Wow, I wrote really really short chapters back then didn't I? Standard disclaimers apply, see chapter one.


In the midst of household objects flying past Cole's head, the Source appeared. It startled Cole, who froze in place. Paige took advantage of the situation and lobbed an ashtray at his head, knocking him out.

Cole woke up in the Underworld again. "Just once, could I wake up in bed with Phoebe? Just once, that's all I'm asking," he said as he looked up.

"Talking to your imaginary friends," the Source asked, and Cole realized for the first time that he wasn't alone.

"What do you want from me?" Cole asked.

"I thought we could have a tea party…you, me, the Oracle, maybe a few stuffed animals. What do you think I want? I want to torture and torment you. That's my purpose."

"I thought you wanted to destroy the Charmed Ones?"

"Sure, but that's just an excuse to torture and torment you. They like to see you go through hell."

"They?"

"The fanfic writers. Oh, don't look surprised. Of course I know about them. They are the ones who keep me alive, but then you already know that. That is why you can never hope to defeat me. The fanfic writers are powerful beings, and they obviously love and adore me. How else do you explain the fact that no one can destroy me? They protect me. Dare I say they worship me?"

An unseen force knocked the Source on his butt, and Cole laughed. "I guess you dare not."

"Who dares to challenge me?" the Source demanded.

"I wouldn't take that tone if I were you," Cole warned. "Some of these writers don't take kindly to getting attitude from us."

"Nonsense! You said yourself that the writers were evil, and since I am the Source of Evil, I control them and they will do my bidding!"

Cole moved to a corner of the chamber, trying to make himself smaller. "You're only going to make the writer angry," Cole cautioned.

"They obey me!" the Source yelled at him, then turned to look upward. "Show this traitor that you do my bidding, and show him my true nature that he may look upon me with fear!"

There was a flash of light, and Cole saw the Source dressed in drag and serving tea to a group of stuffed animals that were seated around a small table. "Now this is something to be afraid of," Cole said to himself. "I'm going to have nightmares for weeks…assuming I ever actually make it into the bed I belong in so I can get some sleep."

The scene before him dissolved as before, and he found himself in bed. This time it was the right bed, and Phoebe snuggled up beside him. He waited to see if something was going to come and snatch him away again, but nothing happened. Finally exhaustion caught up with him and he fell asleep, thankful that he was given a little break. He did have nightmares about the Source trying to make him come to his tea party, though.