Chapter 8: Farkal's Vanquish
"Where is he?" Paige asked.
"Right behind you," he said from behind her. An energy ball came from no where and hit Paige, forcing her across the room.
"Everyone upstairs!" Piper ordered. She was starting to feel exhausted. She couldn't stop now though. Paige orbed energy balls away from hitting people. Once they were safely running up the stairs, she orbed herself to the attic. A few moments later, the others bursted in. Farkal shimmered in not long after.
"Crystals!" Paige yelled, orbing crystals around him, creating a force field around him. He angrily hit the walls. "That should hold him."
"Not for long!" he yelled at her. "I'll find a way out."
"Don't count on it," Phoebe said. "Now what do we do about the spell?" They all turned to find Piper lying on the ground, unconscious.
"What happened while you were gone?" Cole asked Piper.
"Oh, nothing," Piper answered. "I just found out that I have Lyme disease, and even better, I have a cure."
"Aw, that's nice. Won't you be visiting me anymore though? I'll sure miss you."
"Oh, well that makes one of us. Now, I need to get up. My sisters need me."
"Phoebe needs you?"
"Yes, Cole, Phoebe would be one of my sisters that I just mentioned prior."
"Wake up then, and hurry," Cole said.
"Shut up, would you?" Piper asked. "I already have a big enough migraine from you."
"Try a spell or something," Cole urged.
"I thought magic doesn't work here?" Piper asked.
"Well, maybe with the powers of a witch and a dead Avatar, we can pull through."
"There's nothing in here about getting her powers back," Phoebe said.
"Maybe we don't need a spell," Paige said. "Maybe only her active powers are affected. Maybe she can still say spells and stuff."
"I think you may be right, Paige," Leo said. "It makes sense."
"Well, good," Phoebe said. "But we still have to have her awake."
"Well, it didn't work, Cole," Piper complained. "You're little theory was wrong."
"We need more power," he insisted. "I could feel it flowing through. Couldn't you?"
"I don't know," she said. "But I do know that there's no power left to use."
"Maybe not. I have an idea. Be ready to use the spell"
"What now?" Darlene asked. She suddenly lowered her head and shook a little.
"Darlene?" Paige asked.
"Phoebe," she said. "Do you love me?" Phoebe looked shocked. After a moment, she realized what was happening before their eyes.
"Get out of her, Cole," she said.
"Just tell me, do you love me?"
"This isn't the time," Phoebe said. "We're trying to do something at the moment."
"If you want to save Piper, admit your feelings," he said. She rolled her eyes.
"How will that save Piper?" Paige asked.
"Do you love me, Phoebe?"
"Tell him, Phoebe," Leo said. "See what happens."
"Fine," Phoebe said. "Yes, Cole. I do love you."
"We're getting out now," Cole said.
"We?" Piper exclaimed. The power of Phoebe and Cole's love, mixed with their magic spell, allowed them to return to physical states.
"Cole?" Phoebe exclaimed. He was standing in the room with them. He looked around and smiled. He saw the demon in the cage. He moved the crystals with telekinesis and threw an energy ball at him, vanquishing him.
"Feels good to be back," he said. "Phoebe, I can't begin to start to say how much I've missed you." He started walking over her with his arms extended. She backed away.
"Cole, I said I loved you, not that I'm going to be with you."
"I'm not evil," he said. "You should know the Avatars by now."
"Yeah," Leo said. "We know they're not evil, but they're certainly not good either." He looked at the ground. He then faded-out.
"Shouldn't we be scared a little," Piper said. "He's still an Avatar, which means they can pull themselves back together and reorganize."
"They won't do it without our help again," Phoebe said.
"We'll worry about it later," Leo said. "For now, you need some sleep." They walked downstairs together.
"I'm going to go see Elise about getting my job back," Phoebe said. She started walking towards the door.
"You lost your job?" Paige asked.
"Long story," Phoebe said as she left. Paige turned to Darlene.
"Well, it looks like your safe now," she said.
"For now," Darlene answered. "How long are witches ever safe?"
"Not very long," Paige said.
"I want to thank you for everything that you've done for me," Darlene said, giving Paige a hug.
"Just my duties," Paige said modestly.
"No, you acted as more than just my whitelighter. You acted as a friend. And I'll be eternally thankful."
Phoebe entered the Bay Mirror to find it darkened. Everyone seemed to be gone. She saw one light on. It was in Elise's office. Phoebe walked towards it and knocked.
"Come in," Elise said. Phoebe walked in. "I knew you'd be back," Elise said without even looking at Phoebe.
"I'm sorry about the way I acted," Phoebe said. "I've learned a valuable lesson from all this. Sometimes you need to do more than what your original job is."
"All what?" Elise asked. Phoebe smiled.
"Never mind," she said. "So, about my job."
"Of course you can have it back," Elise exclaimed. "Do you ever think I could find someone to replace your column?"
"Thank you," Phoebe said. "Thank you a lot." Phoebe left the Bay Mirror feeling fresh and rejuvenated. The thought of Cole still clogged the back of her mind though.
Next fic in the series is New Whitelighter, Old Friend. Summary: The Charmed Ones are assigned a new whitelighter and it's someone they'd never expect.