Rings of fire surrounded the slayer as she prepared herself to fight... She didn't know what. Darkness washed over her and she knew that some sort threat hung over her.

This was different from all the usual ramblings of her subconscious, that usually featured a cheese-guy. This was a prophetic dream, not her first.

"An enemy from your past has not forgotten you." whispered an unseen voice.

Buffy jolted awake and went downstairs for breakfast, slayer's needed a lot of energy, it was good to fight on a full stomach. With that dream fresh in her mind she tried to shut out the happier memory of her previous dream about the cotton-candy machine that had tried to eat her.

She had to remember this, Giles needed to know about it and the icky demon from the night before. she didn't like to admit it but without Spike that fight could have got a lot nastier and that wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"Buffy!" Dawn interrupted her thoughts. "Did you finish all the cereal yesterday?"

"Calm down little Pumpkin Belly!" said Joyce. "We'll get more cereal today, and right now I'll make pancakes."

"That makes everything better!" said Dawn excitedly, giving up.

Dawn was clever, but because she was six years younger than her she was about as good in an argument with Buffy as she would be in a real fight. But she could play the annoying little sister part perfectly.

Because she is the perfect annoying little sister, Buffy realised. She wasn't just the key, she was her sister in every way that counted, no matter what the monks had to do with it. Her memories were real enough.

"You look deep in thought." her Mother commented.

"Careful it doesn't kill you!" said Dawn, running from the table before her sister had time to react.

Buffy rolled her eyes, but secretly she was glad that they had those little moments, the moments that proved they were a real family.

"Thank you very much for shopping at the Magic Box, please bring your money back to visit soon!" Anya fare welled a customer.

"Anya." said Giles. "Perhaps it's best not to be so...demanding with the customers."

"But I'm always direct." said Anya, sounding hurt. "I value their service. And their cash. It's a big part of being a good salesman. Woman."

"Yes, well you know I admire your directness, just...don't overdo it."

"Check!" said Anya, now carefully dusting the relics, in case one broke and the money would have to come out of her salary.

Buffy, who had been watching this show in amusement, suddenly remembered why she was there early.

"Oh! Giles, I had a dream last night."

"Yes, people have those," said Anya, absently. "images from the sub-conscience go to the brain, sometimes remembered but usually making little or no sense."

They gave her a look.

"I get them all the time since I became human." she explained. "Usually I dream about having sex with Xander, and then I wake up and have sex with Xander..." her voice trailed off as she headed down to the basement to check on the stock.

"Yes, Buffy you have dreamt before." said Giles gently. "it wasn't the one where you were eaten by the Cotton Candy machine again was it?"

"Yes, but- it changed!"

"Ah! Must have been the cheese guy again?"

"Huh?" asked Buffy. "No! This was serious. There was fire all around me, and I was getting ready to fight something, but I couldn't see it. Then a voice said an enemy from my past, that didn't remember me, would attack."

"Well, it certainly could have been one of your prophetic dreams., but you are quite memorable to your enemies.

An enemy from your past... well, that doesn't exactly narrow it down."

"Yeah, it could have been last week, or three apocalypses ago."

"Indeed. Well, I can't see anything that we can do immediately, stay on your guard and be prepared."

"I'll girl-scout it!" said Buffy brightly.

"I'd prefer it if you'd Slayered it, and killed it, instead of selling it cookies though. Now, Anya mentioned a new demon?"

"Yeah, a Cralt demon Spike said."

"Spike?" Giles asked as he flicked through an old book.

"He decided to hep last night."

"For free?"

"Yeah, strange isn't it? The hellmouth's going mad."

"Ah. Cralt demon!" he showed Buffy the passage and picture. "Is this the one that attacked you?"

"Yeah, that's Mr Ugly alright."

"Usually found in deserted areas, usually nested with at least ten siblings." Giles read.

"TEN?" Buffy exclaimed. "I had enough trouble last night with one! And that was with Spike helping!"

"Well, you'd better persuade him to help you again. You won't be able to take them alone. Offer him money to the search the areas surrounding the dump with you."

"Not our money!" interrupted Anya.

"Yes Anya, our money. Now, I know you won't like this Buffy, but Spike's the only one with strength anywhere near yours-"

A smoking brown blanket came hurtling through the door, yelling in pain.

"Aaah! Bloody Hell!" Spike shouted from it.

"Speak of the devil..." muttered Buffy. "What do you want?"

"Well if you don't want my services Slayer, I'll be going." he said, taking off the blanket and sounding mildly offended.

"Forget it." said Buffy. "What to do you know?"

"Another lunatic in the cemetery last night. I reckon she must be one of Glory's meals."

"Is that it?" asked Buffy.

"Yeah, I just thought you should know that Glory is active, is all."

"Well, thanks for the thought, but what are you really risking for your undead life for?"

"No, that was it."

"Listen Spike! I don't know what your game is, but I know you've got one. While you're here, you can be of some use. Check out some caves with me to find the demon's friends. and I'll give you some pretty bits of paper."

She flashed the cash in front of his eyes.

"Right then, we're off to find some demons. Err...demons plural?"

"About a dozen of them."

"Bollocks!

"What, you can't handle it?"

"No, it's not that, it's just that this is a new shirt..."

"Pathetic." Buffy taunted him.

"Buffy!" called Anya. "You should probably come look at this."

"What is it?"

Anya thrust that morning's edition of the Sunnydale Express at Buffy.

"Look, at the Fish Tank. Strange Occurrences..."

"Yeah." agreed Buffy. "Windows shattering, screaming, lights flickering, anything else?"

"Yes." Continued Anya. "A strange disappearance of 28 year old male Rick Miller and witnesses at the Fish Tank swear a woman turned him into a pig. They're in therapy right now."

"They're in therapy? Wow, on the hellmouth that's the sane explanation!"

"This looks like a vengeance attack." mused Anya "It said the witnesses reported that the woman disappeared after the incident. In my demon days that is just the kind of thing I'd have done."

"So...this is the result of a vengeance wish?" asked Buffy.

"Not necessarily," explained Anya. "This could be witchcraft, or even something else. Why must everyone always point the finger at usually innocent demons?"

"What do you think we should do about this Giles?" Buffy asked her Watcher for guidance.

"Nothing yet." he answered. "Wait and see if anything happens that's put of the ordinary, and don't let Anya know. it could be one of her friends your killing."
"Hey!" protested Anya.

"Great, I'll check the clubs for anything strange tonight. Come on Captain Peroxide, we've got to get those Cralt Nasties gone."

"Right then." agreed Spike. "I'll get my axe."

"They must be around here somewhere." said Buffy.

"Yeah, right then!" said Spike. "I bet you just like to take away my fun."

"Spike, thrashing demons is the only thing you can do for fun, and no-one's forcing you to be here."

"Don't act like you're all superior, Slayer. You need me, and you know it."

They stopped outside a large cave.

Buffy was quiet.

"I think this is it."

"Bet you're just changing the subject." he said, but he too lowered his voice. "Are we going in?"

"For the kill." Buffy replied.

"You're back!" Willow exclaimed. "Giles told us you were going to kick the ass of those Cralt demons." Willow finished with a grin, then a frown. "They are dead aren't they?"

"Totally dead. Way dead. Even more dead than Spike." She replied reassuringly.

"Hey, don't bring me into this!" protested Spike. "I'm off!"

"Hey, not so fast." Buffy stopped him. "If you check out the bars for any...unusual happenings tonight, I'll double the money."

"You got yourself a deal, love."

"Usual demon haunts." Buffy told him.

"What, you think I can still just walk into these places?" he asked. "I'm making a name for myself as your ally, making myself a few enemies in the demon world. They don't take too kindly to me anymore."

Seeing the resolved look on her face he added "But I'll risk it."