Power By Power
Summary: Set after "Vaya Con Leos". While Piper cries for Leo, Paige is forced to decide whether to wait for Kyle or start up a relationship with Henry, Phoebe begins to think about a return to the fertility clinic, and Billie sets out to find sister Christy. But things look set to change as an unexpected return brings a new ally to the charmed ones, and evil is indeed making a comeback, but who is the new leader?
I am relying on video clips, reading the scripts and screen caps for S8 info, as it is yet to hit UK screens. Also, I got Billie's last name from the script for "Mr and Mrs Witch", because it says her parents are Mr and Mrs Jenkins so I assume that is her last name too.
Characters:
Piper Halliwell: Age - 32. Powers - temporal stasis, molecular acceleration.
Phoebe Halliwell: Age - 30. Powers - premonitions (others yet to be returned).
Paige Matthews: Age - 28. Powers - telekinetic-orbing, orbing, partial healing, sensing, glamouring.
Billie Jenkins: Age - 19. Powers - telekinesis.
Wyatt Matthew Halliwell: Age - 3. Powers - forcefield generation, thought projection, orbing, telekinetic orbing, healing, and more yet to be revealed.
Christopher (Chris) Perry Halliwell: Age - 2. Powers - telekinesis, orbing.
Henry: Age - 29. Mortal.
In Loving Memory:
Paige softly walked into the garage, moving towards the vintage truck which remains inside it and lightly pulling on the handle, bringing the door out towards her and looking in to see Piper sitting there. Tears streaked the eldest sister's cheeks, as her eyes were closed and she was hugging some kind of book while fixed in her slumber.
The youngest charmed one reached out and gently tapped her sister's arm as she got into the seat beside her,
"Leo?" Piper said, as her eyes shot open, hope clearly burning inside them.
"No sweetie, it's just me," Paige told her, taking Piper's hand in hers,
"Paige?" she said,
"Yeah, it's Paige."
Piper turned to her sister, fresh tears springing from her eyelids, washing away the dry remains of the previous set,
"I miss him, I miss him so much," she sobbed, resting the book on her lap,
"I know honey, I know," Paige comforted, rubbing the molecular's arm with her free hand.
"I thought this would help me to find some peace, to relax," Piper stated, moving the cover from atop the other pages to reveal a photo of Prue and Andy stuck down, "he was the first hero down, but he definitely wasn't the last," she said, tracing her finger across the cop's face while trying to fight back the ever growing mass of liquid falling down her face.
"Hmm, it's a shame I never got to meet him," Paige pointed out, gazing down at the picture of her long-lost sister and her love.
"You'd have liked him; he was cute and a cop, sometimes dangerous, just your type," Piper sniffled, showing her baby sibling a small smile.
"Looks like I'd have had to fight Prue for him, they look pretty tight," the witchlighter said.
"They were," Piper agreed, "she was heartbroken when she lost him, she didn't know how to cope, just like me now."
"You'll be okay, we'll help you through this," Paige promised, sadness growing in her own face.
"What about the boys? They've lost their father, how do I ever begin to explain that to them?" Piper asked, closing the photo album.
"They're strong, they'll be okay, they are Halliwells after all."
"So are you, last name or no." Piper smiled, almost defeating the strong pain etched into her expression.
"Yes I am, and proud of it. So you wanna go to bed? Or maybe have some coffee?"
"Coffee sounds good."
The two sisters headed out of the car, Piper stopping to look at the photo album in her hands before returning it onto the driver's seat.
"I think I'll let the past lye for now, I've cried all I can for tonight."
Paige nodded understandingly as they both pushed their doors shut almost in unison.
ooo
Phoebe stared out at the rainbow which stretched across the sheets of cool blue above, watching as the rain on the ground began to stew with the dirt and dead grass which lurked in the unattended garden.
"Hey."
The clairvoyant turned to see Paige had entered the kitchen, her comfy blue pyjamas giving an opposite look to the casual attire Phoebe stood in; made up of jeans, chocolate boots and an off-the-shoulder, light brown, sweater.
"Hey, how's Piper?"
"She's not that good, I mean, she's dealing, barely. I found her sitting in the truck last night."
Phoebe's face sank as she was saddened by her sister's finding.
"Is she with the boys?" the middle charmed one asked, as they settled down at the table.
"Yeah, I don't know what she's gonna do when they begin to wonder where Leo is."
"She'll find a way to cope, she always does and always has. Prue had it the hardest to begin with, well that's how it seemed anyway, but never once did anyone ever think about how hard Piper had it. I mean, between putting up with me and Prue arguing, coping with her own problems and then being made the eldest sister, she's really had it difficult."
"Do you think there's anything we can do? Like offer to help out with P3 or something?" Paige suggested.
"Yeah, and maybe we could invite some friends round, have a little dinner party, maybe?" Phoebe said, beginning to stroke her thumb in thought.
"How are you doin'?" the half-whitelighter asked.
"Better than Piper, but after all this I just can't help think that…"
"Think that what?"
"I don't wanna die without having something like they had…I mean have, cos he's gonna come back, and when he does, I wanna be able to look at them together, and then look at myself and feel good."
"I think I understand," Paige nodded.
"Speaking of love, how're you and Henry going?"
"we're not really going, we're staying, we're just….just at that part of the relationship where you don't know what's happening, or what's gonna happen," Paige replied.
"I'd do anything to be in that position, or even in the position to get to that position," Phoebe said.
"You'll find love, God knows you deserve to, we all do," the witchlighter stated, a soft smile brightening her features.
"Deserve to what?" Piper asked, entering with baby Chris balanced on her hip and Wyatt toddling beside her.
"You look good," Phoebe complimented, standing and giving her sister half a hug to avoid squishing her youngest nephew.
"Thanks, shame I don't feel it," the eldest replied, "so what were you guys talking about?" She scooped up Chris and set him in his highchair, before handing Wyatt a peeled banana and ruffling his hair.
"How are they?"
"Okay. I don't think they quite understand, I mean Wyatt's used to Leo being gone, after all he was around when Leo was an Elder," Piper said, picking up her eldest son and sitting down on the chair opposite Phoebe with him on her lap.
"We were thinking, and maybe we should help out at the club more? And help out around the house etcetera," Paige informed her, emphasizing her words with natural hand gestures.
"No, it's okay, I need something to distract me right now." Piper stood, walking over the pot of increasingly cool coffee and pouring herself some.
"I think that might be cold," Paige said.
"It'll do." And, with that, Piper exited, leaving her sisters and her sons sitting there confused.
ooo
Blonde hair shadowed feminine shoulders as Billie stalked through the empty corridor, moving her head around the corner and finding three demons in her sight.
"We can't let the girl find her," Demon One stated.
"Maybe we should. Maybe we can get the Seer to lead her into a trap," Demon Three said.
"No! It's too risky!" Demon Two argued, forming a fire ball in his anger and releasing it at the third member of their trio, causing a wide explosion of burning, bright, particles upon collision with his form.
"So what do you suggest?" Demon One questioned, clenching his monstrous fists as energy crackled beneath his pulsing white knuckles.
"I suggest…we kill the girl now," Demon Two replied, turning in the direction where Billie had her head poked from around the wall.
As he sent a bulb of flickering heat sailing from his palm, Demon Two charged towards where the young witch stood. Raising her own hand in defence, Billie sent the flaming sphere flying straight back at it's creator, vanquishing the evil creature with a supernova affect. The remaining enemy reached down and pulled an athame from his boot, spinning it through the air and narrowly missing her bare shoulder.
"You shouldn't have come here little girl."
Billie used her telekinesis to pull his athame from where it had pierced the wall, grasping it in her palm.
"I'm not a little girl."
Raising the blade threateningly, she waited for him to come to her before springing an attack, throwing her legs up at him and slashing across his throat. He clutched at his wound and, just as blood began to seep through his fingers, he burst into a fiery cloud and vanished.
"Messy things," Billie cringed, as she stepped over the blood and ash which had mixed together like some kind of paste in-front of her.
Carrying on down the corridor, Billie didn't notice the mixture rise and form a solid being. It looked like some kind of werewolf, but as well as being cloaked by fur there were spikes and scales adorning it's dark, dirty, flesh.
Standing on it's two hind legs, the beast stood at about 7ft, each of it's talons reaching out about a quarter of this amount as it stretched out it's claws and turned around. Fierce yellow globes glowed in it's eye sockets as it stared after Billie with a beady gaze…
ooo
Shards of glass lay soaked in the alcohol that had fell from the now broken bottle which had slipped from Piper's grasp, her reflexes not quick enough to save it in time from taking a fatal hit against the floor.
"Damnit."
As she reached down to pick up the clear splinters, she found herself being pricked and repeated her previous comment, slipping her finger into her mouth to prevent the blood which was gradually rolling down her finger.
Turning on her heels, Piper reached out to grab a tissue from the box, only to send it flying to the ground, tissues poking out from inside.
"Crap."
Walking over to pick them up, the brunette found herself banging into a nearby table.
"I can't do this!"
She grabbed her jacket and purse before storming up the stairs, not even looking back at the mess she had left.
ooo
Phoebe sat in her office, flicking through the stack of different coloured paper in her right hand, unable to face reading about other people's problems when her family had their own.
"I need to get outta here."
Pulling her knee-length brown coat from the back of her chair, she snatched up her car keys and her cell phone as she headed out through the frosted glass door only to stop to stare at the poster which it bore.
Wearing her pink jacket with her hair cut short, the Phoebe on her poster showed a smile present Phoebe hadn't experienced in a while, and scribbled above the image was "Ask Phoebe". The clairvoyant shook her head at this phrase as she said;
"Don't expect an answer now." And then she left, not looking back.
ooo
Stood by a rather overgrown plant, Paige could only watch in sorrow and undeniable guilt as Henry twiddled his thumbs while waiting for her at the table they had booked.
They Bay View Café was a friendly atmosphere with friendly people, and she even had a friendly date, but she couldn't face romance right now…she couldn't face potential heartbreak.
Turning in her white boots, she headed away. Tears attempted to fall, but she made sure they stayed up and, even as she lowered her head, the witchlighter held the salty drops back.
"Now's not the time…it's just not the time," she whispered, as she continued to walk.
ooo
Strolling into the attic, Phoebe found Piper had beat her to it and the eldest sister was currently using a lighter to form flames atop the candle circle.
"Summoning spell?"
"Summoning spell." They both nodded as Piper set down the lighter and they stood together at the book.
Just as they were about to begin, a flurry of orbs glimmered in the air beside them, creating like a womb of lights as Paige developed.
"Summoning spell?"
"Summoning spell."
She nodded as they made way for her to stand beside Piper on the opposite side to Phoebe, then they began:
"Hear these words, hear my cry.
Spirit from the other side.
Come to me I summon thee.
Cross now the great divide."
Luminous globes of gold waltzed around, rolling in the breeze like gliding butterflies before coming together and forming the spiritual form of Patricia Halliwell; mother of the four sisters who had come to claim the current generation of magic.
A soft smile of comfort and pity adorned her glowing face as she stepped out of the circle, hardening into a solid shell to host her ghostly essence.
"Piper, oh Piper, I don't know where to begin," she murmured, pulling her daughter into her arms and holding her close.
"How am I gonna cope without him? How am I…" the eldest living charmed one sobbed, tears running down her smooth flesh as she rested in her mother's hold.
As they parted, Patty moved on to hug her youngest in welcome, stroking her hair as they came together.
"My little girl, you're stronger than I thought," she soothed, as Paige stopped a single tear from falling.
Lastly, Patty embraced Phoebe bringing a tiny speck of joy to the clairvoyant's eyes.
"I've missed you mom," the young woman said,
"you too sweetie."
Stepping back, the deceased witch gazed across the siblings, each one darkened by the pain lurking inside of them.
ooo
Billie began to slow down as she reached the main foyer of Magic School, reaching out to grab a pair of nunchaks presumably left behind by one of the many demons which visited the former sanctuary.
Picking up the metallic weapon, she swung it around in the air to check if it was controllable, eventually finding it was just about useable and setting it back down as she continued to search through the gloomy area.
Upon finding a book open at a page marked "discovery spell", the teen couldn't resist taking a look and lifted the leather-bound texts up into her hands, scanning her eyes across the frilly words which were clearly written in bold black ink. Pushing a stray strand of blonde hair away from her face, she reread the wiccan chant, attempting to gain it as a photographic memory in her demon-focused mind.
A deep snarl behind her caused an extreme chill to run up Billie's spine, catching her attention like a lasso. For seconds she stood still, before slowly turning gently to face the werewolf-lizard-hybrid-like creature and reaching back for the nunchaks.
Just as she managed to capture them in her grasp, the beast let out an almighty feral roar and sprinted towards her. Leaping like a pro-athlete, the demon pinned Billie to the table behind her. She let out an innocent shriek as it swiped it's unnaturally large paw through the air threateningly.
Forming a sphere of buzzing orange energy between it's jaws, the creature got a shock when Billie's body went limp before it could even release his mystical attack. One thing it didn't notice, was the soft scarlet flare creating a second Billie behind him, except this one was conscious.
"Whoa, new power," she grinned.
Hearing her voice, it turned and recreated the offensive bulb in it's mouth; which had just been demolished when it had clenched it's jaws in shock at Billie's sudden comatose state. Reacting upon instinct, the astral being raised her palm to release her kinetic gift in the form of an attack, only to fail while in her current form and take to combat in order to fight off her enemy. Using her left leg to give her a boost, Astral Billie rammed her right one into the creature's abdomen, sending it sailing to the ground as she was consumed by the pinkish glow trademark of her new ability. Returning to her bodily host, she awoke with a gasp and grabbed the nunchaks, swinging them up above her head and whipping the tyrant with the iron ends.
Billie then finished it off with a blow to it's skull, blood running from the wound like water coming down the sides of a fountain, creating a crimson puddle on the cold, dusty, floor. As it's body hit the deck, it turned collapsed into a cloud of smouldering ash, merging with the blood once again and moulding into Demon One from before.
"I'll give you ten seconds to spill, or I'll spill you myself," she hissed, getting to him before he could get to her and pointing the athame she had taken before at his exposed throat.
"What…what do you want to know?" he croaked.
"Where is my sister? Who is the Seer you and your groupies were talking about before?"
She pushed the blade closer to his bare flesh, forming a tiny incision and releasing no more blood than a pinprick would give out.
"She's…she's…been recently resurrected…she could be…dangerous…"
"I can handle myself! Now where can I find her?"
Billie moved the athame in deeper, more of the inky red liquid freeing from the binding skin which hid the demon's innards.
"This…this should help you scry for her."
The demon pulled a small torn piece of scarlet fabric from the leather pouch on his belt, setting it into the girl's palm before she shoved the entire blade of the athame into the main veins of his neck. Heat gurgled inside of him, fire almost visible beneath his quaking flesh as his body shook in an erupting act, exploding into an outstretch of blazing flames and leaving only a scorch mark to show he had in fact been there.
"Seer here I come…"
ooo
"So where is this Billie then?" Patty asked, as she sat on the loveseat in the attic with Paige beside her, while Phoebe stood with her elbow rested on the book and Piper gazed out of the windows, her eyes focused on the clouds of various shapes and sizes as they moved with such ease.
"Probably out hunting for information on Christy," Paige replied, a small sigh taking up part of her tone.
"And Christy is…?"
"Her sister," Piper explained, turning back to face her mother, "that's why we should be helping her."
"Huh?" Phoebe looked to her molecule effecting sibling.
"We know what it's like to lose someone we love. We know what it's like to lose a sister," Piper stated, walking over towards them.
"Hey guys."
The Halliwell foursome glanced towards the open door to see Billie had strolled in, a crystal, a folded map and a piece of fabric of sorts in her hands.
"Scrying for evil?" Phoebe asked, as they moved over to the table where the girl stood. Setting down the crystal and reddish material, Billie began to unfolded the map while Phoebe picked up the piece of potentially torn clothing between her thumb and her forefinger, suddenly being tugged from the present world to enter the state of mind her premonitions pulled her into on many recurring times.
ooo
A restaurant of luxurious style and riches was the setting for the charmed one's latest psychic adventure. A Phoebe of about two years ago stood in a curve hugging, pretty, scarlet dress, presumably the one which the material had been torn from as they shared a positive resemblance. Her short dark hair remained simply, while earrings similar to her dress balanced down from her earlobes.
Suddenly, just as Phoebe stepped forwards slightly, empty darkness consumed her surroundings and her body morphed into one of similar tone and shade, but her new face wasn't clear behind the swarming shadows. The stranger's body shifted uncomfortably, yearning to see light, to feel it's glorious warmth. But nothing came. Nothing happened. Instead, everything turned black and not even an outline of her body could be seen…
ooo
As the middle sister came out of her clairvoyant quest, she clutched at her pounding chest. The vision had been so different and powerful that the darkness was still clearing in her mind.
"Pheebs, are you okay?" Piper asked with concern.
"I just need to sit down," she breathed heavily, stumbling as she walked and plopping down on the loveseat.
"What did you see sweetie?" Patty soothed, sitting beside her child and holding her hands comfortingly.
"Me. But then everything changed. I changed!"
"What did you change into?" Paige questioned, while Billie began to scry in silence.
"Something…Someone…familiar."
"Familiar like family? Friend? Enemy?"
"Friend, I think. She was giving off such sorrowful emotions. Empty. Longing to see light."
"You felt her emotions? Does that mean…?"
"I have my empathy back? I think so, although it might take some getting used to."
"Gotcha. I'm going." Billie said, shoving the piece of fabric into the pocket of her jeans and heading towards the door.
"What if something happens?"
"I'll be fine. I'll astral project if I need help." And then she was gone, only the clicking of her heels against the staircase remaining as an echoing sound.
"Astral project? Since when could she astral project?" Paige asked.
"We'll deal with her later, it seems like she can handle herself, like she said. Right now Phoebe's mystery woman is more important." Patty informed them, standing and going over to the book.
"Right, what I don't get is how don't you remember it happening to you? It was in the past right?" Piper said.
"Yeah, but…I'm thinking maybe it never actually happened, maybe something from the first half of my premonition, the bit with me, triggered the second half, with the other woman," Phoebe explained.
"This is too much right now, I can't handle it all," Piper groaned, holding her head in her hands.
"Maybe you should go and relax, we can handle this," the baby of the trio suggested.
"I agree, you need to rest after such a painful event, you need to gather your strength," Patty added. Piper just nodded as she departed from the room which their sacred spells and bewitching potions were often created in.
ooo
It seemed empty somehow. No objects were missing. But one person was. Piper didn't feel at home in her own bedroom anymore, not without Leo there to keep her warm at night or calm her down when a demon attack or Billie led her to a wound up and frustrated state.
Picking up a photo of Leo knelt down with Chris and Wyatt in-front of him, from her nightstand, the brunette didn't fight her tears, she let them fall. Let them run down her cheeks. Mark her skin with their watery remains. Hugging the frame against her chest, against her heart, Piper continued to sob.
After a few moments, she nestled down onto her bed, her cries becoming muffled as she buried her face in her soft pillows, not even thinking about letting the photo go. Dreams of her love awakening in her mind.
ooo
Piper stood, staring at the frozen block which held Leo, a smile beginning to dawn upon her face. She glanced at the Angel of Destiny, who stood beside her, and the enchanting soul then gave the nod to Burke. The demon gave one of the crystals in the rock a small turn, being blasted across the dark chamber before he could finish. Piper turned away from gazing at her husband to see Billie was responsible for the attack.
"What are you doing? He was saving Leo!" she exclaimed. Billie didn't respond, instead she fired a sharp arrow from the black crossbow in her right hand, puncturing Burke's heart and vanquishing him in a mass of roaring flames which were extinguished in the air. The Angel of Destiny and Piper looked back at the ice shapes which contained various bodies, watching as they shattered one by one, taking their victims with them.
The charmed one burst into tears as Leo smashed last, his life slipping away from any chance of a return. However, her sorrow soon changed to anger as she glared at Billie, clenching her fists before releasing her power in a rocket launcher-like effect, explosions rippling through the air as everything went black.
ooo
She shot up from her sleep, almost sending the photo crashing to the ground because her movement was so immediate.
"Billie…" she whispered, jumping up and grabbing her brown jacket from where it hung on her wardrobe door, slipping it on as she stormed out.
ooo
"Are you sure this is gonna work?" Phoebe asked, glancing around the room as Patty lit the candles which circled her.
"Where's Piper going?" Paige questioned, watching out the window as Piper got into her car and drove off in a hurry.
"Follow her!" Phoebe suddenly ordered.
"What? Why?"
"She's feeling…pain, anger, revenge…just go!"
The empathic witch clutched her chest once more as she became weak from the burden of her gift. Paige nodded as she dissolved into a flurry of bright, blue-white, lights, each one giving off one final glimmer before vanishing from sight.
"Are you ready?" Patty turned to her daughter.
"As I'll ever be."
Walking over to the book, Patty flipped it open to the page marked out by the piece of red ribbon at the centre, tracing her hands over the yellowing paper before beginning to read the curled, black, writing.
"What has been seen, let it return.
Relight the flame, let the memories burn.
Ashes to ashes, vision to vision.
Pull apart the division."
Vast blue glows spread throughout the air, consuming Phoebe and throwing her into a pool of mystical energy and psychic power.
ooo
She now stood in darkness. Barely able to see even herself. Although there was one definite shape she could make out; the shape of her mystery woman.
"Hello?" Phoebe called out, but the woman didn't reply, instead she swatted around in the air, attempting to fight off the darkness which was around her.
"I hope this works," the precognitive murmured.
"Let blood be blood, and bone be bone.
Reveal to me the unknown.
Light me up with angel's light.
Fight away this wicked fright."
A tingling embrace around Phoebe showed her spell was working as she was illuminated by a bright, golden, light, a comforting warmth holding her.
Stepping forward, the witch gestured across the stranger's shadowed face, bathing it in light and revealing her identity…
ooo
"I don't even know where I'm going!" Piper stated, swerving into a parking space and slamming on the breaks, dropping her head down onto the steering wheel in frustration.
"A spell. I'll use a spell," she decided, chewing her lip as she began to think.
Moments later, she began to chant.
"Find the teen of magic unwitting.
Let this spell do my bidding.
Track her down, I don't care how.
Just get me there…uh…now!"
Globes of yellow magic spiralled in the air and tore her away, just as orbs formed in the passenger seat beside her and became Paige.
"Damnit," she cursed, disappearing back into her angelic lights.
ooo
Billie sighed as she jumped up to sit on the nearest dumpster in the alley, tapping the silver blade of her athame against her palm impatiently.
"Stupid scrying crystal," she groaned. A smile almost immediately lit up on her face.
"The discovery spell! That's it! Urm…uh…damn my non-photographic memory!"
Suddenly, the air shimmered opposite her and formed a brunette who's hair was masking most of her face.
"You must be the Seer," Billie stated, getting down off the dumpster and throwing out her palm, blasting the woman across the alleyway. Raising her athame like a spear, the blonde sent it spiralling through the air towards her enemy's torso, only for the woman to release a buzzing violet energy ball from her hand, destroying it. However, the energy ball didn't end there, it kept going and pounded into Billie's hip, catapulting her into the air and making her crash down onto the dumpster, blood leaking from her wound.
In almost unison, two sets of glorious lights appeared; one set of orbs and one set of golden clusters, the orbs forming Paige and the clusters forming Piper.
"What's going on?" Paige exclaimed.
Piper focused a glare on Billie, before a familiar voice caught her attention.
"Piper?"
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she turned her, shock adorning her face as her gaze struck the woman clambering up from the ground. Paige, however, was looking over at Billie, until Piper tugged on her sleeve to draw her attention and they both looked on at who faced them…
"Kira?"
And there's chapter one :D
Double Vision - The family is shocked by Kira's return, but welcome it warmly as she looks to be a new ally. Billie doesn't trust the resurrected Seer. And Henry goes missing.
A/N. This is my new pride & joy :D I will still continue with my other stories but this is my new baby. lol
Chapter Two will be up when it's done. (I'm not making any promises cos I hate breaking them)