willow said as he looked behind only for Peter to swing to the area as he grabbed the papers in a swift motion before flipping and landing in front of Willow and Anya.

"Did you drop these, my ladies?" He asked jokingly as Willow took the papers from him with a smile.

"Thanks Peter", she said.

Peter then asked. "I saw some carnage, what's going on?"

"Anya let out a troll!" Willow said as Anya looked offended.

"Hey, you were the one who started the spell!"

"You distracted me!"

"No you-"

"A troll?" Peter asked. "Like, from the Internet? How does that work exactly?"

"Get your head out of science, you doofus!" Willow tapped Peter's head. "A troll, like from the, the mythology stuff and all that."

"Oh, like Lord of the Rings", Peter said in realization.

"Yes, exactly like that, but smaller", Willow said.

"Willow let him out!" Anya said.

"No Anya did!"

"No Willow did!"

"Okay, first we find the troll then we figure out who let him out", Peter said, feeling like the only adult around right now even though he was the only one among the three under 18.

Same time, Bronze

Xander took a bowl of peanuts from the counter and turned away. As he walked away he bumped into Spike, who was drinking a mug of beer.

"Hey, watch it", he saw Xander. "Oh, it's you."

"Spike, don't let me stop you from not being here", Xander said.

"I was here first, you know", Spike said.

"Uh-huh. Go away", Xander walked off. Spike grinned and followed him.

"Now why would I do that, when it's bugging you so much having me here?" Spike asked with a smirk.

Xander sat at a round table and began shelling the peanuts. Spike watched.

"They have chicken wings too. Also a sort of a flower-shaped thing they make from an onion. It's brilliant", Spike said.

"Are you talking to me hoping that I'll get so depressed that I'll impale myself on a fork right in front of you?" Xander asked.

"Lovely thought", Spike said. "If I don't hurt you myself, the chip wouldn't zap me. I could eat you that way. Beat the onion thing all to hell."

Spike reached over to take one of Xander's peanuts. Xander slapped his hand away. "Hey! Those are mine."

"My, my. Someone's in a temper", he said down opposite Xander. "This all sympathetic misery borrowed from the Slayer?"

"What? No, nothing to do with Buffy", he said.

"So she's all right then. Not, uh ... holding grudges", Spike said.

"What are you talking about?" Xander asked. "What does Buffy have to do with anything? What grudges?"

"Oh, yeah. Okay. No need to talk about her then. I'm sure she's merrily slaying some pals of mine, having a grand old time, wish I was too", Spike eyed Xander warily as he took another sip of his beer.

Same time, Magic Box

"This is very bad", Buffy stepped around the broken debris lying on the floor. "Willow? Anya?"

Tara came running from the back room. "They're not back there either, they're gone." They got anxious. "Buffy, something's been here and Willow's gone.

"Don't worry. We'll get her back, I promise." Tara nodded. "Come on, this thing's probably leaving a huge trail."

Buffy grabbed Tara's hand and they both ran out.

Same time, Bronze

Spike and Xander were playing pool together.

Xander was saying. "And they get in these fights, and they're both looking at me like I'm the referee. Also, sometimes I'll say something about Anya, and Willow willl get this look, this, um, "what the hell do you see in her" look."

"I know that look. Lot of people never really got Dru, you know", Spike said.

"Well, she was insane."

Spike looked offended.

"Then it's like, well, I get all torn. Because, Willow's my best friend and I really value her opinion, but, uh, Anya's my girlfriend, you know?"

"Hmm. What does the Slayer think of all this ... friction in the ranks?" Spike walked around the pool table to study the angles. "Can't be good for morale."

"I don't know."

Spike was bitter. "She's a little ... preoccupied, maybe. It's understandable what with all the upset, all the blaming of innocent bystanders who got caught up in the mess."

"What?"

Spike walked closer to Xander. "I mean, did she want to be made a fool of? And, what does a person have to do to make it right?"

The Troll walked past, bumping Spike's shoulder. "Hey, watch it, mate."

Spike turned to look up at the Troll. Both he and Xander stared.

"On second thought, do what you like", Spike said as the Troll sniffed the air.

"Ale! Yes!" He walked over to where a guy was wheeling a dolly with two half-kegs on it. "Ah, fragrant ale!"

He picked up a keg with one hand, lifted it to his mouth and began to drink.

Xander, still standing behind Spike asked. "So, uh ... think I should run and get Buffy?"

The troll finished off the keg, sighed happily and tossed it aside. He looked around at the patrons staring at him in fear. He spotted a waitress. "Barmaid! Bring me stronger ale, and some plump, succulent babies to eat.

"I'm gonna run and get Buffy and Spider-Man", Xander patted Spike on the shoulder. "Or maybe you could fight him."

"Yeah, I could do that, but I'm paralyzed with not caring very much", Spike said. "And I know Peter is Spider-Man."

"Oh!"

The troll pointed at Spike. "You there!" He walked up to Spike and Xander. "Do you know where there are babies?"

"What do you think, the hospital?" Spike asked Xander.

"What? Shut up!" Xander turned to the Troll. "Um ... listen…."

"I find myself very hungry. And when I'm hungry I grow short of patience."

"Well, we can take care of the hungry, so how's about you just sit down in one of the ... sturdier chairs, and we can ... have a calm talk and something to eat", Xander said.

"Can it be babies?"

"Well, not so much."

"Oh", he said, disappointed.

"But maybe ... some roast pigs, and ... stags, and ... much hearty grog", he grinned nervously.

"They've got this onion thing..." Spike started.

"You cannot appease me! Do not try!" He turned away. "More ale!"

He grabbed the second keg off the dolly. Xander and Spike edged toward the door. Just as they reached it, Peter, Anya and Willow entered. Willow carried a book.

"Xander! You shouldn't be here. There's a troll", Anya went over to him and they put their arms around each other.

"Uh, a big guy? Hammer?" Anya nodded. "I think I noticed him." He pointed. Peter, Anya and Willow looked over at where the Troll was draining the second keg.

"I wish Buffy was here too", Willow said.

The door opened again and Buffy ran in, followed by Tara.

"I'm here", Buffy said.

Willow looked surprised. "I wish I had a million dollars." The others looked at her. "Just checking."

"So that's what an offline troll looks like", Peter commented to himself.

"What's going on? Where did he come from?" Buffy asked.

Spike stepped forward, looking nervous. "Hello, Buffy." Buffy looked at him.

"Willow stole ingredients and released him from a purple crystal. He's a troll", Anya said.

Spike looked annoyed, stepping back.

"You did this?" Buffy asked Willow.

"Me? No, we. I mean, us", she pointed to Anya. "Uh, her. It's very complex."

"Well, we can stop him. Willow, do the spell", Anya said.

Willow opened her book to read. "Uh, let the conjuring be-"

The troll suddenly stopped drinking and looked over at them. "Stop!"

They all looked up at him. He growled.

"Nobody lets me finish!" Willow complained.

He turned to Anya. "You ... told the witch to do that, Anyanka." Anya looked alarmed. "You seem determined to put an end to all my fun. Just like you always did when we were dating!"

Peter, Buffy, Tara, and Willow stared at Anya. Spike stared at Anya. Xander frowned.

"Uh, um..."

"You dated him?" Xander asked.

"You dated a troll?" Buffy asked.

"Seriously? Even online trolls are a better choice!" Peter said.

"And we're what, surprised by this?" Willow asked.

"Well, he wasn't a troll then! You know, he was just a big dumb guy, and ... well, you know, he cheated on me and I made him into a troll, which by the way is..." Anya was embarrassed. "How I got the ... job as a vengeance demon."

The troll roared angrily and smashed the countertop with his hammer. Patrons screamed and ran away

"I did not cheat! Not in my heart. It was only one wench! I, I had had a great deal of mead! Next thing I know, I'm a troll! Ohh ... ohh ... you did this, Anyanka. You will die for this."

"But, but, you seem to enjoy the, the being a troll", Xander said.

He shrugged. "I adjusted. And then what happened? Witches." Willow looked offended. "Filthy, dirty, disgusting witches. They trapped me. I was imprisoned in that crystal for centuries. Ohh, a curse on all witches! All must die!"

"Willow, again", Buffy ordered.

"Uh, uh", she looked at the book. "Let the conjuring be undone. Return the beast to native form."

He roared. "Witch, you must stop!"

"Keep it far from us and ours as long as my voice shall sound."

He paused, looking down at himself. Nothing happened. He began to laugh. Willow flipped pages frantically.

"It did not work!"

"Okay, wait! Uh, "Let the conjuring-""

Olaf lunged forward but Buffy kicked him in the chest. As she drove him back, kicking and punching, Spike followed right behind her. Buffy ducked a punch and Spike prepared to punch Olaf himself, but got caught by a swinging arm and went flying aside. Buffy seized Olaf and shoved him down on a pool table. They both grappled for his hammer. Olaf shoved Buffy and she went flying backward into Spike, who had just gotten up. They both fell down again.

Olaf got up from the pool table and was going to smash the pillars when Peter grabbed his hand as the two grunted, trying to overpower each other before Peter head-butted him. "Man, I just hate Internet trolls!"

He tried to swing but Peter fired webbing into his eyes, making him stagger back. "But you are worst than all of them combined, you offline troll!"

People screamed and ran.

Olaf ripped the webbing off and hit Peter with his fist, sending him flying off, and was about to smash the pillars again before Peter webbed his feet and pulled, making him crash to the ground as some of it shattered.

Willow chanted something in a different language and the hammer was pulled away from his grip.

As he got up, Buffy gave him a punch before avoiding a blow and grabbing his hand, twisted, making him grunt, and then kicked him away into Spike who punched his face, sending him back once more.

Peter then webbed his face and leapt at him, kicking his face as he staggered again.

He then ducked to avoid a punch and grabbing Olaf's wrist, actually managed to flip him to the ground as it shattered, making him groan in pain.

"Let the transmogrification be complete", Willow said and with that, Olaf vanished.

"You dated him?" Xander asked Anya.

"Yeah", she said lamely.

"But you like me more, right?" He asked.

"Yeah", she said as they shared a smile.

"Now, who released the troll?" Peter asked Anya and Willow and even with the mask, it was obvious what his face was like, and in this moment, he seemed older than the adults.

"Willow!"

"Anya!"

"Tell us what happened exactly", Buffy asked.

"So I was making sunshine while Anya was naming prices, and so I turned to tell her how annoying she was, and it went wrong", Willow said.

"Anya, never disturb people doing magic", Peter said sternly as she nodded like a child.

Willow smirked before Peter turned to her, making her gulp. "And Willow, I don't have much experience with magic but its not to be used lightly. Any minor mistake can have bad consequences."

"Like that time me and the Slayer were about to get married", Spike said with a fond smirk as Buffy glared at him.

"You two were gonna get married?" Peter asked in confusion.

"Not important!" Buffy said.

"Anyway, you need to have some rules- First, don't do too much magic, second, do it when you're fully sure you got it, and three, when you're doing it pay attention!" Peter said.

"Uhh, okay", Willow nodded, now really feeling like she was 16 and Peter was older.

"And apologize to each other", Peter said.

"Sorry Anya, you are not as annoying as I say you are. And if Xander wants to date you, his choice", Willow said.

"Well, I guess I am sorry I interrupt you too much and name money, no, money is-"

"Anya!"

"I am sorry, Willow."

"Well then, all sorted out", Peter said before walking out. "I have some more work to do."

With that, he swung off as Tara asked. "Was it just me or did he seem older than he was?"

A day later

Buffy and Giles sat at the table in the Summers dining room.

"I cringe to think what the place would have looked like if I'd been away for longer than three days", Giles said.

"Well, maybe we would have had time to clean it up. You know, if Willow used some magicks to help", Buffy said.

"Yes, 'cause nothing could possibly go wrong with that", Giles said.

"At least Peter gave them business. He is real mature for his age", Buffy said.

"Yes, that he is", Giles agreed. "He knows with his great power, he has got great responsibility."

Joyce entered with a tray holding a teapot and several mugs. "Rupert, I still don't understand –" Giles got up and takes the tray. "Oh, thank you - why the other Watchers made you go all the way to England when they don't know anything."

She and Giles sat down on either side of Buffy.

Giles passed the mugs. "Well, they don't know it ... yet. I mean, they have no record of, of Glory or anyone like her, but, uh, based on the information that I've given them, they're gonna look into it. Um, they might have something soon."

"What about the key? Were they all over it?" Buffy asked.

Giles warily said. "Yes." He turned to Joyce. "You, you know all of this?"

"I got some of it myself, Buffy told me the rest", Joyce said.

Giles poured tea. "Well, they're interested, certainly, and, uh, full of theories."

He sat back, lifting his cup. "Most of them ... nonsensical."

"They don't know that it's Dawn", Buffy said.

"No."

"I still can't begin to grasp this. I mean, she's my little girl, I... " Joyce trailed off.

"It is disorienting", Giles said.

"Giles, what happens if they figure it out? What would they do?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know", Giles said.

"Oh, I can't even think about this. It's too ... I'll get some more milk", Joyce said.

Unbeknownst to them all, Dawn had heard part of the conversation from the stairwell and now looked upset.

As sweet as Xander protecting both Anya and Willow equally was, the troll hammer should have realistically turned him into a bloody splatter in one hit, since it could beat down Glory.

Also, I think one reason Willow's magic addiction got so bad in Season 6 was because no one called her out on her magic overuse earlier and when they did, she got offended so they left her alone, or something happened which prevented the discussion from being meaningful, case in point being Tara and Willow later this Season when they got into an argument about Willow's overuse of magic but then Tara got brainsucked so it was forgotten about.

Willow's spells have had put the gang in trouble before too, like 'Something Blue', and now this, and then we have 'Tabula Rasa', but no one called her out on that either (probably because all were dealing with their own shit and were used to Willow's spells going wrong by that point), and even Tara leaving wasn't completely enough for her, Dawn getting hurt was what was needed to snap her to reality.

So here I had Peter be mature and give her and Anya both some business over this, and there will be more later.

Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!