Chapter 20: We're Off to See the Wizard Part 2
April 25, 2002 – Thursday
Underworld
"Everything's on schedule," the Dark Priest assured Cole as they walked around the chamber. "The other priests are preparing the sacrifices as we speak."
"What about the wizard?" Cole demanded as he glanced around him. "How do we know he won't make another attempt?"
"He's the last of his kind, sire," the Dark Priest pointed out. "I doubt if he'll risk oblivion."
Cole turned to him with raised eyebrows. "He risked it before, didn't he?"
"Talking about me?" Snyder asked as he smugly leaned against the entrance to the cave, switching his staff from hand to hand casually.
"GUARDS! AFTER HIM!" the Dark Priest yelled pointing to Snyder who jumped and ran.
Cole watched them go with an unsettling twinge in his gut. "Something's not right," he announced knowingly.
"You should leave, for your safety, now, sire," the Dark Priest advised in a rushed voice, eyes darting about.
Cole looked at him, then upon seeing the tell-tale shimmering of orbs he gave one last order. "Protect the Grimoire." He then flamed out just before his wife and in-laws arrived: Buffy, Dawn, Faith and Piper splitting off to take on the guards while Phoebe and Paige worked on the Grimoire.
Piper threw up her hands, flicked her wrists once, and obliterated the first guard she saw before another knocked her roughly to the ground.
Buffy kicked the guard in front of her sharply, followed by a well-aimed punch to the jaw.
Paige looked around at her family as she hurriedly opened the sack, gasping as three guards came running at her.
Faith and Phoebe saw them coming too. Phoebe levitated and drop kicked one, sending him soaring backwards into the far wall. Faith took on the other two as she held up her hands and ice shot out of them freezing the two of them in solid blocks of ice.
"What was that?" Phoebe asked in surprise.
"My powers weren't always bound," Faith reminded Phoebe. "The only thing I never learned to control was my Darklighter—now—Whitelighter powers."
"Hunh?" Phoebe said confused.
"Oh that's right," Faith admitted. "You weren't there for the reveal. The Lehanes aren't my biological parents. My birth mother was a witch who was seduced and bedded by a Darklighter. My Darklighter powers had yet to manifest when my powers were bound. I had my witch powers long enough before they were bound to learn how to control them."
"Faith," Dawn called over to her wife as she spun and kicked a demon coming up behind her. "Maybe later is a better time to give Phoebe the full story?"
The Dark Priest growled from his place by the Grimoire then sent Paige flying across the room, landing painfully on her back and smacking her head on the floor.
Phoebe's eyes widened as she turned to her baby sister. "Paige!" she gasped moving forwards only to be intercepted by another guard who kicked her swiftly in the stomach before backhanding her across the face, reducing her to her knees.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe defeated her demon and turned to Faith who head-butted hers, knocking him out.
"AH!" Dawn cried sharply as she fell to her knees, gasping for breath the demon above her forming an energy ball.
Buffy's eyes widened and she yelled to her daughter, "PIPER, NOW!"
Piper turned to the Dark Priest and flicked her wrists blowing him up.
Faith looked at her demon as he released his weapon and held up one hand, her palm creating a large ice shield. The energy ball hit the shield and exploded. Faith formed an ice ball in her hand and sent it at the demon striking him his chest.
"Nice, baby," Dawn praised as Faith raced over and pulled her to her feet.
"PAIGE, LOOK OUT!" Phoebe exclaimed suddenly as a drowsy Paige struggled to her feet, oblivious to the demon about the send a fatal energy ball her way. Phoebe stretched out her arm as a train of fire shot out of her palm, vanquishing the demon first.
Phoebe gasped as she stared down at her hands with wide eyes. Her family's expressions mirroring hers as Buffy pulled Paige up.
"What was that?" Piper demanded, staring at Phoebe with wary eyes.
Phoebe shook her head wordlessly, "I...have no idea."
"What are we waiting for?" Snyder asked as he ran back into the chamber.
Buffy nudged Paige as she took one side of the sack and Paige nodded holding out one hand. "GRIMOIRE!" Paige called clearly and the book was engulfed in orbs reappearing inside the sack.
"Got it," Buffy announced as Faith, Dawn, Phoebe and Piper came running over to them.
"Let's get out of here," Snyder advised and Paige disappeared in shimmering orbs with Piper, Buffy, Phoebe, Faith and Dawn, the wizard right behind them.
Halliwell Manor
"WE DID IT!" Snyder celebrated with gusto as he jumped around. "WE GOT IT!"
"Yes." Piper nodded while Phoebe clung to her on one side. "And now we're going to destroy it."
"Paige, go get the Book of Shadows, we need some potions," Buffy instructed and Paige gave an obedient nod.
"Right," Paige placed the sack on the table in the sunroom and disappeared.
"Wait!" Snyder cried reaching out to them. "Destroy it? We might be able to use it."
"For what?" Buffy snapped. "It's evil!" she cried then slapped his hand away as he reached for it. She looked at Piper. "What we need is to get it out of here and protected by a cloak created from good magic. If it's like our Book of Shadows it will protect itself. It won't let itself be destroyed."
"Let's see if we can destroy it first, Mom," Piper said. She turned to a visibly shaken Phoebe and asked tentatively, "Do you want to sit down?"
"I think I just want to go home," Phoebe answered, playing with her hands and Piper's face fell while Buffy, Dawn and Faith tensed at the thought of Phoebe alone with the future Source of All Evil.
"Well...this is home too," Piper reminded her quietly.
Phoebe glanced between her aunts, her mother and her sister fearfully. "I don't feel good," she informed them, clearly panicking. "It, it just didn't feel right."
"Well, that's probably just because it's, it's new, and your power is escalating." Dawn said trying to calm Phoebe.
Phoebe scoffed. "How is it escalating, Aunt Dawn?" she questioned loudly. "I levitate. I have premonitions."
"Phoebe's right that's not escalating," Buffy said siding with her middle daughter.
"But, but..." Piper stuttered smacking Prue's hip in disapproval, "She had fire power in her past life." She turned to Phoebe. "You had fire power in your past life." She repeated with a smile.
"I was evil, in my past life, remember?" Phoebe asked, her eyes locked onto Prue's.
"Fire throwing...is a demonic power," Buffy reminded them, her voice wavering slightly. "Upper-level, demonic power to be specific."
"Can we get back to the Grimoire!" Snyder interrupted fiercely.
"NO!" Buffy and Piper growled, cutting their eyes to him, as Buffy threw out one hand and froze him while Phoebe seized the opportunity to make her great escape.
"Phoebe, wait!" Piper called after her but she was already gone. She sighed dropping her chin to her chest then she rounded on her mother. "Damn it, Mom!" she snapped smacking her mother's arm. "What the hell!"
"You really think I wanted to say it?" Buffy asked. "Phoebe needed to hear the truth, Piper."
"Buffy's right," Dawn agreed stepping up beside her sister. "As much as I want to believe her power was escalating. The truth is much, much worse. And I believe I know why she is throwing fire." Piper, Buffy and Faith looked at her with questioning a gaze. She looked at her sister. "Didn't you say that Phoebe gave you a premonition from inside the womb?"
"She did," Buffy said in realization. "You think Phoebe tapped into her baby's powers."
"Yep," Dawn sighed.
Phoebe and Cole's Apartment
Cole stood by one of the smaller windows, staring silently out of it as he contemplated what had just occurred in his underworld. His face contorted with anger as he slammed his fist through the glass, glancing down at his knuckles.
Julie shimmered in seconds later. "What's the matter? What happened?" she asked him, genuinely and sincerely concerned.
Cole turned to face her and demanded. "What are you doing here?"
"I sensed you're pain," Julie explained to him. "I was worried."
"Yeah, well you should be worried." Cole strode towards her, his body tensed. "The Grimoire's been stolen."
"I—I know," Julie revealed quietly and Cole froze.
"You know? How do you know?"
Julie stared at him with widened eyes and his eyebrows rose.
"Have you been spying on me?" he asked her tightly.
"No." Julie shook her head. "Of course not."
"Then how?" Cole asked again walking closer. "Tell me," he coaxed but Julie remained silent and he snapped, grabbing her upper arms roughly.
"From me," the Seer's voice filtered in as she appeared behind him. "I told her."
Cole released Julie and turned to his new, uninvited, guest. "Seer? If you foresaw the Grimoire being taken—"
"Finding the Grimoire is not your biggest problem," The Seer cut in smoothly. "Suppressing Cole is," she informed him seriously. "You're changing, my liege. The human in you grows stronger and at the worst possible time."
Cole looked between the two women before him, hands moving to his hips. "I can handle it," he assured them.
"How?" the Seer snapped. "Your guard is down. You're vulnerable."
Julie shook her head, her eyes on the Seer as she asked, "Let me try again." She stepped forward.
Cole turned to her, perplexed. "Try what? Are you working together to manipulate me!" he cried in anger, glaring darkly at the Seer.
"No, to save you," Julie stressed, correcting him carefully. "To save us."
"Us?" Cole questioned, utterly confused by this conversation. "There is no us!"
"But there could be," Julie insisted. "And if there were, the struggle would end. You'd be free to rule without the witch's love holding you back."
Cole stared at her like she was crazy then rounded on the Seer. "This is your doing. Did you really think I'd fall for it?"
"Leave us," the Seer ordered Julie who looked crushed. "Now," she said sternly and Julie obeyed.
Cole shook his head as he walked away from her, laughing bitterly. "I can't believe you tricked me into hiring a seductress."
"I was concerned the baby's influence on your humanity might sway you to the other side," the Seer explained herself, one eyebrow arched.
"And what?" Cole questioned guardedly. "You hoped if I'd gotten laid—"
"No, I hoped you'd come to your senses before it was too late," the Seer interrupted sharply. "But I wasn't relying on it," she added with a smirk. "This isn't just about you. I helped put you in position for greatness, and I'm not going to let you fail now," she reminded him sternly and Cole's jaw tightened.
"It's only the Source that protects you from the Charmed Ones, both Slayers and the Key's powers and premonitions," the Seer said tersely as she approached him. "If Cole's love becomes any stronger, it will overpower the Source. Then you will lose everything," she promised him confidently. "The throne, your wife, your son."
Cole sighed heavily as the elevator dinged and the Seer disappeared in time for the doors to slid open and Phoebe to come into view.
"Cole?" Phoebe called urgently for her husband as she entered their home, head down and arms wrapped around her stomach. "Hi honey," she greeted when she looked up, frowning when she saw the broken window behind him. "What happened?"
Cole turned to it and shrugged. "Oh, um...that was an accident. Everything go alright with...whatever you had to do with your sisters, Buffy, Dawn and Faith?" he asked carefully.
Phoebe nodded. "The good news is we got what we were after," she replied cryptically.
"Good, congratulations," Cole complimented moving past her.
"But uh..." Phoebe said quietly turning with him and Cole stopped, "...I think something, really bad has happened to me," she told him fearfully.
Cole blinked several times as his heart lurched in his chest. "Wha—what, the baby?" he whispered.
"No," Phoebe assured him looking down at her still flat stomach. "The baby's fine."
Cole sighed inwardly, relief washing over him at her reassurance.
Phoebe looked up at her husband hesitantly. "I threw fire," she announced and Cole's body tensed, his eyes growing fearful. "I, I vanquished a demon with it," she continued slowly. "And it just felt...I don't know, awful, almost...evil," she admitted quietly looking to the floor.
Cole stared at her wordlessly before he forced a smile and shook his head. "Hey," he said quietly waving his hand in a dismissive manner. "Hey, hey, hey, hey. You're the sweetest, most loving person I've ever known," he told her sincerely and Phoebe scoffed with a smile. Cole looked her in the eyes. "You don't have an evil bone in your body, and you know that." He smiled at her reaching out and running his hands down her arms. Phoebe tensed under his touch and gasped, her eyes flying closed as a premonition hit.
Cole stood before a demon and sliced off his head with a sword.
Cole sat on a throne with the Seer standing behind him.
Cole throwing fireball after fireball vanquishing demon after demon.
"What? What happened?" Cole asked her with a frown.
Phoebe opened her eyes slowly, her whole body trembling as she shook herself free of his hold. "Oh my god," she gasped making a run for the elevator.
"Phoebe?" Cole called after his wife's retreating form.
"Stay away from me," Phoebe ordered sternly, pointing behind her as she slammed the button numerous times, willing the doors to open.
"Phoebe?" Cole called again walking after her.
Phoebe slammed the button again and the doors opened. "Stay away from me!" she ordered, holding up one hand as the doors slid closed, separating them both as she got away.
"What did you see?" Cole demanded as his wife disappeared.
"AUNT FAITH!" Phoebe called out remembering that Faith had said she had been part Darklighter and was now part Whitelighter. She sighed when orbing lights didn't appear. She debated calling for Paige a moment but decided to drive to the Manor instead.
Halliwell Manor
Piper picked up another potion bottle from the table, then walked back around the couch to where her sisters stood waiting. "Okay," she took a breath, raised her arm and threw the potion at the Grimoire currently residing on the floor.
The liquid hit the book and exploded, catching fire before it burned out, leaving the book entirely unharmed.
"Oh, that was the strongest one I had," Piper whined, throwing up her hands as she, Buffy, Dawn, Faith and Paige popped up from behind the couch again. "I don't know what else to do."
"I'll tell you what to do," Snyder said from the sidelines. "Keep it."
Buffy and Piper glared at him and Snyder fell silent again, stalking about in a huff. Buffy turned and looked at her eldest daughter. "I told you there was a chance it could be like the Book of Shadows," she said. "Just as our Book protects itself from evil. The Grimoire protects itself from good."
"You know..." Dawn spoke up slowly, her brow creased, "...maybe we should go see Phoebe," she suggested concern lacing her voice. "She didn't look so well."
"We'll go over there after we destroy this book, Aunt Dawn," Piper said, nodding towards the offending item.
Snyder shook his head solemnly. "I think you're being hasty. The Grimoire could bring us great powers."
"Listen buddy, we already have powers. We don't need evil ones too," Paige quipped as she, Piper, Buffy, Dawn and Faith folded their arms defensively.
Buffy, Piper, Dawn, Faith and Paige turned towards the sound of the door opening to find Phoebe entering.
"Phoebe," Buffy greeted questioningly as Phoebe dumped her coat and bag. "Are you okay, sweetie?"
"Aunt Faith," Phoebe said looking toward Faith. "Your Whitelighter…"
"You tried calling for me?" Faith asked as Phoebe nodded. "I've never sensed anyone before, I don't know how. You see till recently I was part Darklighter. And even then the Darklighter powers had been bound before they had even shown. Sensing is one thing Leo is going to teach me. That and orbing. That way I can sense when Dawn needs me, and by extension the rest of you. And so I can orb back and forth to Sunnydale without needing Leo to do it all the time."
Phoebe nodded as she sighed. She looked at both of her aunts, her mother and her sisters. "I have to talk to you guys," she informed them walking into the living room.
Snyder huffed from the side, his eyes on the Grimoire and Faith spun back towards him. "You stay where I can see you," she ordered, pointing at him threateningly.
Phoebe was seated in one of the overstuffed chairs with Paige crouched in front of her and Piper perched on the arm. Buffy and Dawn sat opposite them. Faith paused further away so she could keep an eye on their little houseguest.
"Honey what is it?" Paige questioned, placing her hand on Phoebe's knee. "What's wrong?"
Phoebe shook her head, as she found it increasingly harder to breath.
Piper reached out and ran her fingers through her younger sisters hair. "Whatever it is, sweetie, it's going to be okay."
Phoebe shook her head. "No," she disagreed firmly, looking up at Piper. "It won't. I had a premonition and you were right." She turned to Paige. "Cole is evil."
"Oh honey," Paige said sadly. "I didn't want to be right."
Buffy sighed. "Looks like we got our proof in the worst possible way. Sorry you had to see that, honey."
"What did you see, Phoebe?" Dawn asked gently.
"Everything," Phoebe answered turning to her aunt. "Killing, fireball throwing, working with demons." She listed then dropped her head into her hands. "Oh god, Cole is a demon!"
"It's okay, Phoebe, just take a breath," Buffy instructed calmly, glancing at her own sister helplessly.
Dawn saw Buffy's gaze and knew what her sister was thinking. After all she had been supportive and caring during Buffy's time of need. She stood and moved over next to Phoebe. She glanced at Piper who nodded in understanding and they swapped places. As she sat down she did something her own mother had done for her on occasion. She rubbed Phoebe's back in small soothing circles.
"What's taking so long!" Snyder demanded from his place in the conservatory.
"Shut it!" Faith growled darkly and he stalked away.
"I have a baby on the way," Phoebe exclaimed turning to Dawn desperately. "And I have this new power. I don't know if I can handle this."
"Of course you can," Dawn assured her slipping off the arm to crouch by Phoebe's side. "You can do this Phoebe and...you're not alone, sweetie. We're going to be here, every step of the way. Just as I was there every step of the way for Buffy in her time of need. Okay?" she asked brushing her niece's hair from her face with a loving smile.
"We got big problems," Leo announced as he orbed in. "Where's the wizard."
"He's in there," Faith informed him, her eyes on wife, her three nieces and Buffy.
"And we got big problems here too." Buffy nodded towards her distraught daughter. "We were right. Cole's a demon. Phoebe had a premonition."
Leo's face fell further as he gazed sadly at Phoebe.
"What did they say?" Piper asked him, in regards to the Elders and the Wizard.
Leo turned to Phoebe who resting her head against Dawn's tiredly. "Can you handle this right now?"
"Do I have a choice?" Phoebe responded tightly.
"What's taking so long!" Snyder demanded again.
Faith curled her hands into fists. "Will you shut the hell up!" she ordered sternly then turned back to Leo.
"Uh...well, according to the Elders, some wizards are evil and if he is, it's not good," Leo explained to them grimly.
"Great," Piper sighed shaking her head. "Just great."
"He wants the Grimoire for himself," Buffy stated and Leo nodded.
"Probably," Leo agreed. "There's a spell in there that can consecrate a weapon and make it strong enough to kill the Source," he revealed and Buffy's eyes narrowed, her head tilted in thought.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Paige chimed in with a frown.
"Of course it's not," Piper muttered to herself, knowing that everything was about to get so much worse.
"No," Leo corrected her sternly. "If he kills the Source then he becomes the Source and he'll have enough magic to resurrect his people."
"What's taking so long!" Snyder demanded for the third time.
"Oh my god!" Piper cried rising to her feet. "Will you give it a rest!"
Faith glanced toward Snyder thoughtfully. "Wait a min—why that no good…!" she cried eyes widening and all eyes turned to her as she stormed into the conservatory in full-on Slayer mode.
"What?" Buffy questioned, speed walking after her. "Faith, what is it?"
Faith stopped in front of Snyder. She raised her hands and shot a stream of ice causing the illusion to end as Snyder disappeared, along with the Grimoire.
"Another illusion?" Dawn questioned looking around.
"On a loop," Faith replied pushing her hands through her hair.
Piper gawked at the place the wizard once stood. "I can't believe we let that slimy, Lord of the Rings wannabe, use us!" she cried in outrage, hands on her hips.
"I knew I shouldn't have let my guard down, given my track record with him," Buffy observed royally kicking herself. "He was just waiting for an opportunity to take the book. I blame myself. I should have been more adamant on cloaking the Grimoire with good magic and hide it somewhere where no one can find it."
"We need to get it back fast," Leo stressed looking from member of the family to the next.
"How?" Phoebe questioned and her aunts, her mother and her sisters glanced at one another warily.
"We got to go back down to the underworld." Piper informed them, less than enthusiastic.
"But we couldn't even find the coronation site without the wizard." Paige stated sounding defeated.
"What about a summoning spell?" Dawn offered with a shrug.
"We'd need his blood," Buffy shook her head, hands on her hips and Piper sighed.
Paige's eyes widened as an idea struck. "Cole," she suggested carefully, looking solely at Phoebe. "I was just thinking maybe he'd know something. He is a demon after all."
Phoebe shook her head as she eased herself down into one of the chairs. "I can't even think about Cole right now, let alone talk to him."
"Maybe we could go with you and watch your back," Paige pushed but her eyes held nothing but sympathy.
"That's an awful lot to ask of her right now," Buffy said softly, coming to Phoebe's aid.
Paige nodded. "I know, but what choice do we have? There's going to be a coronation tonight unless we stop it."
Underworld
"How does it feel?" the new Dark Priest questioned in regards to the coronation attire.
Cole glared at him and replied in a clipped tone. "Heavy."
The Dark Priest turned to the Seer, who tilted her head subtly and he bowed away.
"Focus," the Seer hissed as she stood next to him, angling her body so only he would hear her.
"What's the point?" Cole snapped shaking himself uncomfortably. "We don't even have the Grimoire."
"We will," the Seer assured him. "But in the meantime, you must keep up appearances."
"But Phoebe—"
"Is not your concern at the moment," the Seer finished for him pointedly.
"She knows I'm a demon, damn it!"
"She will come around in time," the Seer placated rigidly as the Dark Priest approached once again with a sash.
Cole held up his hand, halting the movement and the Dark Priest turned to the Seer.
"I can't do this," Cole informed her. "I have to find her," he swore, in regards to Phoebe.
"And risk the wizard finding you?" the Seer called after him as he walked away from her. "He'll kill you," she said bluntly as he shrugged off the cloak. "Take your throne."
"He can have it," Cole seethed spitefully.
"And what do you think your death will solve?" The Seer questioned as she strode after him. "Do you really think it'll bring you what you seek?"
Cole paused and turned back to her impatiently.
"If losing the witch has cost you your will, then I will get it back," the Seer promised firmly.
Cole walked towards her slowly. "What do you mean?" he demanded and the Seer merely flashed out in reply.
Phoebe and Cole's Apartment
"Anything?" Leo asked as he, Buffy and Piper met up with Phoebe, Dawn, Faith and Paige in the living room of the apartment.
"He's not here," Phoebe informed them stoically.
"Did you try his office?" Paige suggested with a shrug.
"I'm beginning to wonder if he even has an office," Phoebe commented with a sigh.
Julie shimmered into the room at that moment and answered coyly, "He does."
"Who are you?" Piper questioned, hands on her hips and Julie gave her an uninterested glance.
"I know who she is," Phoebe stated, recognizing the woman as her husband's, unsurprisingly demonic, assistant. "Where's Cole?"
"Safe," Julie answered her. "From you."
"Alright," Paige spoke up angrily. "You want to punch her or should I?"
"Paige!" Buffy and Dawn admonished the youngest Charmed One in unison.
"I should have known all along," Phoebe berated herself.
"You ruined him," Julie scowled. "Make him pathetic, weak...good."
Phoebe tilted her head questioningly. "And I take it you have a problem with that?"
"Yeah," Julie answered tightly. "I have a big problem with that?"
"Uh...Phoebe?" Buffy called warily, "What's going on here?" she asked as Piper began backing away. Dawn and Faith began pulling Buffy back as they, Leo Leo and Paige followed Piper.
Phoebe glanced at her mother quickly before she turned back to the demonic blonde.
"You were just a means to an end," Julie sneered as they walked along the back and front of the couch. "A way to sire a magical child but now you're hurting him, and I can't allow that."
"Oh no?" Phoebe baited.
"No," Julie growled releasing an energy ball Phoebe's way, who quickly levitated out of reach, the energy ball striking the wall instead.
"Whoa!" Piper shrieked. "Aunt Faith?" she said looking at her aunt and remembering Faith's power. "Can you create…"
"A wall?" Faith asked as Piper nodded. "I've never created anything that large. But with Phoebe able to throw fire…"
"She would just melt it," Piper nodded in understanding.
"Two can play at that game," Phoebe smirked as her feet hit the ground and she threw out her arm, palm open, and sent a stream of fire Julie's way.
Julie ducked, flipping out of the way and past the couch.
"Okay enough," Buffy said striding forward, full-on Slayer mode.
"Mom, don't! This is my fight." Phoebe informed her mother, eyes on her opponent.
Buffy's eyes widened and she glanced at Phoebe, as her daughter raised her arm again, sending another wave of fire at Julie, striking her in the middle. The force of the flames pushing Julie back against the wall as she screamed in pain.
"Phoebe!" Dawn cried with wide eyes as her niece continued her attack.
Julie let out a blood curdling scream as the flames engulfed her until there was nothing left but a scorch mark.
Phoebe smirked as she dropped her arm casually to her side. "Home wrecker."
"Okay, Phoebe," Paige spoke up from her hiding spot. "You're scaring us."
Phoebe turned to them and shrugged. "What?"
Buffy's eyebrows rose. "Phoebe Johanna Halliwell! We've had this discussion already, fire throwing is an upper-level demonic power!" she snapped gesturing widely between her and Phoebe.
Phoebe's eyes widened as it dawned on her. "Oh my god. What's happening to me?" she cried fearfully, looking at her sisters for answer but they had none or they didn't have the chance to speak as Phoebe's body shook as she felt herself being summoned before she shimmered out.
Underworld
Phoebe glanced wildly around her new surroundings, trying to ascertain exactly where she was and who had brought her here. She turned to her right, vision swimming as her body adjusted to the unusual way of transportation, and came face to face with the Seer.
"Breathe," the Seer instructed gently seeing Phoebe sway.
"How did I get here?" Phoebe demanded, regarding the Seer with cautious eyes.
"Through magic," the Seer replied, tilting her head slightly as she studied the witch before her. "Dark magic."
Phoebe watched with wide eyes as the Seer approached her and staggered backwards. "You—Stay away from me!"
"Stop me," the Seer taunted with daring eyes.
Phoebe threw out her hand sending waves of fire towards the Seer hitting her square on the chest but the Seer merely smiled smugly as the fire had no effect on her. She pulled her hand back, breathing quick and harsh, as she stared at her limb like she'd never seen it before.
The Seer chuckled in amusement. "Feels good, doesn't it?" she asked and Phoebe's head snapped up. "Or more precisely, evil."
"What do you want?" Phoebe questioned shakily. "What have you done to me?"
"What I've done is not important," the Seer informed her sharply. "What you must do now, however, is," she stated and Phoebe stared at her, confusion and fear invading her eyes. "Your husband needs you by his side," the Seer continued, in obvious reference to Cole and Phoebe's body tensed.
"I don't understand," Phoebe claimed quietly, shaking her head against the thoughts in her head and the truth in her heart.
"Don't you?" the Seer disagreed. "You and I share the same gift. We both can sense the truth. From the moment Cole absorbed the Source's power, you've...sensed something different about him," the demon stated as if reading Phoebe's mind, bringing her fear to the very surface. "Something that's changed him forever. You know the truth."
Phoebe's heart constricted as the Seer's words brought her greatest fear to the forefront of her mind. "Cole is the Source," she breathed, her body caving slightly.
"Yes," the Seer confirmed. "And he needs your help if he hopes to survive," she continued but Phoebe was barely listening, her heart was too busy breaking. "He needs your love."
Phoebe shook her head, clenching her hands into fists at her side as she fought desperately to stay on her feet. "Aunt Faith!" she called out.
"You can't keep fighting it," the Seer insisted. "The maternal bond is too strong."
Phoebe cut her eyes to the demon questioningly.
"Listen to your body, Phoebe," the Seer ordered firmly and Phoebe's head dipped her eyes on her stomach. "Listen to your unborn son."
Phoebe's hands fell to her stomach and her heart ached for the child she was yet to meet.
"He takes after his father," the Seer informed her, her own eyes to resting on Phoebe's stomach.
"His father lied to me," Phoebe reminded her harshly, shirking away protectively.
"He never lied about his feelings for you," the Seer assured, pleading her Sire's case, "And despite my best efforts he never stopped loving you."
Phoebe looked up at her words, allowing the Seer to place on hand on her stomach, where her baby lay inside.
"Your son was conceived in love, you know that," the Seer whispered, her other hand one Phoebe's shoulder, keeping her in place. "It's time to stop fighting it," she said gently seeing Phoebe's resolve waver. "It's time to embrace your new family, your new destiny. Otherwise Cole...and your son will die," she revealed pulling away.
Phoebe's heart lurched in fear at that solid declaration, her hands moving further around her middle, desperate to protect the new life inside of her.
"All of demondom will rise up against them to destroy them...and you."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Cole paced back and forth within the coronation chamber, guards flanking his either side. Cole turned to them slowly and ordered, "Leave me."
The guards looked at him in surprise. "But the coronation is imminent. The Wizard—"
"Knows that. I know," Cole concluded for him. "Leave."
The guards nodded, bowed their heads and shimmered out, leaving Cole alone just like he asked.
Cole stepped down from the podium into the open space and smirked as Snyder flashed in behind him. A sword appeared in his hand as he turned, blocking the staff that hurled towards him and the two engaged in a weapons fight. "I knew you'd come for me," he growled as he disarmed Snyder of his weapon, sending it sliding across the floor.
Cole balanced the sword directly against Snyder's neck as he informed him. "If you wanted my powers...all you had to do was ask."
Phoebe and Cole's Apartment
Cole closed the last of the open blinds in the penthouse, blanketing the room in light darkness. He turned back to Snyder. "How much longer?"
Snyder glanced up from his place by the Grimoire, which rested snugly on its podium. "Give me a break will you?" he demanded tensely. "This is tricky stuff. Be a lot easier if I could do this in friendlier confines."
Cole's eyebrows hit his hairline. "There are no friendly confines not anymore." He crossed his arms threateningly as he advanced on the small man. "This better work, or you'll be joining the rest of your kind and not in the way you'd hoped for."
"Little tip." Snyder looked back up from the book. "Pressure's not the best motivating technique as your mother-in-law knows all to well." Cole's eyebrows rose in surprise. "I was Miss Summers high school principal. Now if you want to lose the Source's powers, don't rush me."
Cole smirked at the man's nervous ramblings and resumed pacing. "Fine, but just so we're clear, once you get the Source's powers, I never hear from you again."
Snyder nodded. "Understood." Then turned to his circle of lit candles. "Not that I'm ungrateful, but why are you so willing to do this?"
Cole closed his eyes tightly. "I lost someone I love, and I want her back," he answered honestly, then regained his composure and added. "That's all you need to know."
Snyder walked back to the book and ventured. "Love?"
Cole shot him a warning look and the Wizard smirked.
"The Source can love," he stated with a wry grin.
"Just keep working," Cole ordered, tone clipped and his pacing continued.
"I'm done," Snyder announced, after a moment's silence. "Now, if the spell's going to work..." he picked up a long bladed atheme, "...blood needs to spill."
Cole approached him slowly, pulling up his sleeve and offering his arm to cut holding it above the Grimoire.
The Wizard dragged the knife across his arm, blood seeping from the wound. Then he held his own above Cole's.
"Now me." He dragged the knife across his own, their blood mingling before it dropped down onto the book, hissing and smoking upon contact, then Snyder began his chant.
Cole stepped backwards as Snyder's voice grew louder, the two men standing at either end of the Grimoire.
The two men rose into the air, both glowing a bright, blinding ghostly white. Snyder held out his hands, calling the Source's powers forth.
Cole convulsed in the air, gasping for air as the Source was sucked painfully from his body.
The Seer flashed in with Phoebe by her side, both sets of eyes rising to meet the scene before them.
"Save him," the Seer urged but Phoebe remained still. The Seer turned to her and added, "For your son."
Phoebe's pause dissipated and she threw out her hand sending a same stream of fire towards Snyder, who screamed in pain as he was engulfed, the Source flying back into Cole's body as Snyder went up in smoke. She rushed to her husband's gasping form as he hit the floor, while a slow and victorious smirk stretched the Seer's face.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy and Piper stood, pacing back and forth on the attic floor: Leo and Faith to their right, Paige and Dawn seated at a small table in front of them with two maps of San Francisco and two crystals dangling from their hands.
Leo had given a quick lesson on how to sense a charge, or even the charge's family. Given the fact that she and Dawn were recognized by the Halliwell's as their aunts. Leo had told Faith that she could potentially be able to sense Phoebe as well, which was why he had given her the quick lesson and had her help him in trying to sense Phoebe.
"Maybe you and Aunt Faith should go back down to the underworld," Piper suggested to her husband, her hands nervously smoothing out the imaginary creases on her pants.
"We already tired," Leo reminded his wife gently. "Neither Faith or I can sense her anywhere."
"Well uh—" Dawn looked up from her map at Leo. "She's got to be somewhere."
"Doesn't she?" Piper asked fearfully staring into her husband's eyes pleadingly.
"Got her," Paige and Dawn announced simultaneously as their crystals hit the map.
Phoebe and Cole's Apartment
"Are you okay?" Phoebe asked her husband quietly, as he turned in her arms.
"What happened?" Cole queried looking into her eyes. "What did you do?" he demanded glancing around for Snyder, for his last of freedom.
"I vanquished him," Phoebe answered evenly.
"Oh, but he was our last chance," Cole breathed, his eyes full of disappointment.
Phoebe shook her head slowly. "No it wasn't," she countered as her family orbed into the room.
"Thank god we found you," Dawn cried in relief from her place next to Faith.
Cole and Phoebe both stumbled to their feet as Phoebe whispered, "It's too late."
"What do you mean?" Leo questioned, Piper and Buffy on his left and Dawn, Faith and Paige on his right. "What are you talking about?"
Phoebe walked to the Grimoire and lifted it up.
"Hey! I, I thought only evil can touch that book," Paige cried, throwing out her hands.
"That's right," Phoebe confirmed as she backed up next to Cole, stopping by his side.
Piper felt her heart stop at her sister's words, her hold on her husband's hand tightening painfully.
Buffy felt the air leave her lungs in a second and she struggled for breath as she watched her baby girl choose Cole over her own family.
"Phoebe what's going on?" Piper asked fearfully, knowing the answer to her own questioned but not capable to comprehend it.
"I'm embracing my new destiny." Phoebe replied as she and Cole linked hands, staring into each other's eyes.
"Phoebe, don't do this," Dawn pleaded with Phoebe, her eyes stern and her voice hard, Phoebe merely glanced at her aunt before returning her gaze to her husband.
Piper shook her head slowly in disbelief, her heart breaking as the flames began engulfing her little sister.
Paige stared with wide, disbelieving eyes as Phoebe and Cole flamed out together.
Faith wrapped her arms around her wife, who turned to her burying her head in Faith's shoulder.
"What the hell was that?" Piper cried following their departure, pointing to where her sister once stood.
"That was the Source," the Seer informed them, sauntering closer and both Paige and Piper looked to Prue, silent realization that she had been right all along: Cole was indeed the new Source.
The Seer smirked, knowing she wasn't finished and took great pleasure in her concluding statement, "And his Queen."
"You bitch! You did this," Piper spat, her eyes filled with anger. "You poisoned her!"
"Maybe we should just vanquish you," Paige threatened darkly and the Seer smiled.
"You can't," the Seer informed them confidently. "Not without the Power of Three."
Buffy stepped toward the demon. "Take me to Phoebe," she ordered.
"Why should I?" the Seer asked looking at the blonde Slayer.
"I'm her mother," Buffy angrily replied. "And as her mother I won't try and change her mind. But I just want to know that she is happy with her decision."
"Mom?" Piper said suddenly worried that the Seer or Cole would kill Buffy. "What makes you think they won't leave you down there. Trapped?"
Buffy winked at Piper, letting her daughter know she had a plan. "I doubt you will want to incur the wrath of the Source or his Queen," she said as she looked back at the Seer. "Right?"
The Seer nodded. "You are correct, for now. You have my word that I will return you after the coronation."
Buffy looked at her daughters, her sister and sister-in-law. "I'll be back. But…" She looked back at the Seer. "Know this if something happens to me. Even if it means angering Phoebe they will go after Cole."
"That will not be necessary," the Seer replied. "I may be evil but I do live up to my bargains when they benefit me. And in this it benefits me not to harm you at this moment in time." She took Buffy's hand and they flashed out, leaving the remaining family alone in the apartment.
"I can't believe this is happening," Paige whispered brokenly, shaking her head from side to side.
Piper turned to her husband and aunt with pleading eyes, "Leo, Faith, where are they?"
Leo and Faith closed their eyes, concentrating all their energy on Buffy and Phoebe. Neither of them could sense her. "Faith?" he said as he opened his eyes.
"I can't," Faith replied knowing what Leo was asking.
Leo nodded as he looked at his wife. "We can't sense them," he admitted quietly. "They must be in the Underworld."
"Mom had a plan," Piper said looking at her husband. "She's counting on us. So orb us down there and we'll help mom drag her home kicking and screaming."
"There is no way we can find the coronation site without the wizard," Paige reminded her sister.
"I don't care!" Piper cried, tears welling suddenly. "We have to help mom."
"We don't have a choice," Leo soothed, "Buffy is on her own till either the Seer brings her back or until we find another way."
Piper shook her head sharply and stormed past him towards her aunts. "Aunt Dawn, Aunt Faith, back me up here," she pleaded. "Tell him we have to help mom bring Phoebe home. Tell him we have to go get her!" she demanded hysterically.
"The problem is," Dawn reluctantly admitted. "Buffy's plan wasn't thought out. She had likely hoped that Leo or Faith could sense her. We could orb down there. But unless they can sense her location then we could be searching forever. I don't want to leave Phoebe with Cole either. But we sadly do not have a choice."
Paige bit down on her lower lip— hard enough to draw blood— at her aunt's declaration, shaking her head and squeezing her eyes closed as she moved to Dawn and dropped her head to Dawn's shoulder in defeat.
Piper's eyes slipped closed and she shook her head, snatching Dawn's hands up and sliding close as a sob passed her lips. She too dropped her head to Dawn's other shoulder.
Dawn watched as Faith walked around in front of her as Faith opened her arms. Dawn nodded as she opened her own and Faith walked into her arms and they both wrapped the arms around the two sobbing women.
"Ssh," Dawn whispered. "As soon as the Seer brings Buffy back we'll make a plan. We'll save Phoebe, we'll bring her home."
"Dawn is right," Faith whispered. "If I can turn evil and come back. We can save Phoebe, we can bring her back, bring her home."
Underworld
"Are you sure about this?" Cole asked Phoebe evenly, his eyes conveying the seriousness of his question and the importance of her answer. "You're giving up your life," he reminded her.
Phoebe squeezed his hands as they held onto hers and looked him in the eyes. "My life is with you and our baby," she replied firmly, meaning every single word. "We'll be strong together." She smiled. "After all, we're family."
Cole smiled in relief, leaning down to capture her lips with his. "I love you," he promised her before stepping back.
It was then that the Seer flashed in with Buffy. "What is she doing here?" Cole asked as a frown creased her face.
"To talk to my daughter, Cole," Buffy answered as the Seer made her way into the coronation chamber to check on the preparations. "I just want to know she is sure about this. What she's giving up."
Phoebe looked at Buffy, in a way she was happy it was her mother who tried to come to talk her out of it than Piper. She was sure Piper would want to take her home kicking and screaming. But Buffy, she was sure that her mother would be happy as long as she was happy. Would she rest till she was home with her sisters, no but she would not interfere either at least in this moment as log as Phoebe was happy.
"Cole just asked me the same thing, Mom," Phoebe admitted. "My life is with him and the baby. I appreciate that you're concerned for me."
"As long as you're happy. Even though I don't like what's going on, I won't interfere as long as I know you're happy," Buffy said, her gaze on Cole. "That's all I ever wanted for any of you girls."
"I'm happy, Mom. Really," Phoebe said as she hugged Buffy.
Buffy nodded as she turned and looked at her son-in-law. "That said, Cole. You hurt Phoebe in any way. I will have a very distraught daughter to deal with because I won't hesitate to vanquish you for hurting her."
Cole nodded as he looked at Buffy. "I am saying this as a man, who is in love with your daughter. Not as the Source or as a demon. I am truly in love with Phoebe, I would never do anything to harm her. You have my word."
The Seer approached wordlessly. "It is time," she announced, looking pointedly at Phoebe.
Phoebe met her gaze and replied. "We're ready."
Cole smiled, shrugged his shoulders under the heavy weight of the coronation attire, and outstretched his hand to his wife who obediently slipped hers into his. He led Phoebe, dressed in a velvet blue gown, through the chanting crowd and towards the altar, where the Dark Priest waited patiently. The Seer followed behind, smirking at her triumph.
Buffy watched from the back of the room and let out a sigh. She had meant what she said that she would not interfere as long as Phoebe was happy. But that didn't mean she would not stop trying to find a way to bring her daughter home.
Author's Note: In the original We're Off to See the Wizard chapter Faith was made Dawn's Whitelighter. I had at least one reviewer ask later how Faith could be Dawn's Whitelighter. Especially when I had Faith's father be a Darklighter. I hope the revised scene (in Part 1) that now reveals that hopefully clears it up so that going forward there is no longer any confusion how Faith is Dawn's Whitelighter.
The Wizard from Charmed and Principal Snyder from Buffy were played by the same actor. As kind of a small joke that's why Buffy recognized him.
In regards to Phoebe's child. I had debated to do what I had done with Slayer Reborn making Willow, Cole and Phoebe's unborn child. But as I thought about it, I realized that would just make it a little convoluted and even detract from the original premise of the story of Buffy being reincarnated as Patty. It was already a stretch when Dawn became Prue reincarnated, but that was an easier sell for multiple reasons. One she was already in the story, and it gave her a backstory on why she had Prue's powers beyond just having Warren blood flowing through her veins as was the case originally.