CHARMED
"Forewarned Is Forearmed"
by J. B. Tilton
This is a sequel to "Contrivances"
(A Charmed/Buffy, The Vampire Slayer/Angel Crossover)
(This story is an AU story.)
email: aramath@isot.com
Rating: PG (for language)
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network. "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" and all related characters and events are the property of Josh Whedon, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
* * *
With Cole's help, the Charmed Ones and the Scooby Gang set out to find a way to destroy The First and defeat Wyatt. But to get the information they need, they need to get the help of a demon that can't be vanquished and has no reason to help anyone.
* * *
ONE
"Restin," said Buffy, "what are you doing here? You said that your dealings were with me, not them."
"His name isn't Restin," said Phoebe deliberately. "It's Cole Turner. Except that we vanquished Cole. This has to be another trick by The First."
"Oh, I'm real enough," said Cole, walking into the living room. "I'm sorry about all the subterfuge. It was necessary. But now I'm here to set things straight."
"No," said Buffy. "I've dealt with The First before. You can be very convincing. If you're taking the form of Cole Turner then you can't be Turner. They say you were vanquished and I believe them."
"Really?" asked Cole, holding his hand out. "Touch me. If I really am The First you won't be able to touch me. The First is a spirit being. It can't directly affect the physical world."
Tentatively, Buffy reached out and took hold of Cole's hand. He was solid enough. Buffy took hold of flesh and blood. Which meant he couldn't be The First.
"I don't understand," said Paige. "How could you be here? We were in that awful alternate reality. Phoebe vanquished you with that potion we made. How can you be here now?"
"Do you really think that would be enough to vanquish me?" asked Cole. "Phoebe, do you remember when you came to me in the Wasteland? Do you remember what I told you then?"
"That you couldn't be vanquished like other demons," said Phoebe. "You were a demon but you had a soul. That protected you from ending up like the other vanquished demons."
"Exactly," said Cole. "When I altered reality I went back to being Belthazor. I had never become the Source. When you vanquished me, you vanquished Belthazor not the former Source. But I still have a soul. Even in that altered reality. I could still be vanquished but my soul would also still protect me as it did the first time. Only this time I had the assistance of hindsight. I knew what I had to do to get out of the Wasteland."
"We vanquished you once," said Piper, "it shouldn't be a problem to do it again."
She raised her hands and used her explosive power on Cole. Cole simply raised his hand and caught her magic. Then, with less trouble than it took to think about it, he simply dissolved the magic.
"That won't affect me any more," said Cole, smiling. "A lot has changed since you last vanquished me. I've changed, though I'm sure you won't believe that."
"You lied to me," said Buffy.
"I suppose that depends on your point of view," said Cole. "The Cole Turner I was is gone forever. I'll never be that person again. As I said, a lot of things have changed."
"You're evil," said Phoebe. "You've always been evil and you'll always be evil. What kind of game are you playing with Buffy?"
"No game," said Cole. "And as far as my being evil, I'm above all the good versus evil thing now. Those are the concepts of lesser beings. I've moved on."
"You think yourself superior to us?" asked Giles.
"I am in many ways," said Cole. "It depends on your definition of superior. Do I think I'm better than you? No, not better. Not worse. Just different. On a higher plane, so to speak."
"What do you want?" Phoebe asked.
"Just what I said," said Cole. "We need to talk. Things are different from what you think. Wyatt and The First are not your major problems. They are secondary compared to the true threat against you."
"True threat?" questioned Piper. "What true threat?"
"Something you don't even know is involved," said Cole. "A group of people who have their own agenda for the human race. And who have been manipulating things practically from the very beginning."
"That group you said you belonged to," said Buffy.
"Yes," said Cole. "I wasn't aware of what they were doing at first. But I've figured out what they're up to. And I don't agree with what they're doing. They have to be stopped."
"What group?" Phoebe asked. "Some secret faction of demons?"
"Hardly," said Cole. "They call themselves Avatars. You would know them better by a different name. Dark Mages."
"Forewarned Is Forearmed"
by J. B. Tilton
This is a sequel to "Contrivances"
(A Charmed/Buffy, The Vampire Slayer/Angel Crossover)
(This story is an AU story.)
email: aramath@isot.com
Rating: PG (for language)
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network. "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" and all related characters and events are the property of Josh Whedon, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
* * *
With Cole's help, the Charmed Ones and the Scooby Gang set out to find a way to destroy The First and defeat Wyatt. But to get the information they need, they need to get the help of a demon that can't be vanquished and has no reason to help anyone.
* * *
ONE
"Restin," said Buffy, "what are you doing here? You said that your dealings were with me, not them."
"His name isn't Restin," said Phoebe deliberately. "It's Cole Turner. Except that we vanquished Cole. This has to be another trick by The First."
"Oh, I'm real enough," said Cole, walking into the living room. "I'm sorry about all the subterfuge. It was necessary. But now I'm here to set things straight."
"No," said Buffy. "I've dealt with The First before. You can be very convincing. If you're taking the form of Cole Turner then you can't be Turner. They say you were vanquished and I believe them."
"Really?" asked Cole, holding his hand out. "Touch me. If I really am The First you won't be able to touch me. The First is a spirit being. It can't directly affect the physical world."
Tentatively, Buffy reached out and took hold of Cole's hand. He was solid enough. Buffy took hold of flesh and blood. Which meant he couldn't be The First.
"I don't understand," said Paige. "How could you be here? We were in that awful alternate reality. Phoebe vanquished you with that potion we made. How can you be here now?"
"Do you really think that would be enough to vanquish me?" asked Cole. "Phoebe, do you remember when you came to me in the Wasteland? Do you remember what I told you then?"
"That you couldn't be vanquished like other demons," said Phoebe. "You were a demon but you had a soul. That protected you from ending up like the other vanquished demons."
"Exactly," said Cole. "When I altered reality I went back to being Belthazor. I had never become the Source. When you vanquished me, you vanquished Belthazor not the former Source. But I still have a soul. Even in that altered reality. I could still be vanquished but my soul would also still protect me as it did the first time. Only this time I had the assistance of hindsight. I knew what I had to do to get out of the Wasteland."
"We vanquished you once," said Piper, "it shouldn't be a problem to do it again."
She raised her hands and used her explosive power on Cole. Cole simply raised his hand and caught her magic. Then, with less trouble than it took to think about it, he simply dissolved the magic.
"That won't affect me any more," said Cole, smiling. "A lot has changed since you last vanquished me. I've changed, though I'm sure you won't believe that."
"You lied to me," said Buffy.
"I suppose that depends on your point of view," said Cole. "The Cole Turner I was is gone forever. I'll never be that person again. As I said, a lot of things have changed."
"You're evil," said Phoebe. "You've always been evil and you'll always be evil. What kind of game are you playing with Buffy?"
"No game," said Cole. "And as far as my being evil, I'm above all the good versus evil thing now. Those are the concepts of lesser beings. I've moved on."
"You think yourself superior to us?" asked Giles.
"I am in many ways," said Cole. "It depends on your definition of superior. Do I think I'm better than you? No, not better. Not worse. Just different. On a higher plane, so to speak."
"What do you want?" Phoebe asked.
"Just what I said," said Cole. "We need to talk. Things are different from what you think. Wyatt and The First are not your major problems. They are secondary compared to the true threat against you."
"True threat?" questioned Piper. "What true threat?"
"Something you don't even know is involved," said Cole. "A group of people who have their own agenda for the human race. And who have been manipulating things practically from the very beginning."
"That group you said you belonged to," said Buffy.
"Yes," said Cole. "I wasn't aware of what they were doing at first. But I've figured out what they're up to. And I don't agree with what they're doing. They have to be stopped."
"What group?" Phoebe asked. "Some secret faction of demons?"
"Hardly," said Cole. "They call themselves Avatars. You would know them better by a different name. Dark Mages."