Disclaimer – I don't own Charmed or any of the characters
Witch Way Now?
Chapter 17
Cole raised his arms in the air and cried out in victory. He clenched his eyes closed and celebrated this, his finest moment in this quest for peace. The final Source of Evil was dead and even with his eyes closed he could still see the blackened area where Nexus died. Cole finally stopped yelling and opened his eyes.
"What the fuck?"
Everyone around him was frozen in time. Everything and everyone was perfectly still like statues posing in gardens. Leaves and bugs were stuck mid-flight and even the magical creatures and beings were stuck in battle. Cole's eyes darted from side to side while his breathing picked up.
"Hello,"
"Hello,"
"What happened to you all?"
He turned in a circle crying out for answers then stopped when he noticed something that wasn't there before. Cole turned his body and stared at the two tall white men dressed in all white suits.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded pointing Excalibur forward. "What the hell have you done?"
The two men began walking slowly towards Cole through the frozen war zone. Each of their slow steps was perfectly synchronized and they looked nearly like identical twins. A bright white light began to appear from behind them forcing Cole to over his eyes when they got close to him.
Cole waved his hand and sent flames around the area pushing them back. "TURN DOWN THE DAMN LIGHT!" he growled threatening to release more fire.
The light faded and Cole's eyes quickly adjusted to the natural settings. His facial expression changed dramatically when he realized how tall the two men were up close. They both easily had 3 feet on him.
"Who the hell are you," Cole repeated. "And what the hell have you done?"
"We are the cleaners,"
"The what?" Cole asked confused.
"We are the cleaners,"
"When magic is exposed we turn time and make it not so,"
"The world is not ready to co-exist with magical beings,"
"Are you telling me you're going to turn back time?" Cole asked.
"Yes,"
"How far back?" Cole asked.
"You will never be allowed to meet the Sisters of Fate,"
"That means I'll still be alone in that other dimension," Cole said upset.
"You cannot be allowed to complete your mission Cole Turner,"
"I cannot be allowed," Cole repeated with a hint of agitation in his voice.
"No matter how different you approach your objective the end result will still be the same,"
Cole cocked his head to the side a little and eyed the two cleaners. "You two disturb me in my greatest triumph and tell me that you're about to reset all the hard work I've put into creating peace?" Cole's voice grew deeper and more dangerous by the moment.
"We don't even know why you are not frozen like everyone else,"
"I'm a bit different," Cole replied.
Blue flames began to ripple from Cole's body and circle around him. The flames spread towards the cleaners and forced them to spring backwards to safety. Cole opened his hand and all the flames swirled and formed a giant blue fireball in his hand. The cleaners stared as the ball consistently expanded gaining power from the flames Cole released.
Cole threw the fireball directly in the middle of the cleaners catching both of them on the left and right shoulder. It exploded sending blue flames and the cleaners flying into the air in different directions. The flames spread out around the area burning all the creatures standing around frozen in time. The street around Cole turned red and began growing soft and mushy melting from the heat of the attack.
"You see," Cole cried out to the cleaners. "Nothing in this world compares to my power!"
The ground behind Cole exploded sending chunks of rock and concrete into the air. Cole turned and held his arm up protecting himself from the debris. He turned just in time to see a white ball just before it slammed into his chest. The ball smashed and white jolts of electricity began to surge through Cole's body tearing at his insides.
Another one smashed into his stomach sending even more pain through his body. Cole shouted in agony and almost fell to his knee but used Excalibur for support. The attacks finally faded after a moment releasing Cole from his torment and allowing him a moment to breath.
"You are indeed powerful Cole Turner,"
"And this is something we have not foreseen,"
"But you will meet your end here today,"
Cole ripped Excalibur up from the ground and gripped it firmly in his right hand. "Then come try me," he grumbled angrily.
A white flash filled the air blinding Cole then he felt pressure on his chest and was flung backwards into the ground. He tucked, rolled then sprang to his feet landing unharmed safely a few steps away.
Both cleaners flew out the light towards him. The first tossed another white ball in Cole's direction; Cole held Excalibur up slicing clean through the attack then ducked and rolled underneath the flying duo. The second cleaner landed and turned firing a white beam at Cole, the attack made him stumble.
Cole shot lightning as his reply knocking the cleaner to the ground the second moved to attack. Cole jumped into the air and attempted to slice the cleaner through but Excalibur was blocked by an invisible barrier. It rippled on contact then deflected Cole back several yards away from the cleaner.
'They have barriers around them,' Cole thought angrily.
Both cleaners charged forward gripping white energy balls in all four palms. At the last moment they flung them forward directly at Cole. A sleek blue flame barrier sparked and surrounded Cole catching the attacks at the last moment. The barrier flickered and rippled several times before barely pushing the attacks aside harmlessly.
Cole attacked with a fireball that caught the second cleaner in the chest and knocked him down. He swung Excalibur swiftly through the air attempting to slice the first cleaner up, down, left, and right. But the cleaner was surprisingly agile and tiptoed backwards easily dodging the attacks.
Cole swung downward; the cleaner quickly dodged and caught Cole in the cheek with a strong left cross making him stumble. Cole caught his balance and looked up to see a white flash then he felt a powerful force rip across his body and slam him down into the ground. The ground around him exploded filling the area with smoke and dust.
The cleaners were now standing together looking at the cloud of smoke waiting patiently. Blue flames tore the smoke apart and engulfed one of the cleaners making him disappear in fire. Before the other could react Cole was standing in front of him forcing an energy ball into his chest. The ball exploded and the cleaner flew backwards tearing up concrete as he slid on the ground.
Both cleaners were laying in shambles on the ground bodies covered in dirt and steam from Cole's attacks. Cole dragged the tip of Excalibur along the ground letting the annoying scraping sound fill the silent air. The cleaners stirred and struggled to get to their feet while Cole drew closer to them.
Lightning sparks began to flicker around Cole's fingertips before he released a jolt from his palms forcing one cleaner back into the ground. The other cleaner attacked again catching Cole with a strange beam of white energy. Cole deflected some of the attack with Excalibur but still felt the pain in his shoulder.
Cole spun around swiftly and fired a massive burst of flames from his hand the cleaner shot another white energy beam and the two attacks collided together. The two attacks began to struggle for power each stream pushing forward then being forced back for a moment.
The cleaner had both hands pressed forward sweating profusely as he drained more and more power into the attack. Cole however was gripping Excalibur in his right hand and shooting flames from his left easily holding his own with the cleaner.
"You're not as strong by yourself," Cole taunted with a grin. He dropped his new sword and opened his right palm sending more flames into the stream. His wave of flame began to push and surge while it turned bright blue slowly but surely overpowering the cleaner.
The cleaner concentrated hard but was losing ground by the second and could feel the heat from the fire as it moved close to him. Cole laughed and pushed more flames from his palms making the beam grow to monstrous proportions. The cleaner's eyes grew wide as he watched the nearly 6 foot wave of fire dispatch his beam and slam into him. He was instantly vanquished.
Hearing the other cleaner's short screams of pain before death stirred the remaining cleaner from his slight unconsciousness. The cleaner could feel his partner's death and even felt some of his power leave his body. The two had been together for all of time watching over everything as the most powerful beings. They had seen the past and knew the future like the back of their hands.
But they had never foreseen Cole Turner.
The cleaner stood calmly to his feet and brushed off his now dirty white suit before smiling up at Cole. "I have never had a challenge like this," he began. "I offer you the chance to replace my fallen comrade and join me."
Cole chuckled and spat on the ground beside him. "I work for no one," he replied easily then tightened his grip around Excalibur's handle pulling it from the ground.
"So be it," the cleaner said bleakly and prepared for the second round of battle. A white light began to stretch from the cleaners palms extending to the length of a sword. After a moment the cleaner was gripping a pure white energy sword in his hand grinning at Cole.
Cole swung his arm shooting a regular fireball directly in front of him as he charged forward. The cleaner swung his blade and sliced through the fireball then leapt high above Cole's head flipping in the air several times.
Cole shot several quick bursts of fire into the sky but all missed the cleaner who landed quietly a few feet behind Cole.
Cole wasted no time; he sprinted forward and swung Excalibur with all his might trying to slice the cleaner through the middle. Excalibur connected with the white blade and Cole felt a familiar charge of electricity surge through is muscles and body. He stumbled backwards breathing heavy feeling the same shock as when he was hit by the white energy balls.
'The damn sword shocks me with every hit,' Cole thought to himself staring at the cleaner.
"What's the matter?" the cleaner asked. "Getting tired?" he laughed.
"No," Cole replied slyly. "Just thinking about how I'm going to vanquish you."
The cleaner stopped laughing and pulled his blade high above his head then bringing it down. Cole barely held Excalibur up in time blocking the strike; he struggled to ignore the shock that immediately rushed through him. The cleaner swung again and Cole blocked this time visibly grimacing from the sheering pain. Cole was forced on the defensive as he took several steps backwards struggling to fend off the cleaner's blade.
With every swing the cleaner grew more and more confident pulling the blade up then down left and right. He did not care if Cole blocked his blows his blade still shocked with every strike and sooner if not later the fool would succumb to the pain and be killed.
Cole blocked again and stumbled backwards away from the cleaner attempting to catch his breath. The cleaner didn't stop he came forward and began bringing his blade down towards Cole's head. At the very last moment Cole reached up with his hand and caught the blade barely stopping it.
Blood began leaking from his palm as he held the blade steady and tight ignoring the powerful shocks flowing through him. Cole pulled the white blade down towards his knees and dropped Excalibur from his right hand. Cole stretched his right hand up and grabbed the cleaner by the throat clenching his fingers tightly.
The cleaner reached up and grabbed Cole's wrist with his hand while still trying to pull his blade from Cole's grip as well. The white lightning ripped and tore at every inch of Cole's body but he ignored the pain and concentrated. His right hand began to glow bright red slightly burning the cleaners neck.
The cleaner coughed and gagged for air seconds before his body was engulfed by the blue flames that exploded from Cole's hand. In the blink of an eye the cleaner was completely gone and all the shocking had ceased. Cole fell to his knees and tried to catch his breath all around him he could tell time was now unfrozen.
Several orbs spat out the Charmed Ones and Leo. Phoebe's blood was pouring from the arrow wounds in her body and falling onto the couch in the destroyed living room. The neighborhood around them was also destroyed showing visible signs that Nexus army had moved through here long ago.
Much of San Francisco was either burning or burned to the ground. The few people still left could be heard crying and screaming throughout the city for various reasons.
Leo immediately leaned over and began healing Phoebe's wounds. A golden glow spread from his hands over her wounds and slowly dried up all the blood and removed all pain. Seconds later Phoebe was back on her feet and ready for battle.
"C'mon lets go back," She growled.
"Where's Wyatt?" Piper asked. She had been so caught up in Phoebe's injury and getting her healed that she hadn't realized he wasn't there.
"Wyatt's dead,"
Piper's body went limp and she fell to the ground. Her sisters and Leo rushed to her side leaning down and trying to pick her up. Phoebe and Paige looked at Leo tears already streaming from their eyes as they realized this was not a joke.
"Hold her hand and use a spell to fix the house," Leo instructed holding out Pipers limp arm.
Paige and Phoebe gripped hands then reached for Pipers. "Repeat after me," Phoebe said closing her watery eyes.
"Property destroyed needs to be returned…"
"Fix the Halliwell Manor every inch that was burned…"
The second Phoebe opened her eyes the house was rebuilt and in perfect condition in front of her. Leo laid Piper on the couch and pulled her hand close to his heart, he was now crying along with everyone else while he slowly stroked Pipers forehead.
"What happened Leo?" Paige whimpered.
"Cole killed him," Leo said angrily. "I watched with my own eyes."
Everyone broke down again. This was to much they had just lost Chris and now Wyatt to…Phoebe and Paige were stricken with grief but glad they had sent their daughters away to safety. They were young and needed to be kept away from danger for now but Wyatt and Chris were grown and experienced. They held each other and cried for hours.
Paige moved slowly and turned on the TV to try and get an update on the war around them. As soon as she turned on the television it was covered with the huge words "WAR IS OVER" in bright yellow. The helicopter was flying over the scene filming the elves, witches, white lighters and centaurs celebrating victory.
"As you can see below me the fighting has stopped,"
"All around what I'm guessing are the evil creatures are throwing down their weapons,"
"Hold on I'm receiving word…"
"Apparently someone named Cole Turner killed the evil creature's leader and ended the war,"
"We'll now go live to Linda Mitchell who is with Cole Turner,"
Paige, Phoebe and Leo stared at the television in amazement. They could not believe their ears at all. The camera switched to a blonde woman holding a mike standing directly next to Cole.
"So ah Mr. Turner is it?" she didn't wait for a reply. "What exactly is going on here?"
Cole rubbed his head. "These are all magical creatures," he paused. "Yes magical creatures. Magic does exist and basically the source of all evil was trying to start and apocalypse and take over the human world."
The woman blinked her eyes several times then looked at the camera. "Um where did you get that beautiful sword?" she asked pointing to Excalibur at his side.
Cole smiled. "Found it," he replied easily looking directly into the camera. His eyes seemed to be staring right at Phoebe, Paige, and Leo laughing and taunting about their loss.
Leo sent a stream of lightning into the TV blowing it to pieces then started crying into Pipers shoulder holding her close. Paige wiped her eyes and grabbed Phoebe by the wrists.
"We have to kill Cole,"