THREE
"There's a flaw in your theory," said Giles. "The First is predominantly a spirit being. Even if Buffy should be killed while it's inhabiting her, it would simply be returned to its spirit form."
"No, Cole might have a point," said Leo. "In order to inhabit a human body, it would have to bond with the spirit of that body. In essence, the two would form to make a third, separate entity. That entity would control the body, dominated by the presence of The First."
"And if the body is killed while it's still inside," continued Chris, "the human spirit would be released. To move on to its reward or punishment, whichever that is. But being joined, as they would be, the human spirit would take a great deal of power that had once belonged to The First. Possibly stripping away enough of that power to make The First just another spirit being. Incapable of ever being a threat again."
"Precisely," said Cole. "That's why the Avatars wanted me to give Buffy that potion. To prevent her from resisting when The First attempts the take over."
"Why Buffy?" asked Willow. "Why not Piper or Phoebe or Paige? Or me for that matter? Why go after Buffy specifically?"
"The First couldn't go after a magical being," explained Cole. "Even you, Willow, though you are not what might be called a 'true' witch, you still possess magic. That would prevent The First from possessing you four. Your magicks would conflict with each other."
"So why Buffy?" asked Giles. "If this is possible, why not just attack some unassuming mortal who has no magic?"
"Because most bodies couldn't withstand the infusion of magic The First would bring with the joining," said Cole. "The body has to be a mortal being to prevent the conflict of magic. But it has to be sturdy enough to withstand the infusion of magic that The First possesses. There are few people in the world who fit that description."
"The Slayer would be perfect for something like that," said Angel. "Not magical but definitely not normal."
"Right," said Spike. "Which also explains why it doesn't go after another demon or one of us. Blighter probably couldn't inhabit a dead body. Which means vampires are safe from its attacks."
"That's right," said Cole. "If Buffy took that potion, when The First was defeated by the Charmed Ones, it would find the perfect hiding place in Buffy. And as I said, since no one believes it can affect the physical world, no one would think to look inside another person. Hiding in plain sight, as it were."
"I still don't see where maintaining a balance comes in," said Paige. "If they are successful, they effectively rid the world of a powerful evil. From all accounts one of the most powerful evils in existence. Wouldn't that leave things a bit lop-sided?"
"Killing Buffy while she's inhabited by The First is, I believe, only the first part of their plan," said Cole. "As we've said, their purpose is to maintain a balance between good and evil. If they destroy a powerful evil like The First, they'd have to destroy an equally powerful force for good. And in doing that, they would set back magic at least three hundred years."
"You're talking about us," said Phoebe. "The Charmed Ones. We've often been told we're the most powerful witches in history. The greatest force for good that has ever existed. Or ever will exist. If they effectively destroy an evil as powerful as The First, they'd have to destroy an equally powerful force for good. Which means they'd have to kill us."
"That's part two of their plan," said Cole. "To maintain the balance, they'll turn on you once The First is finished. With no Source in the underworld and the Elders at only a fraction of the power they once had, there won't be a champion on either side. It could take generations or even longer before either side could recoup from a loss like that. If they could even recover. Each side will continue with the fight as they have for millennia. With hundreds of thousands of mortals in the middle. If they succeed, there might never be a resolution to the conflict. It could go on forever."
"There's a flaw in your theory," said Giles. "The First is predominantly a spirit being. Even if Buffy should be killed while it's inhabiting her, it would simply be returned to its spirit form."
"No, Cole might have a point," said Leo. "In order to inhabit a human body, it would have to bond with the spirit of that body. In essence, the two would form to make a third, separate entity. That entity would control the body, dominated by the presence of The First."
"And if the body is killed while it's still inside," continued Chris, "the human spirit would be released. To move on to its reward or punishment, whichever that is. But being joined, as they would be, the human spirit would take a great deal of power that had once belonged to The First. Possibly stripping away enough of that power to make The First just another spirit being. Incapable of ever being a threat again."
"Precisely," said Cole. "That's why the Avatars wanted me to give Buffy that potion. To prevent her from resisting when The First attempts the take over."
"Why Buffy?" asked Willow. "Why not Piper or Phoebe or Paige? Or me for that matter? Why go after Buffy specifically?"
"The First couldn't go after a magical being," explained Cole. "Even you, Willow, though you are not what might be called a 'true' witch, you still possess magic. That would prevent The First from possessing you four. Your magicks would conflict with each other."
"So why Buffy?" asked Giles. "If this is possible, why not just attack some unassuming mortal who has no magic?"
"Because most bodies couldn't withstand the infusion of magic The First would bring with the joining," said Cole. "The body has to be a mortal being to prevent the conflict of magic. But it has to be sturdy enough to withstand the infusion of magic that The First possesses. There are few people in the world who fit that description."
"The Slayer would be perfect for something like that," said Angel. "Not magical but definitely not normal."
"Right," said Spike. "Which also explains why it doesn't go after another demon or one of us. Blighter probably couldn't inhabit a dead body. Which means vampires are safe from its attacks."
"That's right," said Cole. "If Buffy took that potion, when The First was defeated by the Charmed Ones, it would find the perfect hiding place in Buffy. And as I said, since no one believes it can affect the physical world, no one would think to look inside another person. Hiding in plain sight, as it were."
"I still don't see where maintaining a balance comes in," said Paige. "If they are successful, they effectively rid the world of a powerful evil. From all accounts one of the most powerful evils in existence. Wouldn't that leave things a bit lop-sided?"
"Killing Buffy while she's inhabited by The First is, I believe, only the first part of their plan," said Cole. "As we've said, their purpose is to maintain a balance between good and evil. If they destroy a powerful evil like The First, they'd have to destroy an equally powerful force for good. And in doing that, they would set back magic at least three hundred years."
"You're talking about us," said Phoebe. "The Charmed Ones. We've often been told we're the most powerful witches in history. The greatest force for good that has ever existed. Or ever will exist. If they effectively destroy an evil as powerful as The First, they'd have to destroy an equally powerful force for good. Which means they'd have to kill us."
"That's part two of their plan," said Cole. "To maintain the balance, they'll turn on you once The First is finished. With no Source in the underworld and the Elders at only a fraction of the power they once had, there won't be a champion on either side. It could take generations or even longer before either side could recoup from a loss like that. If they could even recover. Each side will continue with the fight as they have for millennia. With hundreds of thousands of mortals in the middle. If they succeed, there might never be a resolution to the conflict. It could go on forever."