TWENTY-FIVE
Paige came down the stairs of the manor drying her hair. She walked into the kitchen and found Piper fixing lunch and Phoebe and Margaret sitting at the kitchen table talking. They had been home for three days. Leo was his normal corporeal self. The girls all had their powers back and Piper was once again protected from harm by the unborn child she carried.
Margaret had been able to locate her coven and found her daughter alive and well. They had talked for hours over the phone and Phoebe was planning on taking her home after lunch. Paige had been able to come up with a very simple spell that removed the tattoo Margaret had been given when she had become the property of Amadon in the outer realm.
"I feel a lot better," said Paige. "I never realized how many things we take for granted. Like a simple shower. I hope we don't have to go through anything like that again ever."
"I had forgotten what it was like to lead a normal life," said Margaret. "And I never expected to ever return home. I can't thank you enough for freeing me from that dimension. I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you."
"No repayment is necessary," said Piper. "I just wish we could have done more for the poor humans in that realm. There are still a lot of them living like you did for the last ten years."
"You can't save everyone," said Leo, coming into the kitchen. "Besides, it's not your problem. You have enough to worry about here without looking for trouble in some outer realm where your powers don't even work."
"I suppose," said Piper. "Still, it would be nice if we could have done something."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," said Margaret. "Things were beginning to change. Who knows? Maybe one day the demonis and gadlings will live as equals."
"That's a nice thought," said Phoebe. "I'm just glad you guys came after me. Thinking of how close I came to becoming the wife of another demon gives me the willies."
"Speaking of which," said Paige, "have you heard from Cole since we got back?"
"No," said Phoebe. "Before he left he said something about having a promise to keep. I thanked him for everything he did but I also made it clear that it didn't' change things between us. He's still a demon. That's not going to change. He'll just have to get past it."
"I hope so," said Leo. "If he wanted to he could be very dangerous especially with his invulnerability."
"Let's not worry about that now," said Piper. "Lunch is almost ready and I want to enjoy it without any demonic interference. Margaret has to leave after lunch and I want to enjoy what time we have left."
"I won't be that far away," said Margaret. "You're more than welcome to come visit any time. I'm sure my daughter and the others of my coven will be thrilled to meet the Charmed Ones."
"Just remember it goes both ways," said Paige. "You know where we live, too, so there's no reason you can't stop by for a visit from time to time."
"I know," said Margaret. "But for the next few weeks I think I'm going to be busy getting reacquainted with civilization. I have a lot to catch up on and a lot to relearn. That's going to take some time."
"Well, right now all you have to do is enjoy your favorite meal," said Piper. "Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans with cheese and cornbread. And don't worry about anything. I made more than enough so you can eat to your hearts content."
"Great," said Leo. "It's been a while since Piper fixed one of her special meals. And after several days of being a ghost I for one am going to enjoy every minute of it."
Everyone laughed as Piper and Phoebe began placing the dishes on the table for them to enjoy.
Cole move into the village in the Émigré. He stopped at the outskirts at Samoduns' home. The ancient demon was waiting for Cole.
"So, is the portal all sealed over?" Samodun asked.
"Completely," said Cole. "No one will ever be able to enter that outer realm again. At least not through that portal. It's completely collapsed."
"Very good," said Samodun. "I was surprised when you returned here. I had never expected to see you again."
"You almost didn't," said Cole. "As I told you, when I changed to Belthazor he nearly took over completely. It's like he and I were two separate being inhabiting the same body. Without my powers I was at his mercy. I'm just glad I was able to get back here where I don't have to worry about it again."
"That's too bad," said Samodun. "Belthazor was a great demon. It's a shame he's gone."
"Not for me," said Cole. "I'm not him any more. Things change. Speaking of which, the guardians still look at me as the Source. Which means I can lift your banishment if you want. You'll be free to return to the underworld. Who knows? You might even be able to become the next Source."
"Thank you for the offer," said Samodun, "but I find I like it here. There's none of the subterfuge you find in the underworld. After so many centuries as undisputed ruler of this place it would be like taking a step down."
"Have it your way," said Cole. "You helped me when I needed it and I won't forget it."
"I would suggest you leave here as quickly as you can," said Samodun. "Word of your return has spread throughout the village. Many of the demons here have voiced a desire to speak with you. To see if you might lift their banishment. If you don't leave now, while you can, you may be here for a long time."
"I guess you're right," said Cole. "Samodun, take care of yourself. Maybe some day we can meet again under better circumstances."
"Perhaps," said Samodun.
Cole turned and left the small village. He hurried to the exit from the Émigré that appeared to be nothing more than a cave from this side. Cole took one last look at the countryside, and then turned and walked into the cave.
He exited the Émigré in the same chamber that he, Piper, Paige, and Leo had entered only a few days earlier. As he stepped into the chamber nearly a dozen demons simply appeared from the walls. Seeing who it was most simply bowed and faded away.
"My work here is finished," said Cole. "You will continue to discharge your duties as you have for all these centuries. See that those who are banished do not leave the Émigré."
"As you wish," said the one demon that had remained.
It was the leader of the demonic guardians that guarded the entrance to the Émigré. It would wait until Cole had left the chamber before resuming its post. Cole turned and headed for the exit from the chamber. Just as he reached the exit he stopped and turned back to the demon.
"Samoduns' banishment is lifted," said Cole to the demon. "He may leave whenever he wishes. And he may return if he wishes."
"As you command," said the demon.
Without another word Cole turned and left the chamber heading into the underworld that he had traveled for more than a century. He still had to prove to Phoebe that he had changed. And he had a lot of work to do before that happened.
The End
If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my website, You can also post your own "Charmed" stories if you like to write fan fiction.
Paige came down the stairs of the manor drying her hair. She walked into the kitchen and found Piper fixing lunch and Phoebe and Margaret sitting at the kitchen table talking. They had been home for three days. Leo was his normal corporeal self. The girls all had their powers back and Piper was once again protected from harm by the unborn child she carried.
Margaret had been able to locate her coven and found her daughter alive and well. They had talked for hours over the phone and Phoebe was planning on taking her home after lunch. Paige had been able to come up with a very simple spell that removed the tattoo Margaret had been given when she had become the property of Amadon in the outer realm.
"I feel a lot better," said Paige. "I never realized how many things we take for granted. Like a simple shower. I hope we don't have to go through anything like that again ever."
"I had forgotten what it was like to lead a normal life," said Margaret. "And I never expected to ever return home. I can't thank you enough for freeing me from that dimension. I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you."
"No repayment is necessary," said Piper. "I just wish we could have done more for the poor humans in that realm. There are still a lot of them living like you did for the last ten years."
"You can't save everyone," said Leo, coming into the kitchen. "Besides, it's not your problem. You have enough to worry about here without looking for trouble in some outer realm where your powers don't even work."
"I suppose," said Piper. "Still, it would be nice if we could have done something."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," said Margaret. "Things were beginning to change. Who knows? Maybe one day the demonis and gadlings will live as equals."
"That's a nice thought," said Phoebe. "I'm just glad you guys came after me. Thinking of how close I came to becoming the wife of another demon gives me the willies."
"Speaking of which," said Paige, "have you heard from Cole since we got back?"
"No," said Phoebe. "Before he left he said something about having a promise to keep. I thanked him for everything he did but I also made it clear that it didn't' change things between us. He's still a demon. That's not going to change. He'll just have to get past it."
"I hope so," said Leo. "If he wanted to he could be very dangerous especially with his invulnerability."
"Let's not worry about that now," said Piper. "Lunch is almost ready and I want to enjoy it without any demonic interference. Margaret has to leave after lunch and I want to enjoy what time we have left."
"I won't be that far away," said Margaret. "You're more than welcome to come visit any time. I'm sure my daughter and the others of my coven will be thrilled to meet the Charmed Ones."
"Just remember it goes both ways," said Paige. "You know where we live, too, so there's no reason you can't stop by for a visit from time to time."
"I know," said Margaret. "But for the next few weeks I think I'm going to be busy getting reacquainted with civilization. I have a lot to catch up on and a lot to relearn. That's going to take some time."
"Well, right now all you have to do is enjoy your favorite meal," said Piper. "Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans with cheese and cornbread. And don't worry about anything. I made more than enough so you can eat to your hearts content."
"Great," said Leo. "It's been a while since Piper fixed one of her special meals. And after several days of being a ghost I for one am going to enjoy every minute of it."
Everyone laughed as Piper and Phoebe began placing the dishes on the table for them to enjoy.
Cole move into the village in the Émigré. He stopped at the outskirts at Samoduns' home. The ancient demon was waiting for Cole.
"So, is the portal all sealed over?" Samodun asked.
"Completely," said Cole. "No one will ever be able to enter that outer realm again. At least not through that portal. It's completely collapsed."
"Very good," said Samodun. "I was surprised when you returned here. I had never expected to see you again."
"You almost didn't," said Cole. "As I told you, when I changed to Belthazor he nearly took over completely. It's like he and I were two separate being inhabiting the same body. Without my powers I was at his mercy. I'm just glad I was able to get back here where I don't have to worry about it again."
"That's too bad," said Samodun. "Belthazor was a great demon. It's a shame he's gone."
"Not for me," said Cole. "I'm not him any more. Things change. Speaking of which, the guardians still look at me as the Source. Which means I can lift your banishment if you want. You'll be free to return to the underworld. Who knows? You might even be able to become the next Source."
"Thank you for the offer," said Samodun, "but I find I like it here. There's none of the subterfuge you find in the underworld. After so many centuries as undisputed ruler of this place it would be like taking a step down."
"Have it your way," said Cole. "You helped me when I needed it and I won't forget it."
"I would suggest you leave here as quickly as you can," said Samodun. "Word of your return has spread throughout the village. Many of the demons here have voiced a desire to speak with you. To see if you might lift their banishment. If you don't leave now, while you can, you may be here for a long time."
"I guess you're right," said Cole. "Samodun, take care of yourself. Maybe some day we can meet again under better circumstances."
"Perhaps," said Samodun.
Cole turned and left the small village. He hurried to the exit from the Émigré that appeared to be nothing more than a cave from this side. Cole took one last look at the countryside, and then turned and walked into the cave.
He exited the Émigré in the same chamber that he, Piper, Paige, and Leo had entered only a few days earlier. As he stepped into the chamber nearly a dozen demons simply appeared from the walls. Seeing who it was most simply bowed and faded away.
"My work here is finished," said Cole. "You will continue to discharge your duties as you have for all these centuries. See that those who are banished do not leave the Émigré."
"As you wish," said the one demon that had remained.
It was the leader of the demonic guardians that guarded the entrance to the Émigré. It would wait until Cole had left the chamber before resuming its post. Cole turned and headed for the exit from the chamber. Just as he reached the exit he stopped and turned back to the demon.
"Samoduns' banishment is lifted," said Cole to the demon. "He may leave whenever he wishes. And he may return if he wishes."
"As you command," said the demon.
Without another word Cole turned and left the chamber heading into the underworld that he had traveled for more than a century. He still had to prove to Phoebe that he had changed. And he had a lot of work to do before that happened.
The End
If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my website, You can also post your own "Charmed" stories if you like to write fan fiction.