Being held captive, and with her powers being siphoned, Willow is slowly mutilated by the vengeful—and skinless—Warren Mears. Meanwhile, unaware that General Voll is planning an atomic-strength ambush, Buffy's team works to open a portal in order to find and rescue Willow. Then, while Willow seeks refuge on another plane among a band of strange, elemental beings, Buffy and Satsu go on the attack, laying waste to General Voll's troops and rescuing Willow from Warren's diabolical clutches. Finally, as Buffy confronts Voll face to face, he announces the coming of the apocalyptic "Twilight," and makes an ominous declaration of war.

One of Buffy's decoy doubles recalls how she was called upon and trained to be a slayer. The heroic young woman's undercover assignment takes her deep underground, where she leads a stand against Yamanh and his demonic horde.

Faith is approached by Giles with a dangerous assignment—to pose as a British aristocrat in order to assassinate a wealthy, rogue slayer under the tutelage of an Irish warlock. Meanwhile, Buffy frets about the coming of Twilight and the meaning of an ominous dream.