The Serpent in the Grass

Disclaimer: Same as before…

Prue woke up, turning on one side to embrace Andy but finding an empty bed. She sat up to see Andy buttoning his shirt.

"You're up early." Prue commented, rubbing sleep out of her eyes and sitting up in bed.

"I thought I'd get an early start on the day." Andy said, hoping his smile looked sincere, which it partially was. The smile, however, was hidden by his epiphany regarding his mysterious 'benefactor' the night before, "After all, I've been asleep for the past three years, I might as well wake early and enjoy the day…"

Prue smiled, "I bet you're not saying that when we're both sixty years old."

"We're not there yet." Andy replied, planting a feather-light kiss on her lips and taking her hand to help her out of bed.

They both dressed and walked downstairs were Doc and Godfrey were engaged at another game of darts. Andy looked quizzically at Prue.

"They've been doing this for weeks." Prue replied, "It's like a competition between those two. Believe me, it's nowhere near as bad as Mole's 'clandestine' poker games. I remember Kolopak chasing him all around the Morrowind with his war club…"

"Kolopak?" Andy asked.

"He's the leader of the Morrowind." Prue replied, "The Whitelighters saved his people from the Spaniards a few centuries ago by settling them on another world, only for his world to be destroyed by the Heartless."

"So you're being led around by an Aztec?" Andy said, "Talk about the strangest thing I've ever seen."

"Actually, Kolopak is a member of the Rubber Tree People, a tribe hostile to Aztecs that in fact helped Cortez conquer them." Godfrey remarked, as Prue and Andy walked downstairs they came within earshot of Doc and Godfrey, "However the Spaniards, being the ungrateful sods they were, started to enslave the Rubber Tree People, who revolted and were then subject to brutal Spanish reprisals…"

"Excuse me for being wrong Indiana Jones." Andy replied, bristling at Godfrey's words.

"What?" Godfrey asked, "If that was an attempted insult, I'm afraid you just failed. Dr. Jones is somewhat of a legend in archaeological circles."

"Somebody is going to be sporting circles around their eyes shortly." Andy began.

"Well, mate," Godfrey replied, "It's been a few years since my days at the university, but I've been quite the pugilist."

"Can you two not antagonize each other for five minutes?" Doc asked.

"You took the words out of my mouth." Prue added as the two men continued to trade snide and not-so-snide insults with one another.

"I say cuff them together for a day." Bertha said.

"Sweet Lord, No!" Doc replied, "They'll wind up killing each other, or Godfrey will chew his own arm off."

"Or maybe just have Kolopak referee them in a free for all fight." Audrey chimed in.

"Is that with or without weapons?" Doc quipped.

Audrey was about to reply when the door downstairs opened and Kolopak walked in. Behind him was a boy, about fifteen years old, with blue eyes, suntanned skin, and spiky black hair. He held what looked like a giant old-style key.

"We need to assemble everyone immediately. We must get back to the ship." Kolopak said.

"There's no way I'm letting Andy aboard without someone watching him." Godfrey replied.

"Surely if Prue keeps an eye on him, everything should be alright." Kolopak added.

"Don't let him out of your sight." Godfrey warned.

"Don't worry." Prue replied, looking angrily at Godfrey, "I won't."

You're an asshole. Godfrey thought, as the group gathered together to head for the Morrowind. They were almost out the door when a young woman in a pink dress with her long brown hair in pigtails entered.

Behind her were two strange looking creatures one looked like a duck wearing a blue wizard getup, complete with the staff and the pointy hat and the other resembled a bipedal black dog carrying a round shield.

"Oh my God…" Andy began. Beside him Prue registered more mild surprise, but being a witch she had come to expect the unexpected, just not what she saw before her. OK, I can swallow the idea of heart eating demons, a report about said heart eating demons, and being a witch, why can't I swallow the idea of two cartoon characters I've seen since I was in diapers standing right before my eyes?

"No Andy," Prue began, "You're not seeing things."

"Then I am looking at Donald Duck and Goofy?" Andy began.

"At your service." Goofy replied.

"This is pure Kafka…" Andy groaned before he promptly telescoped into the ground in a dead faint, overwhelmed by the sight of two cartoon characters he'd seen since his childhood standing before him in the flesh. Godfrey chuckled only to have Doc elbow him in the ribs.

"What?" Godfrey asked, "Seeing another bloke faint is a sight you do not see every day."

"Are you sure it isn't over this little rivalry you and Andy have going on? Doc replied.

"Alright, I admit it." Godfrey replied, "That's part of the reason. But I'd laugh almost as much if Mole fainted."

"He did, when the Free French soccer team, the Toulouse Hawks, lost to the Manchester Knights soccer team last week. Of course you were dancing around the mess hall like a maniac…" Doc replied.

"I do remember that." Prue replied.

"It was a bloody miracle. The team hasn't quite been the same since their goalie got drafted into the Army earlier in the season." Godfrey replied.

"That, however, is beside the point." Kolopak said, "Godfrey, you and Prue can argue to your hearts' content later."

"Are things always like this?" Sora asked, as Prue shook Andy back into consciousness.

"OK, first thing's first, who are you guys?" Prue asked the woman in pink.

"I am Aerith." The woman replied, "Merlin sent me to assist you. My group knows much of what you face, Prue."

"How did you know my name?" Prue asked.

"Merlin spoke of one Charmed by a great power who would help us in the search for Ansem's report." Aerith replied.

"And what does this Ansem's report contain?" Andy asked.

"It contains information that will help us fight the Heartless." Aerith replied, "And help us end this curse that Ansem awakened."

"Ansem?" Goofy asked.

"He was a sage of great power on our world, until the Heartless destroyed it." Aerith replied, "His report may hold the key to defeating the Heartless."

"OK," Prue replied, "I've been told this before. How does the Keyblade tie into all this?"

"It will lock the hearts of worlds so the Heartless will be unable to reach them." Aerith replied.

"Wait a second." Andy asked, "Who is this Maleficent character I've heard of?"

As he spoke, Andy realized he had spoken too soon. Godfrey was glaring at him, almost like he was seeing right through him. Damn, he had to have been a good cop before the Army got a hold of him.

"How do you know about her?" Godfrey asked.

"I've heard the name being thrown around since I arrived here." Andy replied.

"Ah, so details of your reincarnation are starting to surface now." Godfrey replied, eyes narrowing.

"Back off." Prue said, walking between the two men.

"He's asking about someone he couldn't have known existed." Godfrey replied.

"Will you get off this paranoid bend you're on!" Prue snapped back.

"Paranoid. Hardly." Godfrey replied.

"Explain, Godfrey." Kolopak said, attempting to diffuse the situation.

"First, our good friend Andy told us that he remembers nothing of his rebirth." Godfrey replied, "Then he asked his question about Maleficent. It seems doubtful that he would hear about her shortly after arriving here."

"It is plausible that he heard the name before." Kolopak replied, "And it is possible that he might remember details of his rebirth as time wears on."

"Thank you Kolopak." Prue replied.

"However," Kolopak replied, "Perhaps you are a bit too close to the puzzle on the emotional level. Perhaps Godfrey is right."

"I will look into the matter, Mr. Godfrey. You're relieved of further responsibility as far as this investigation is concerned." Kolopak said.

"But – " Godfrey began.

"End of discussion." Kolopak replied, sternly, "Now Aerith, please continue before you were rudely interrupted."

"Maleficent is responsible for the devastation that has brought many people to Traverse Town and other worlds. The Heartless have destroyed countless worlds and millions of lives." Aerith replied.

That's why Maleficent wanted me? She wanted to use me as some kind of weapon against these people? Against Prue? I am not some kind of Trojan Horse. This deal is off. I don't care if I have to die because of it. Andy thought. His resolve was fulfilled. When he met Maleficent tonight, he was telling her the entire deal was off. He could kill him if she desired, but he wasn't going to help Maleficent harm the woman he loved.

"Andy?" Prue asked him, concern in her eyes.

"It's nothing." Andy said, "I've just been doing a bit of thinking."

Prue decided to drop the matter for now, but she made a note to ask Andy about it later. Andy, for his part, knew there was a matter he had to take care of. But first he was going to write a letter.

"Piper?" Leo said, as he turned over in bed, "Are you alright? You haven't fallen asleep yet, and usually you're out like a light unless you're in the mood for something else…."

"No, Leo, I'm not alright." Piper replied, turning to face Leo, resting her head on his chest, "And how did you know I wasn't asleep yet?"

"The rhythm of your breath." Leo replied, "Piper, I'm your husband, I know you so well. What's on your mind?"

"I'm just so worried…" Piper began, "About Prue. I mean Nigel said that the Elders won't let him intervene, and that Maleficent stole Andy's soul from Heaven."

"Prue's a smart woman." Leo replied, "She'll figure her way through it."

"I know that." Piper said, "It's just that when Andy died, it really broke Prue's heart. I mean what if she has to vanquish Andy?"

"Prue's a strong woman, Piper, have faith in your sister." Leo replied, Piper shot him a questioning glare, "Yes, I'm worried too. I know how losing Andy hurt Prue…"

"I'm just so worried that we can't be there for her Leo." Piper replied, "In case she does have to vanquish Andy."

Leo wrapped an arm around Piper's waist, holding her close, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her forehead and held her close to him, "We have to have faith, Piper. Prue will come out of this…"

"It's just so rotten." Piper remarked, "The Elders bring Prue back. Then we can't talk to her at all, except for letters you and Nigel exchange, and that's pushing it as it is. And now, when she might need our help we can't do anything for her."

Leo wordlessly drew her close, until Piper fell asleep an hour later. He couldn't help but smile as she curled up at his side. He felt his own eyelids grow heavy as he yawned and fell asleep.

"So let me get this straight," Prue asked, as she, Sora, Donald and Goofy sat in the room she and Andy shared, "You were given this Keyblade, for a purpose you don't yet understand."

Sora nodded. Prue turned on Donald and Goofy then, "So you guys are servants of a King that you don't want to name, yet, and you are here to serve Sora because he wields the Keyblade?"

"Hyuck. You got it." Goofy replied.

"OK," Prue asked, "So you're on this mission, and you want to book passage on Kolopak's ship. Why?"

"Ours was destroyed." Donald replied, "The Heartless attacked us on the way here. The British Royal Air Force fighters chased them off, but our ship cannot fly any longer."

"That's really up to Kolopak," Prue asked, "Not me. If you wanted to book passage, you should have asked him. Why me?"

"There is one more thing." Donald said, "Merlin told me that you are the strongest of the Charmed Ones, but you are still new to the craft of magic."

Prue bristled, "I've been practicing for three years and my powers have been growing. I have vanquished demons that have been practicing for centuries…"

"You are indeed powerful." Donald said, "But you are still a newcomer. Much exists in the way of magic that even I, a sorcerer who has practiced the art since I was a fledgling that I do not understand. You are new to the magic of this world; you will need my help to understand it."

"OK, I'll bite." Prue replied.

"Gawrsh, no need to be that violent…" Goofy replied.

"She was talking figuratively, Goofy." Donald replied.

"Do you know if spells exist to bring the dead to life?" Prue asked.

"Why do you ask?" Donald asked, "But it is forbidden for those who practice magic of the light to cast spells of necromancy. The last necromancers were driven away hundreds of years ago."

"So your saying evil brought Andy back?" Prue asked.

"I'm afraid so." Donald replied.

There was a knock on the door, "Come in." Prue replied.

Doc's head poked through the doorway arch after the door opened, "Have you guys seen Andy or Godfrey anywhere?"

"Not since the meeting, why?" Prue asked.

"It seems that both of them disappeared within the last half hour." Doc replied.

Prue immediately dashed for the door, running past Doc. "Where are you going?" Donald asked.

"I'm going to find Andy." Prue replied.

Andy stood in the foggy alleyway in the 3rd District, unaware that he was being watched. He saw Maleficent, or rather half of her, for the fog hid half her body and parted like waves parting from the bow of a ship as she walked forward.

"Has the Keyblade's wielder been revealed?" Maleficent asked.

"Yes." Andy replied.

"Who is it?" Maleficent asked.

"He's a boy named Sora." Andy replied.

"Thank you." Maleficent said.

"I know why you brought me to life again." Andy replied, "And that was the last time I cooperate with you."

"Oh, and why is that?" Maleficent replied.

"You're using me against Prue." Andy said, "And I'm telling you I'd rather die or turn into a Heartless than allow that to continue."

"No need to be so dramatic, Inspector Trudeau." Maleficent said.

"I also know all about you; that you're responsible for all these refugees fleeing here in the first place." Andy replied.

"Knowledge is power, Inspector Trudeau, but you realize that this is knowledge gained too late." Maleficent said.

"Kill me if you want, Maleficent, or turn me into one of those things, but I'm not letting you use me to hurt Prue. Not anymore." Andy replied.

"Such brave words, Andy, but you've already served your purpose." Maleficent replied, "And there is no need to kill you at all. You see, the necromancers had two types of spells. One that would produce a body that would live a hundred years, and another that would live for only two weeks. You can guess which one I made you. I think explaining to Prue that you will die next Friday would be far more devastating than anything that I could plan…"

Maleficent vanished, leaving a stunned Andy standing in her wake. Is this true? Do I really have thirteen days to live? No, it's a lie. Maleficent has lied to me before, what makes this any different? But what if it is true?

Andy became aware that someone had just followed him into the alley. He turned to see Godfrey standing behind him. "I guess you were right," Andy said, "I was working for Maleficent. Note I said 'was working' for her, Godfrey."

"I heard the whole thing." Godfrey replied, "And I'm sorry to have misjudged you."

"If roles were reversed, I probably would have done the same thing." Andy replied, "I've gotta get back to the hotel and tell Prue and the others…"

"You're right. But first we've got to get out of here alive!" Godfrey replied, spinning around, his pistol drawn. Several Soldier Heartless were coming down the alleyway after them. His first shot killed the nearest attacker and both men ran pell mell out of the alley, Godfrey turning occasionally to snap shots back at their pursuers when they got too close.

As they ran Andy saw a hole get torn into the wall where his head had been a fraction of a second earlier. "These things have guns too!" Andy shouted.

"No, that would be an enemy of the human kind!" Godfrey said, shooting the thug with the sawed off shotgun in the chest twice with the revolver. He picked the weapon up, carrying it in one hand, and kept running until he stumbled.

"Godfrey!" Andy shouted and turned.

"It's alright, get to the hotel and warn the others! I'll draw these blokes away!" Godfrey replied, "I'll meet you at the 3rd District Gate!"

Andy complied and the two men split off. As they did, he could hear more shooting as Godfrey ran off in a different direction.

Andy reached the 3rd District Gate, but saw no sign of Godfrey anywhere. "Godfrey! Where are you?"

He heard a reply but the echo was weird, like it was coming out of something metal. "Stuck in a bloody pipe! And I'm rather popular at the moment."

Wedged in a bloody pipe was more like it in Godfrey's case. A few meters from the 3rd District Gate he'd tripped and that would have been the end of him had he not found a culvert a short crawl away. He'd backed cautiously inside it, hoping there wasn't a Heartless hiding in there. The culvert was a tight fit but at least they couldn't crawl in after him. At least not after he'd shot the leg out from one of them one the nosy bastard had gotten too close to the pipe. The creature had one off howling in pain, as the shotgun blast had torn away its right leg at the knee joint. Godfrey sorely regretted he hadn't waited until the creature stuck its face into the pipe. I might still have that chance…Godfrey thought, grimly. He had three more shotgun shells for the shotgun he'd taken from the dead thug plus fifteen rounds for the .38 revolver at his side. When those ran out he had an Army issue combat knife.

"Are you alright?" Andy's voice echoed.

"Perfectly! I just can't get out of the culvert because there's too many bloody Heartless! Get the others and tell Prue and Kolopak what you know." Godfrey shouted back.

"Hang in there!" Andy quipped.

"Bollocks to you!" Godfrey replied, a hint of humor on his voice, "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon…"

Andy pushed the gate open and ran, despite the ache in his healing ankle. As he ran he could hear more shots and hoped that he wasn't hearing Godfrey's last stand on the other side of the gate…

TBC