Legacy 112: Noah's Arc
Part 3
Xxx
Many years ago,
As the sun began to set, Noah and Calliope stood in a large clearing in the forest. One by one, Whitelighters orbed in until a group of at least thirty had gathered. More and more Whitelighters began to see that a change was needed. Getting them to act was another thing though. Most were scared to stand up, and it had taken years to even gather a crowd like this.
"Thank you all for coming." Noah said. "We are all here for the same reason. We all want to make this world a better place."
"We need to stand up to the council." Calliope added. "We need to show them that we're willing to fight for change."
"With evil almost defeated, we finally have a chance to act." Noah said.
"We can do more than sit back and watch as others risk their lives and innocents are lost." Calliope said. "But as long as we have a council with outdated ideals, we can never do more."
Some of the Whitelighters in the crowd clapped, while most remained silent. Noah realized that while most of them had issues with the council, they were not ready to act yet. The council still had too much power over them.
"Impressive speech. Very Norma Rae." A voice from the crowd said.
The crowd split apart and someone walked up to the front. Noah was surprised to suddenly see Paige Matthews standing in front of him.
"Paige." Noah said happily. "I'm glad you're here."
"Well, you won't be in a minute." Paige replied as she turned to the crowd. "Alright people, show is over. Get out of here."
Several Whitelighters quickly orbed away. More followed and soon all of them were gone, leaving only the three of them.
"What is she doing?" Calliope whispered frustrated. "I thought you said she would be on our side."
"There are no sides here." Paige replied. "Or at least there shouldn't be."
"Paige, I don't get it." Noah said. "After everything you and your sisters went through, I thought you of all people would understand."
"I do understand, Noah." Paige replied. "But however flawed the council is, I believe their intentions are good."
'But Odin…" Calliope began.
"Oh, Odin is an ass." Paige remarked. "But that's not the point. You said it yourself, evil is finally at its knees. We have peace. Do you really want to start trouble now?"
"The council is refusing to change." Noah said.
"Yeah, because they are stubborn and old." Paige said. "But they have guided the magical community for centuries. They make mistakes, we all do, but that's no reason to start a rebellion."
"This isn't a rebellion, it's a revolution." Calliope said.
"Same thing, honey." Paige said as she rolled her eyes. "Look, I've done the rebel thing. A few years ago I would have supported you in an instant, but things change. I've been a Whitelighter for a while now. I've seen the best and the worst of the council."
"What are you saying?" Noah asked.
"I'm saying that you're being young and impatient, Noah." Paige explained. "I know you have the best intentions, but that doesn't mean you're right."
"You're here to tell us to stop?" Noah asked.
"How do you even know about these meetings?" Calliope asked.
"I told her." A voice said.
A column of orbs appeared and materialized in a Whitelighter with short black hair. Noah recognized him as Kyle Brody, an FBI agent who was turned into a Whitelighter after fighting the Avatars.
"Hi Kyle." Paige said with a smile.
"Hey Paige, how are the twins?" Kyle asked.
"Finally sleeping through the night, but we can catch up later." Paige replied, before turning to the others. "Kyle has been to your meeting and he came to me because he was concerned."
"You betrayed us?" Calliope asked.
"I did what I felt was best." Kyle replied. "I've seen what happens when people want force change. It's not pretty. I could have gone to the council, but that didn't feel right, so I went to Paige instead. She is right, the council is not perfect, but they do tremendous good."
"You know we're right, Noah." Paige added.
"I need to think about this." Noah said hesitantly.
"Noah." Calliope pleaded as she moved closer and took his hand in hers. "Please don't let them doubt yourself."
"I see." Paige remarked with a slight smile. "How long have you two been dating?"
"What? We're not." Calliope called out shocked.
"Oh please." Paige replied. "It's obvious. Isn't that why you support him?"
"No, I believe in his ideas." Calliope said defensively. "Even if he has doubts himself."
"Calli, it's alright." Noah said. "Yes, we're together. At first we just shared the same dreams, but then it grew into something more."
"Isn't it against the rules for an Elder to date a Whitelighter?" Kyle asked.
"It is, but my personal life doesn't concern the council." Noah said.
"I agree." Paige said. "But isn't about the two of you. It's about what you're trying to do. I get that you want change, but this is not the way."
"What else can we do?" Calliope asked annoyed. "Sit and wait for things to get better?"
"Just think about what we said, Noah." Paige said, ignoring her question. "Don't let your personal feelings cloud your judgement. A rebellion always comes with a price."
Paige and Kyle both disappeared in a swirl of orbs. Noah understood their point of view. There was no denying the council was a force of good. Maybe things weren't as bad as he thought. Was he really acting on behalf of the greater good? Or was it personal? Perhaps his personal frustrations with the council were clouding his judgement.
Noah felt Calliope put her arms around him. For the last couple of years, she had been there to support him. What started out as a friendship had grown into a relationship. At first he had tried to resist it, though he later realized the only reason he did was because of the council's stupid rules.
"Don't listen to them." Calliope said.
"They might be right." Noah replied. "Maybe I'm only doing this because I can't stand Odin."
"No, I don't believe that." Calliope said. "You want to make the world better. It was never about Odin, it was about the greater good."
"But are things really that bad?" Noah asked. "Do we really need to fight amongst ourselves while the world is at peace?"
"You're worried about what Paige said, about people getting hurt." Calliope concluded. "But aren't our ideals worth fighting for?"
"I'm not so sure anymore." Noah admitted. "Maybe we should just let go and be happy we found each other."
Noah turned and looked at Calliope. She was hesitant and a little frustrated. She wanted to change things as much as he did, maybe even more so. But maybe they didn't need to change the world. Their dreams had brought them together, but their relationship had grown into something more. Noah kissed Calliope. He sensed her doubt and knew she was not ready to give up yet, though maybe their love would be enough.
Xxx
Present,
Early in the morning, Penny sat on the couch with a cup of coffee, going through tons of paperwork for the club. Although her mother had helped with the financial bit, there was still a lot do, like getting all the proper licenses. At this rate it would take weeks before she could open the new P3. Frustrated, Penny threw the papers of the table. She could not focus anyway. She kept thinking about what happened to Prue last night. Although she had no choice, Prue left an innocent behind. That kind of guilt was not easy to get over. Penny just hoped Noah would get back soon, so they could make that demon pay for what she did.
A column of orbs appeared in the middle of the room and Noah manifested. Penny got up and walked over to him.
"Any news?" Penny asked.
"Not as much as I hoped." Noah replied. "Where is Prue?"
"Still sleeping." Penny said. "So we'd better be quiet. It took hours for her to fall asleep, and I think she needs it right now."
"Got it." Noah replied. "And Payton?"
"She had to meet a friend." Penny said. "She wanted to stay, but I told her to go. There was nothing she could do here anyway. So what's the plan?"
"Well, that's what we need to figure out on our own." Noah replied.
"Excuse me?" Penny asked. "I thought you went to the Elders for help."
"I did." Noah explained. "They said you're supposed to figure it out on your own. They think it will make you stronger."
"Are you kidding me?" Penny said annoyed. "They are just too lazy to get off their fat asses. Fine, I'll call Wyatt and Chris and get them to help."
"The Elders want the three of you to work this out." Noah said.
"So we're just supposed to do this without any help?" Penny asked.
"You've got me." Noah replied.
"Look, with Prue's powers useless, we're going to need some firepower. Penny remarked. "And no offense, English, but you're not exactly big on the fighting."
"You have no idea." Noah mumbled.
"What?" Penny asked.
"Never mind." Noah replied. "Look, more power isn't always the solution. The Elders were confident that the three of you could vanquish this demon together. You need to trust in your bond as sisters and find a way."
"Alright, fine." Penny said. "But we're not waking up Prue just yet."
"What do you have in mind?" Noah asked.
"Well, even though we can't ask my cousins for help, we can still check the Book of Shadows." Penny explained. "It might be in the manor, but it's just as much ours."
"And if the book doesn't have an entry on the Empusa?" Noah asked.
"Then we'll check Magic School." Penny said. "Hopefully we'll find a potion or spell to vanquish this bitch before Prue wakes up."
"Sounds like a plan." Noah agreed.
"Alright, orb us over there." Penny said. "Guess I get to trade one type of paperwork for the other."
Noah nodded and placed a hand on Penny's shoulder. In a column of orbs, they disappeared from the apartment.
Xxx
Present,
In a local shopping mall, Payton was waiting for her friend Isaac. He had texted her this morning with some emergency he needed help with. She wanted to stay to help Prue, though Penny had told her to go, as there was nothing she could do. Even though Prue was going through something horrible, Payton could not stop thinking about Sean. She felt horrible for being so selfish, but she kept wondering what would had happened if Penny hadn't interrupted.
"Hey girlfriend." Isaac called out as he came walking up to her and hugged her.
"Hey, so what was the big emergency?" Payton asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I desperately need your help." Isaac said. "I have a date tonight and I have nothing to wear."
"Isaac." Payton replied annoyed. "Seriously, that's your emergency?"
"Well, yeah." Isaac said in a serious tone. "Do you know who my date is? It's that hot guy from the coffee place. The one who almost became a professional model."
"Isn't he kind-of arrogant and pretentious?" Payton asked.
"Exactly, which is why I need a new outfit." Isaac replied.
"Why would you want to go out with someone like that?" Payton asked.
"Is that a serious question?" Isaac replied with a frown. "Have you seen his abs?"
"You know, this is exactly why certain stereotypes exist." Payton remarked.
"Oh, who cares about that stuff?" Isaac replied with a shrug. "So can you help? I need someone with an honest opinion like you."
"Well, my sister might need me." Payton said. "Let me check."
Not wanting to waste her time shopping while her sisters were trying to stop a demon, Payton grabbed her phone and texted Penny. She quickly got a reply that she and Noah were doing research on the demon, and that it would take a while. Penny told her she would text her the moment they had something.
"Alright, looks like I'm all free." Payton replied. "Maybe it's good to get my mind off certain things."
After about an hour and a half of going from store to store, none of which had the perfect outfit Isaac was looking for, Payton and Isaac sat down at a coffee bar to get something to drink. Payton kept checking her phone to see if there was new from her sisters, but it remained silent. As she did, she was ignoring Isaac's rant about the stores not having any decent clothes.
"Hello? Earth to Payton." Isaac called out. "Are you even listening? Or is Sean more interesting?"
"What?" Payton asked confused.
"Sean." Isaac replied. "I assume he is the reason you keep checking your phone."
"No, was I hoping to hear from my sister." Payton said.
"Oh." Isaac replied. "So how is it going with your hot jock?"
"It's going fine." Payton said with some hesitation.
"That didn't sound very convincing." Isaac replied. "Something going on?"
"Well, it's a little awkward." Payton admitted.
"Oh come on, we're friends." Isaac said. "You can tell me anything."
"Alright." Payton replied with a deep breath. "You see, last night we were getting home from a date and I got the idea Sean wanted to… you know. And I got really nervous, as I didn't know I wanted to, and then my sister interrupted us."
"Wait, why where you nervous?" Isaac asked with a frown, and then his eyes widened as he realized why. "Oh my god, you're a virgin!"
"Could you keep it down?" Payton replied as she looked around embarrassed.
"So what's the big deal?" Isaac asked. "It's just sex."
"You sound like my sister." Payton said. "But I'm not sure I'm ready. I want the first time to be special."
"Payton, you know Sean isn't a virgin, right?" Isaac replied.
"That doesn't mean our first time together can't be special." Payton argued.
"Alright, I get it." Isaac said. "I think it's cool that you want to wait. Not a lot of people do that. I didn't, and my first time was a disaster. So maybe talk to Sean, explain how you feel."
"But what if he doesn't understand?" Payton asked. "Or doesn't want to wait?"
"Then he is a loser who doesn't deserve you." Isaac said.
"Thanks." Payton replied with a faint smile.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Payton finished her drink and the two of them continued shopping. Payton thought about what Isaac said and realized he was right. She needed to tell Sean how she felt. If he truly cared about her, he would understand that she wanted to wait.
xxx