Chapter 101: We're Off To See The Wizard
Buffy, Piper and Paige are in an elevator on their way up to Phoebe and Cole's apartment.
"Cole's a demon again, that is what's going on." Paige says.
Piper shakes her head, "Do you want us to lose a sister, because that's exactly what's gonna happen if you blurt it out like that. Besides, we only know that Cole is dealing with demons, not that he is a demon."
Paige sighs, "If he looks like a demon and walks like a demon..."
"That's ducks, that's not Phoebe's husband. The love of her life, her best friend..." Buffy says.
"Alright." Paige says.
"Look, this isn't gonna be easy for her to hear, especially since she's happier than she's ever been." Piper says.
The elevator opens and they see Phoebe standing near the window.
"Or not." Paige says.
"Hi. Come on in." Phoebe says.
"Pheebs, what's the matter? You look..." Buffy says.
"Terrible? Yeah, I haven't slept in a couple of days." Phoebe says.
"Why? What's the matter?" Piper asks.
"Uh, you guys should probably sit down." Phoebe says.
"That's funny, we were just coming to ask you to do the same thing." Paige says.
Buffy glares at Paige, "Not now." She, Piper and Paige sits at the table.
"Okay, so, what I'm about to tell you is really big. We're talking huge." Phoebe says.
"See, she knows." Paige says.
Buffy glares at Paige.
"Knows what?" Phoebe asks.
"Uh, you tell us." Piper says.
"Uh, okay, I-I'm, uh... I'm pregnant." Phoebe says.
Buffy looks at Phoebe, her eyes wide, "You're what?"
"Oh my god, from Cole?" Paige asks.
"I don't even understand how this could've happened. We were being so careful. It's the last thing I expected right now." Phoebe says.
"Just wait." Paige says.
"Does Cole know?" Piper asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, not yet. I should've told him, I know, but I didn't know how to. Besides, I don't want him to think that I'm not happy about it."
"Are you?" Buffy asks.
Phoebe sighs, "I don't know. I mean, part of me is obviously. I love Cole. But then there's another part of me that's scared to death. I mean, there' so many changes and it's all happening so fast. I'm not sure I'm ready for this."
"Oh, honey, you should've told us when you found out, and then you wouldn't have to go through it alone." Piper says.
Phoebe nods, looking at Piper, "I know, but I wasn't sure how you would feel about it."
"Me? Why?" Piper asks.
"Because I know how hard you and Leo have been trying." Phoebe says.
"Oh, honey, this doesn't have anything to do with me, it has everything to do with you. And-and I'd be thrilled to be an aunt. Don't worry about me." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "As would I, Pheebs."
"So when are you gonna tell Cole?" Paige asks.
"I don't know. He's got so much on his plate right now, you know, with starting his new job and everything." Phoebe says.
"You're gonna have a lot on your plate too, more than you realise." Paige says.
Piper nods, "Yeah, like how many hours he's gonna be working and that he's not gonna be home a lot."
"That's not what I'm talking about, Piper." Paige says.
"What do you mean, Paige?" Phoebe asks.
"It can wait." Buffy says.
They hear the elevator.
"Oh, god, that's Cole. He can't know I told you before I told him. Hurry, outta here, orb or flame." Phoebe says.
"I thought Cole had a no orbing and flaming policy." Paige says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, he doesn't want you orbing or Buffy flaming in, he doesn't mind you orbing or Buffy flaming out."
Buffy grabs Piper and Paige's hands. "Good luck." She flames out with them.
Moments later at the Manor, Leo orbs in. "What is the emergency?"
"Phoebe is pregnant." Piper says.
"What? Really?" Leo asks.
Paige nods, "Yeah, I think she deserves to know she's carrying a demon child, don't you?"
"You don't know if Cole is a demon." Buffy says.
Paige sighs, "You and Piper don't know he's not."
"Well, okay, we'll do some more digging and-and we'll find some solid proof." Piper says.
Paige shakes her head, "No, I think she deserves to know now, Piper, Buffy."
"She doesn't need the stress, Paige." Buffy says.
"Even if she's in danger?" Paige asks.
"Cole would never hurt her. He couldn't even hurt her when he was a demon." Piper says.
"Are you both willing to bet her lives on it?" Paige asks.
"Okay, do you want my advice or don't you?" Leo asks.
"Depends on what side you're on. And if you take theirs, it better not be because you're sleeping with Piper." Paige says.
"Help!" A wizard says as he appears.
"Whoa." Piper says.
"Please, you've gotta help me." Wizard says.
Buffy powers up a fireball, "Help you? Who are you?" A guard appears and throws an energy ball at the wizard, vanquishing him. Buffy throws the fireball at the guard vanquishing him. "Wh-? What an idiot. Doesn't every demon know by now who's house this is?"
The wizard appears in the conservatory. "Not every demon. Fortunately for me."
"But he just vanquished you." Paige says.
Wizard shakes his head, "No, not me. An illusion. One of my little tricks. Comes in handy for saving my life and what not."
"You're a wizard?" Leo asks.
"In the flesh, for lack of a better term." Wizard says.
"Wait a minute, you just tricked us into vanquishing one of your enemies." Piper says.
"My enemies are your enemies." Wizard says.
"Says you. Leo, friend or foe?" Paige asks.
Leo shakes his head, "I don't know, I've never met a wizard before. Only heard about them."
"I can't tell." Buffy says. "My spidey-sense is not going off right now."
"Please, give me a little credit." Wizard says as he walks into the living room and they follow. "Why would I seek out the Charmed Ones if I were evil?"
"Okay, look, you need to stand still or you're gonna go poof like your friend in there." Piper says.
"Oh, you're the touchy one aren't you? I've heard about you. Peeper?" Wizard says.
"Piper." Buffy and Piper says.
"Whatever." Wizard says.
"What do you want?" Leo asks.
"Revenge. On the Source. For slaughtering my kind centuries ago. And for that I'll need your help." Wizard says.
"Well, maybe you haven't heard. There's a new Source. The old one is dead." Buffy says.
"Yeah, we already kicked his sorry ass." Paige says.
"He didn't die. He was reborn into a new sorry ass. Wait, that didn't come out right." Wizard says.
"Are you kidding me? After everything we went through, he found an escape hatch?" Piper says.
The wizard taps his staff twice on the floor and a whole cooked chicken appears. He pulls off a drumstick and starts eating it. "Our only chance to stop him will be tonight before he receives his full powers at the coronation."
"Tonight? How do we do such a big job in such short notice?" Paige asks.
"We'll steal the Grimoir." Wizard says.
"Oh, what's that?" Paige asks.
"Evil Book of Shadows." Leo says.
"The Source has to lay his hand on the book as he says the oath, otherwise he doesn't get his powers." Wizard says.
"So we steal a little book and we stop the Source? What's the catch?" Buffy asks.
"The catch is it's protected in a secret chamber by his best guards. Now, I know how to get there but I can't fight them alone. What do you say? Partners?" Wizard says.
Piper freezes him. "I so don't trust him."
"Alright, I'll check with the Elders, see what they know. You better get Phoebe. In case he's right, you're gonna need the power of three at the very least." Leo says and he orbs out.
"I'll go get her." Piper says.
"No, no, you've got the fire power, you stay here, I'll go." Paige says.
"No," Buffy says. "I'll go. We don't want you spilling the beans on Cole. Not until we know for sure. We'll tell her as a group, okay." She flames out.
At the Bay Mirror in Phoebe's office, Phoebe is on the phone. "Yes, of course I am aware that there is a deadline but Elise threw my column out at the last minute. Oh, oh, how hard can it be to write an advice column? Let me show you how hard." She slams the phone down and knocks off her cup of coffee.
"Bad time?" Buffy asks as she walks in.
"Yes. Uh, no, whatever. What is it?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy sighs, "Uh, well, we, uh, we need the power of three."
"What? Now? Can't it wait?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "Cliff notes version, we didn't kill the Source like we thought, he was just reborn. And now if we don't help a wizard stop him from getting coronated tonight, he becomes all powerful. Shall we?"
"So let him get coronated." Phoebe says.
"Sorry?" Buffy asks.
"Well, why not? What's the worse that can happen?" Phoebe asks.
"You mean other then going through all of what we went through the last four years again? What's wrong with you?" Buffy says.
"I don't know. I'm just, I'm having a really bad day right now. Okay, uh, I'll meet you at the manor but I have to find Cole first and fill him in." Phoebe says.
Buffy nods, "Okay."
"By the way, Buffy. What did you guys stop by for this morning?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy sighs, "Piper and I wanted to wait till we had proof, Pheebs. You know that vampiric demon that turned Paige." Phoebe nods. "Paige met him at your apartment."
"Oh." Phoebe says. "So?"
"And Paige seemed to think…" Buffy says.
"Cole is a demon again?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy nods, "I don't know if I believe it myself Phoebe. But we do have to ask what that demon was doing there."
Phoebe nods, "I understand." She grabs her coat and heads for the door. "I'm going to go prove Paige wrong. Then I'll meet you at the manor. By the way Buffy, thanks for telling me."
"What are sisters for. I just wish we could have waited till we had proof one way or another." Buffy says.
"I know." Phoebe says.
Later Buffy flames into the Manor to find Piper and Paige waiting for her.
"Where's Phoebe?" Piper asks.
"Proving Paige wrong." Buffy says.
"Buffy you didn't." Piper says. "You told her about Cole?"
Buffy nods, "She took it pretty well though. Probably better than Paige had told her."
Piper sighs, "Buffy we decided to wait till we had proof and it was the right time to tell her. The thing is now she is going to try and prove Paige wrong and may not be able to help us. You might as well have crowned the new Source yourself."
"Oh, goddess, I think you're slightly exaggerating." Buffy says.
Piper shakes her head, "No, I am not. We need Phoebe for the plan to work."
"She said she would be here." Buffy says. "What plan?"
"Follow me!" Piper says as she and Paige lead Buffy into the kitchen.
The kitchen has turned into the large underworld building where the coronation will take place. The wizard, guards and the dark priest are standing there.
"Alright. Piper, I think I like the other kitchen better. This is an illusion, right?" Buffy says.
"Please, tell me she's not the brains of the family." Wizard says.
Buffy frowns, "Look you want our help. It's better not to piss off a Slayer."
Piper sighs, "Grimoir, dark priest, body guards, and this mystery man over here is the Source." She points to a dummy wearing a black suit but has no face.
"Did you not get a good look at him or did he actually not have a face?" Buffy asks.
"I didn't get a good look at him." Wizard says.
"Well, it doesn't really matter anyway because he may not even be here. All we want is the Grimoir." Paige says.
Buffy nods, "Alright, what's the plan?"
"We learn from his mistakes." Piper says.
"Not mistakes. Miscalculations." Wizard says.
Piper shakes her head, "Uh, you didn't have any backup, your illusions didn't buy you enough time and you got caught. I'd call those mistakes. This time we'll go for a bigger distraction and since the bodyguards are already after you, you show up and they're bound to chase after you."
"Thinning out demonic ranks." Paige says.
Buffy nods, "That sounds good."
"Easy for you to say, you're not the distraction." Wizard says.
"Paige'll orb Phoebe and I in and Buffy you'll flame in, Phoebe and I will keep the demons busy, and Buffy, you and Paige will snag the book.
"I'd say it's simple but I doubt it will be. What's the catch?"
Piper nods, "It's like both Book of Shadows, only it protects itself from good. So you'll use this sack, we'll put a spell on it so it can hold the Grimoir..."
"Piper? Buffy?" Phoebe says as she comes in the kitchen. "Demon!"
"Phoebe, no!" Piper says.
Phoebe jumps up to kick the dark priest and the illusion disappears. Phoebe lands on the table. "Hello, confusion."
"I can't work like this." Wizard says.
"Phoebe, this is the wizard, and that was one of his illusions." Piper says.
"An illusion." Phoebe says as the wizard taps his staff and two women appear beside him and start massaging him. "Um, like those?"
Piper nods, "Yeah, don't mind him, he's been at it all day, the pig."
"Not that I'm not happy to see you, Phoebe, but why are we seeing you? Considering what Buffy told you.
"I'm not about to shun my wiccan duties, Paige, no matter what." Phoebe says.
"But what about what Buffy told you?" Paige asks.
"I love Cole, and I trust him even if you guys don't. And we can discuss our problems later, I came here to help you with... Merlin." Phoebe says.
"I trust you Pheebs," Buffy says. "And if you trust, Cole. Then I do too."
"Please, Merlin was an overrated hack. Tell me he's not the only wizard you people have heard of." Wizard says.
"Thanks, Buffy."
"Well, does Harry Potter count?" Paige asks.
Piper sighs, "Alright, enough. You can live your life of instant gratification later, after we're done. Get rid of them."
"You call this a life?" Wizard says as he taps his staff and the women disappear. "This is no life. Illusions are as empty to me as they are to you. They're only a reminder of a reality long since lost. Of a world filled with wizards, of friends, of family. It's all an illusion without family. Help me stop the Source. Help me right this wrong."
Later in the coronation room. Paige orbs in with Piper and Phoebe as Buffy flames in holding the sack. Piper blows up a guard and another jumps on her. Phoebe starts fighting with a guard and the dark priest uses his telekinesis powers on Buffy and Paige, knocking them to the ground.)
"Piper, now!" Phoebe says as Piper blows up the dark priest. Buffy and Paige crawls towards the Grimoir. A guard goes to throw an energy ball at Paige. "Paige, look out!"
Buffy grabs Paige and flames out just as Phoebe points to the guard and fire comes out of her hands, vanquishing the guard.
Phoebe looks at her hand in shock as Buffy flames back in with Paige.
"What was that?" Piper asks.
"I have no idea." Phoebe says.
The wizard runs in. "What are we waiting for?"
"Let me try this, Paige. I want to see if the one time with my Book of Shadows was a fluke." Buffy says and Paige nods, holding open the bag. "Grimoir!" The Grimoir flames into the sack.
"Got it." Paige says. "Looks like it's not a fluke."
"Yeah looks like I got a version of your telekinetic orbing." Buffy says.
"Let's get out of here." Wizard says as Paige orbs out with Piper and Phoebe.
Buffy takes a look around and then flames out.
Back at the Manor as Paige orbs in with Piper and Phoebe.
"We did it! We got it." Wizard says.
Buffy flames in and sits down.
"Yes, and now we are going to destroy it. Paige, go get the Book of Shadows, when need some potions." Piper says.
Paige nods, "Right." She puts the Grimoire on the table and leaves the room.
"Wait, destroy it? We might be able to use it." Wizard says.
"I'm going to call Giles," Buffy says. "See if he knows anything on how to destroy it." She walks over to the phone dialing.
"For what? It's evil." Piper says, before looking at Phoebe. "Do you want to sit down?"
"I think I just want to go home." Phoebe says.
"Well, this is home too." Piper says.
"I don't feel good. It just didn't feel right." Phoebe says.
Piper nods, "Well, that's probably just because it's-it's new and your power is escalating."
"How is it escalating? I levitate, I have premonitions." Phoebe says.
"Well, you had fire power in your past life." Piper says.
"I was evil in my past life, remember?" Phoebe says.
"Well Buffy has a fire power." Piper says. "And premonitions."
"She's also the Slayer. We always thought her fire power came from the Slayer side." Phoebe says. "Not from her witch side."
"Can we get back to the Grimoire!" Wizard says.
"No." Piper says and she freezes him. Phoebe runs away. "Phoebe, wait."
Later Piper has potions lined up on the coffee table. She picks one up and throws it at the Grimoire, which is on the floor. The potion explodes but doesn't harm the Grimoire. "Okay. That was the strongest one I had, I don't know what else to do."
"I'll tell you what to do. Keep it." Wizard says.
Paige shakes her head, "You know, maybe we should go see Phoebe, she didn't look so well."
"Paige, we'll go over there after we destroy this book." Buffy says.
"I think you're being hasty. The Grimoire could bring us great powers." Wizard says.
"Listen, we already have powers, we don't need evil ones too." Piper says as Phoebe walks in through the front door. "Phoebe?"
"I have to talk to you guys." Phoebe says.
"What is it?" Piper says as Phoebe sits on the couch. "You, you stay where I can see you."
"Honey, what is it? What's the matter? Whatever it is, it's gonna be alright." Buffy says.
"No, it won't. I had a premonition, and Paige you were right, Cole is evil." Phoebe says.
"Oh, honey, I didn't wanna be right." Paige says.
"What exactly did you see?" Piper asks.
"Everything. Killing, fireball throwing, working with other demons. Oh, god, Cole is a demon." Phoebe says.
Buffy sighs, "It's okay, Phoebe, just take a breath."
"What's taking so long?" Wizard says.
"Quiet." Piper says.
"I have a baby on the way, and I have this new power. I don't know if I can handle this." Phoebe says.
"It's okay, you're not alone, you have us." Paige says.
Leo orbs in. "Okay, we've got big problems, where's the wizard?"
"Shh, in there. We've got big problems in here. Cole, demon Cole. What were you gonna say about the wizard?" Buffy says.
"Um, can you handle this right now?" Leo asks.
"Do I have a choice?" Phoebe asks.
"What's taking so long?" Wizard asks.
"Shush!" Piper says.
"Uh, well, according to the Elders, some Wizards are evil and if he is, it's not good." Leo says.
"I knew it, then he wants the Grimoire for himself." Piper says.
"That don't make sense." Buffy says. "My spidey-sense never went off on him."
"Probably. There's a spell in there that can consecrate a weapon and make it strong enough to kill the Source." Leo says. "Buffy can you tell every demon is evil?"
"Isn't that a good thing?" Paige asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "Not always, no. Some are able to mask their presence."
"There's your answer. He likely was masking his presence from you." Leo says. "No Paige. If he kills the Source he becomes the Source. And he'll have enough magic to resurrect his people."
"What's taking so long?" Wizard asks.
Piper frowns, "Wait a minute." She storms over to the Wizard. "I can't believe we let that slimy Lord of the Rings wannabe use us."
The illusion wizard and the Grimoire disappear.
"Another illusion?" Paige asks.
Piper nods, "On a loop no less, he was just waiting for an opportunity to take the book."
"We need to get it back fast." Leo says.
"How?" Buffy asks.
"We gotta go back down to the underworld." Piper says.
"We couldn't even find the coronation site without the wizard." Paige says.
"What about a summoning spell?" Phoebe asks.
"We'd need his blood." Piper says.
"Cole. I was just thinking maybe he'd know something, he is a demon after all." Paige says.
"I can't even think about Cole right now let alone talk to him." Phoebe says.
"Maybe we could go with you and watch your back." Paige says.
Buffy shakes her head, "That's an awful lot to ask of her right now."
"I know, but what choice do we have? There's gonna be a coronation tonight unless we stop it." Paige says.
Moments later Buffy, Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Leo are at Phoebe and Cole's apartment.
"Anything?" Leo asks.
"He's not here." Phoebe says.
"Have you tried his office?" Paige asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "I'm beginning to wonder if he even has an office."
Julie shimmers in. "He does."
"Who are you?" Piper asks.
"I know who she is. Where's Cole?" Phoebe says.
"Safe from you." Julie says.
"Alright, do you wanna punch her or should I?" Buffy asks.
"I should've known all along." Phoebe says.
"You've ruined him. Made him pathetic, weak, good." Julie says.
"And I take it you have a problem with that?" Phoebe asks.
"Yeah, I have a big problem with that." Julie says.
"Uh, Phoebe, what's going on here?" Piper asks.
"You're just a means to an end. A way to sire a magical child. But now you're hurting him and I can't allow that." Julie says.
"Oh no?" Phoebe says.
Julie shakes her head, "No." She throws an energy ball at Phoebe and Phoebe levitates up so the energy ball misses.
"Two can play at that game." Phoebe says. She throws fire at Julie and Julie cartwheels out of the way.
"Okay, now..." Piper says.
"Piper, don't. This is my fight." Phoebe says. "You too, Buffy." She throws fire at Julie, this time getting her.
"Phoebe." Buffy says.
Julie screams and is vanquished.
"Home wrecker." Phoebe says.
"Okay, Phoebe, you're scaring us." Paige says.
"What?" Phoebe asks.
"Phoebe, fire throwing is an upper-level demonic power." Leo says.
"Oh my god. What's happening to me?" Phoebe says as she shimmers out.
Later back at the Manor, Paige is scrying.
"Maybe you should go back down to the underworld." Piper says.
"I already tried, I-I can't sense her anywhere." Leo says.
"Well, she's gotta be somewhere. Doesn't she?" Buffy says.
The crystal points to a place on the map.
"Got her." Paige says.
At Cole's apartment...
"Are you okay?" Phoebe asks.
"What happened? What did you do?" Cole says.
"I vanquished him." Phoebe says.
"Oh, but he was our last chance." Cole says.
"No it wasn't." Phoebe says.
Piper, Paige and Leo orb in, Buffy flames in a few seconds later.
"Oh, thank god we found you." Paige says.
"It's too late." Phoebe says.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asks.
"What are you talking about?" Leo asks.
Phoebe picks up the Grimoire.
"Hey, I thought only evil could touch that book." Paige says.
Phoebe nods, "That's right."
"Phoebe, what's going on?" Piper asks.
"I'm embracing my new destiny." Phoebe says as she and Cole flame out.
"What the hell was that?" Buffy asks.
"That was the Source. And his queen." Seer says.
"You did this, you poisoned her." Piper says.
"Maybe we should just vanquish you." Paige says.
Seer shakes her head, "You can't. Not without the power of three. And even with Buffy you can't make a power of three without Phoebe." She disappears.
"I can't believe this is happening." Paige says.
"Leo, where'd she go?" Buffy asks.
Leo tries to sense her. "I can't sense her. They must be in the underworld."
"Okay, so, orb us down there and we'll drag her home kicking and screaming." Piper says.
"There is no way we can find the coronation site without the wizard." Paige says.
"Piper and I don't care, we can't just leave her there." Buffy says looking at Piper who nods in agreement.
"We don't have a choice, we'll have to find another way." Leo says.