The Newcomer
Chapter One
Prue stood on the bridge, looking out over San Francisco through a camera. She was working on a new assignment, in which she had to convey the urban development of San Francisco. She had decided that a view of a busy freeway was the first step.
That was when she saw the man.
Well, he looked like a man, except for his upswept ears and grey hair. He wore something that looked like Robin Hood would wear. And boots that looked like they were stolen from the army. Black combat boots, a sleeveless green jacket, and brown dull leather pants.
And he didn't look too friendly. Especially with a large sword strapped to his back.
But the strangest thing of all was how he got there. He wasn't there, and then he was, walking forward. Then he turned his had and looked directly at her. She couldn't see whether the expression on his face was anger, recognition, or confusion, and she didn't particularly want to find out.
So she started to franticly pack up her camera and tripod, and she leapt in her car and drove home to see if she could find any information on what she'd seen.
* * * * * *
Falin looked confused at the spot where the woman who had just ran off in a hurry had been.
'Don't worry, Falin. This is to be expected,' said the voice of Morlfan. 'You are different. Humans shun difference, and she is scared of you because she doesn't know what to expect. She may think you are her enemy. You see, you can't judge a book by its cover here.'
'Book?'
'Never mind. Here you can't tell a person's personality just by looking at them.' In Falin's world, their hair, and other things could tell a person's personality.
'What a strange place this is,' Falin thought
'Not strange. Just different.'
Falin walked towards the bridge in the distance. He began to notice people avoiding him like he was the plague, and looking at him as if he was a freak of nature. He heard people talking in a strange language, but he was a good judge of emotion, and he believed that they were talking about him.
'That is my original language, English.'
'You must teach me some.'
And she tought him some simple words and phrases, and Falin absentmindedly took them in. He walked up a winding road towards the Halliwell mansion.
Meanwhile, at the Halliwell mansion, Leo listened patiently as Prue told him what had happened. He was confused himself, and had no idea whatsoever as to what the man was. So Leo went and did some research in the libraries of heaven, and Prue consulted the book of shadows. Neither of the other sisters were home, so she set to finding something out alone.
'Hello!!' came Phoebe's constantly cheery voice. Prue awoke quickly and stood from the lounge chair in the attic. She walked over to the attic window, wondering if the demon was there.
She saw him walking towards the house.
Prue ran down to the kitchen where Phoebe was checking the mail.
'What's wrong?' she asked her sister.
'I saw a demon today, or at least I think he was a demon.'
'And…'
'He's here. Now. Walking down the street. In a Robin Hood outfit. With a big, BIG sword on his back.'
'WHAT!'
'You heard me. Where's Piper?'
'She's…'
'Outside?' Prue finished.
Phoebe nodded. Prue ran outside and saw Piper walking up towards the front door, the demon following.
'Piper! Behind you!' Prue screamed as she threw up her hands at Falin. Falin was thrown back, and he twisted in the air and landed on his feet.
'Uh oh…' Phoebe said as Falin began to slowly walk towards them again, calm as ever.
Piper threw up her hands and Falin froze. Then moved. Then froze. And finally, resumed his slow walk.
'What are we going to do!' whimpered Piper as she backed towards the door.
'I honestly don't know,' Prue replied as she tried hopelessly again and again to throw Falin back. They backed into the door and closed it, arming themselves with whatever they could find. 2 knives and a rolling pin.
Falin reached the door and looked in the window of the door. He rang the doorbell. Then in a very thick accent, he said 'Hello?'
The three sisters looked at each other in utter confusion. He was about a foot taller than any of the sisters, and he obviously was strong enough to break down the door.
'I don't think he'll do any harm,' said Phoebe.
'And why is that?' questioned Prue.
'He hasn't yet made an attempt to harm any of us. And he rung the doorbell,' she replied as she lowered the rolling pin and walked towards the door.
'Pheebs…wait,' Prue said. But Phoebe had opened the door by then, and had let Falin into the house.
'Thank you, Phoebe,' Falin stuttered out in his still thick accent.
'That's alright,' she replied, looking up at the smiling giant.
Falin looked at Piper. 'Any you…Piper? And…Prue.' The two nodded, mouths gaping at the massive man.
'How tall would you say he is?' Prue whispered to Piper.
'He'd beat 6 feet easily. I'd say 6 feet 6.'
Falin returned his gaze to Phoebe.
'She is beautiful beyond belief,' he thought. 'I am Falin. I come to help with demons.'
'See! I told you he's not bad!' Phoebe said.
'My…English…not good.'
'How long have you been here?' Piper asked.
Morlfan gave the answer. '4 hours.'
'You're a fast learner,' Piper replied.
'I think so.'
Then Leo appeared in a flash of blue light. Falin turned to him and growled, reaching for his sword.
'Glock na teriblath,' Leo said. The sisters looked at him in confusion. Falin calmed immediately. He replied in his own language. And they struck up a conversation.
Piper tapped Leo on the shoulder. 'Excuse me? You can speak his language?'
'Yeah, a bit, not much, but enough.'
'Sooo, what's going to happen with him, as in where's he going to sleep,' Prue asked.
'He's staying here. Apparently your ancestor from about 1300 years ago said so.'
'And how do you know he's telling the truth?'
'His kind never lie.'
'Oh, come on, he's harmless,' Phoebe said. 'Besides, he's cute,' she said sneakily.
'Fine, he can stay, but we have to teach him how to speak English,' Prue said.
'Easy. But we also have to teach him some things about this world,' Leo replied. 'He's from another plane of reality.'
'A what?' Piper said.
'A plane of reality. Another place not accessible by normal people, where the biological and technological evolutions are different.'
'Perfect. Just perfect.'
'You've done well, Falin,' Morlfan said in his head as he gazed down into Phoebe's eyes.