Post by StoryGirl83 on Jan 6, 2009 0:11:14 GMT -5
Chapter Four - It Changed Everything
Back at Cole’s apartment Cole was down on his knees in front of the Avatar. The Avatar had his hands held out and his eyes closed. As he chanted a spell in an ancient language white light emanated from his hands and shot a steady beam of light at Cole’s forehead. Wind from nowhere blew around them and as the spell ended both opened their eyes.
Cole breathed in a slightly labored breath as the Avatar looked down at him and asked, “Well, how do you feel?”
“I feel alive,” Cole told him, almost in disbelief. As he stood he added, “Powerful.”
“You are one of us now,” the Avatar informed him. “Come.”
“Uh, uh, uh,” Cole disputed. “Not so fast. First I get my wife back once and for all.”
The Avatar stared at him in disbelief. “That’s what you wanted? Your new powers can’t affect love.”
“Maybe not,” Cole agreed, hope infusing his eyes as he began to pace around the Avatar, “but I’m hoping it’ll change the one event that lead to our downfall. The day the source tricked them into thinking I killed that witch.”
The Avatar was still, almost in shock as he asked, “Go back in time?”
Cole turned around to look at him. “No, better. Undo what was to change what it. We were at our best, Phoebe and I, before that happened. If that had never happened, she never would have lost faith in me. We would be married instead . . .” Cole trailed off not really wanting to voice how things currently were between him and Phoebe.
“You have no idea what you’re getting into,” the Avatar informed him before walking toward him.
Cole was still, as if the fight was going out of him. Of course looks can always be deceiving.
“Changing the past to create an alternate reality has unforeseen consequences, Cole,” the Avatar tried to warn him. “Even for you. The ripple effect of even one small change could. . .”
And that was as far as Cole let him go. “I don’t care! I am not spending another hundred birthdays without her.”
Seeing that nothing he could say would change Cole’s mind, the Avatar disappeared.
Cole slowly moved backward and held out his arms as he began to chant, the spell he needed had been burned into his memory along with the power to cast it. Nothing would change his mind.
At P3, things weren’t going so well for Paige. After a full day of no sneezing, she felt a sneeze coming on. She inhaled sharply and tried to hold her breath by pinching her nose.
Piper and Phoebe’s responses were immediate. “Oh, no, you don’t,” Piper reached out for her.
“Oh!” Phoebe exclaimed holding out her hand.
“No sneezing,” Piper ordered.
“Back hall,” Phoebe directed. “Back hall. Back hall.”
“No sneezing,” Piper ordered, again as they all three stood. “Look out, people. Pregnant lady coming through.”
Paige kept her nose plugged as she hurried into the back office with Piper. As soon as they were in, Piper closed the door behind them. Now free from potential magical exposure Paige released her nose and sneezed, orbing out instantly.
At the same time, Cole had finished his spell. Arms still held out wide, he basked in it as the room spun around him and change literally swept the globe, changing mostly San Francisco, but everything in some small way.
Paige orbed back in, but the room had changed. “Oh, major sneeze.” She frowned as she noticed that a pile of boxes had formed in front of her. “That’s odd.” She looked behind her and noticed that Piper was missing. “Hey, wait a minute. Piper?”