The First

"Seriously?" asked Faith-in-Joyce to the woman she saw standing in front of her in the toy aisle. "You really expect me to believe that you're the real Lady Di in that outfit?"

"Why not?" asked the woman in front of her. "She has one of the most recognizable faces of any dead celebrity on this planet. I was going to go with your dead grandmother but --Wait! You're not really Joyce Summers, are you?"

"Er, what makes you say that?" asked Faith-in-Joyce.

"I can see you, Faith," said the woman who was the spitting image of the late Diana Spencer. "You did a great job of hiding inside Joyce's body but I can still see you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Faith-in-Joyce.

"Sure you don't," said the woman. "Anyway, I'm not some newbie who's never tried to undo a glamour spell before. I'm the First."

"The First what?" asked Faith-in-Joyce.

"The First Evil, of course," said the woman. "I'm surprised that your friend Buffy didn't mention me."

"It must have slipped her mind," said Faith-in-Joyce. "Anyway, B and I aren't really friends."

"I'll say!" cried the First. "The way you've been treating her, I would have been surprised if you were."

"So are you here to punish me?" asked Faith-in-Joyce.

The First just laughed. "Heh. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic. I always knew there was something I liked about you, Faith. Seeing the way you've been treating the Slayer merely proves that I was right about you all along."

"Wait a minute!" cried Faith-in-Joyce. "Are you saying you approve of the way I've been treating Buffy?"

"I'm tempted to say yes but that would probably take all the fun out of it for you," said the First.

"Then why are you here?" asked Faith-in-Joyce.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" asked the First.

"Yes, I would," said Faith-in-Joyce

As she waited for an answer, Faith-in-Joyce secretly wondered which was worse: the idea that she was talking to an obvious ghost or the idea that she was talking to a ghost that possibly no one else but her could actually see. She secretly hoped that it was the first idea -- no pun intended -- that was the case in this situation. After all, she had had enough people in her life dismiss her as crazy as it was without being seen by people who thought she was just talking to herself in public.

But instead of answering her, the First changed forms and turned into what appeared to be an older version of Faith's original body.

"Wait a second," said Faith-in-Joyce. "Is that supposed to be an older version of me?"

"No," said the First, "but I could say that I'm sure she'll make a really excellent mother. Just kidding, of course. From what I remember, Faith, your late mother was anything but excellent."