Another new chapter for you. Hoping to see some reviews!
Disclaimer for all chapters: I don't own Charmed, just the persons you know from my season One. ;) Otherwise we would have had this show.
Summary: One lost, one found. Can the Halliwell brothers each find in time before a new evil manages to hurt one of them? Time is working against them. Is their brotherly bond and the family strong enough to get over this crisis?
4. Nasty Discoveries
UP THERE
The Elder who just arrived from Magic School looked around the white marbles and saw scorch marks everywhere. His jaw dropped and left him without any words. To his surprise he saw none of his colleagues but one Avatar waiting for him.
"Welcome. I see you're looking for your colleagues," Alpha greeted. "We prisoned them."
"What? Why?" came the following questions.
"So you won't be able to free Christopher Halliwell. And help his family as well."
The Elder was in shock. This couldn't be happening at all. "Why are you doing this? Chris is very important for the magical community. It doesn't make any sense."
"Oh, that's what you're thinking. But there's more behind your useless concepts of good and evil what will only lead to an endless fight with no winner at all."
The Elder named Otis shook his head. Something like Utopia would and could never work in the human world. "Therefore are existing powerful witches like the Halliwells. They balance the fight."
"But would never find peace," Alpha contradicted. "This discussion we also led with Leo and the Halliwells before. So there's no need anymore."
"And what can I do now?" Otis asked.
"You can either gather your other colleagues elsewhere or might help the Charmed Ones more. To free their son."
He looked at the man in black. "We defeated you once before. So we can do it again," Otis pointed out. He could never let them win, again.
Alpha walked over and looked intensely at the Elder. "No, my friend. You as the Elders never defeated us. The Charmed Ones, Leo and Zankou did. You just sat high on your clouds and let others fight. As I remember correctly, one of you killed Leo's youngest son, a version of him nonetheless. So what'd you say now?"
The Elder remained silent. This was the one black spot on their most clean record, but what could he do? The Avatar knew their weak points.
"See, you can't answer. So it's pointless to discuss any further. I'd beg you to leave now, but we'll see again. Soon." Alpha smiled knowingly.
Once again Otis looked at the man in black. At this point in the battle it was useless, so he'd orb back to Magic School and help the family in their research. One question was left.
"Where can we look for the boy?" The Avatar looked up a bit confused. "We just need a clue where we can search for him. It'd be fair."
The man again smiled. "OK, a little clue. He's elsewhere, frozen in a bubble. But not for long anymore and then he'd be surprised. Very."
This caught the Elder's attention. "What do you mean? What will Christopher face?"
"We had an agreement, yet you dare to ask more questions?" Alpha declared. "I beg you to leave now. If you don't want to end like your colleagues."
Otis reluctantly left the place what was normally associated with peace and calm. Only once it had been disturbed. By the Titans and all were saved by Leo and Chris who had made his father an Elder. So they had debts to pay – a lot of them, actually and the Elder orbed away.
The Avatar had accomplished another goal. With the help of his following they had prisoned all Elders who were 'Up There'. Somewhere in their own sanctuary, hidden and prisoned. This was done, but there were more magical creatures out there.
His next stop had to be the Underworld. To find a new enemy for the brothers after they were gone and to maybe kill friends of the family. Close friends, but this was against their own morals. It was time to thin out some demons. So he left this place in his own transport way.
It took a long time before there was activity again.
MAGIC SCHOOL
A loud thump was heard. Shortly followed by a crying what startled the reading family. In any way all felt the same and they heard as he slid down the board.
"What can I do? It's useless," Wyatt whispered. "I want my brother back." His crying intensified and the boy laid his head on his knees.
"Wyatt, you can't give up," Stephanie said encouragingly. "Your brother is relying on you now. He's waiting."
"I know," came his short whisper.
"Please Wy. Bring him back to me," Catherine told in tears. "We all need him, but you are our only link to him."
Leo looked up. Abruptly he stood up and gave Cat a short kiss on her forehead. "You're a genius. The link between the boys!"
"What do you mean?" Piper asked confused.
"Remember what Grams said as she saved Chris. His and Wyatt's destiny are linked and their bond is stronger than anything else. It's our only way!"
Whatever anyone wanted to say was cut off as the Elder from before raced in. He was in sweat and out of breath. This could only mean something really bad had happened 'Up There'.
"What's going on?" Leo questioned. "Shouldn't you be by the others?"
"I was," the Elder snapped back. "But I met the Avatars there. They prisoned all Elders who'd been in the Heavens."
"WHAT?" came five incredulous voices.
"It's true. I'm not lying," the Elder continued. "My name's Otis, by the way."
The parents and their close relatives sat down again, though they hadn't even noticed standing up. Now all the hope they had before was vanished in the next second. Just barely all noticed how Wyatt's crying grew louder and the frustration was felt.
"What can we do?" came the son's faint whisper. "They cut out all our bases of research."
Stephanie and Catherine looked at all just as helpless and frustrated. "Is there any chance for us at all?" the older sister said quietly while the younger one sobbed totally upset.
"Leo. Tell me please! Can we get him back?" the wife pleaded. She couldn't lose her baby all over again.
But the father was in his own world. The wheels in his head were racing – catching up with everything he's heard so far. He knew there was a solution, so they just had to find it.
"Leo!" Piper called out again.
"Sorry. Zoned out. What did you ask?"
The woman let out a frustrated breath. "I did ask if we can get our son back from the Avatars?"
"I think we do. With Wyatt. Their link is our best way to get something," Leo demanded from all. He looked to the Elder who still rather looked nervous. "Are you hiding something from us? We need to know."
All looked to him and Otis felt scrutinized from all eyes. "I see. Alpha said something about Chris that made me afraid. For what he might face."
"What makes you say that?" whispered the Twice-Blessed. His eyes were blood-shot. "He's strong. Stronger than anyone else."
"What did Alpha say?" the father wanted to know and felt his wife beside him. In family cases they would think and do alike.
"He'd only said that Chris would be very surprised whenever his frozen status would be neutralized," Otis explained. "I've got the feeling there's something more behind it."
All understood but were worried about their loved one. "Will you help us?" asked Catherine for all of them. "You know Magic School and some legends, don't you? Please, help us!" she pleaded heartbreakingly.
"That was my full intention by coming back here," Otis confirmed smiling.
All nodded and smiled a bit in return before they went back to their original task. Reading books to gather information but Leo wouldn't lose his thoughts about his sons' brotherly bond.
"Otis, can I ask you something what bothers me," he asked. The Elder nodded. "Is our only way maybe their bond?"
Suddenly the man was lost in thoughts. He knew the Charmed Ones had had a strong bond, but the next generation was and is definitely stronger. "You might be right, Leo. It's our only chance. By now." He looked to the blond. "Are you ready yet, Wyatt?"
"Do I have a choice?" he sighed dramatically. "Okay, what do I have to do?"
The parents, girlfriends and Elder gave him encouraging smiles, but the advice came from his father. As usually. "Concentrate yourself only on your little brother. Chris is your one and only thought in your mind. Got it?"
"Yes Dad," the son grumbled and sat down cross-legged on the floor. Clearing his mind the older brother concentrated on his younger one. And all of a sudden he was stiff as a board.
TELEPATHIC PLACE
"Chris, can you hear me? Are you here?" The blond looked around the dark place. It was a bit frightening, even for him. "Chris, c'mon. I know you can feel me." Shiver ran down his spine and he trembled.
"Wyatt?" came a distant, unbelieving voice. A short time later the body to the voice came into view. "Wyatt!" And then he ran.
The Twice-Blessed turned around and smiled. Soon he felt his baby brother hug him so tightly that he was nearly suffocated. Then the questions flew from the younger boy.
"What's going on? I felt something strange before. How are Mom and Dad? The girls? Tell me!"
"Whoa, slow down," Wyatt demanded. "Mom and Dad are fine, though I think they start fighting."
"What? Why?" the brunette wanted to know.
"Just some things of your childhood what you barely remember, I guess. Don't worry, I'll take care of it, okay?"
The half Elder nodded. "The girls?"
"They're supporting each other. And us as well. Cat misses you terribly and cries most of the time, but Steph helps her." Then he finally caught up what his brother had said earlier. "What did you mean by saying you felt something strange?"
"I can't explain exactly. It'd just felt strange. Maybe my sixth sense." The younger boy shrugged and let himself fall in his older brother's lap. He was happy.
Wyatt remained silent. Inside he felt an immense proud of his baby brother whose powers were obviously still growing. In trance he laid his arms around the boy and both enjoyed their togetherness for the time being.
All of a sudden the situation changed. Green eyes locked with blue ones as his body slowly faded away.
"Chris, what's happening with you?" the blond asked afraid. This couldn't be true.
"As if I had all the answers," the brunette sighed half visible. "I guess my frozen bubble had been broken and ... oh no!"
"What? Tell me, Chris!"
"I cannot believe he's back! What's impossible," he muttered absently. "Get away from me!" were his last words before he was gone. Again.
"Chris?" came an anxious last question from Wyatt. Then he was back.
OUT OF TELEPATHIC PLACE
Opening his blue eyes the Twice-Blessed was met with five concerned gazes upon him. All his senses were still somewhere else.
"Wyatt," his father began. "You said 'Chris' at the end. Did you speak to him?" The old man didn't receive a reply. "Wyatt?"
Still the son said nothing what worried the people around him. He knew he had to tell them but found himself unable to.
There was a silence in the room what threatened to suffocate them all.
ANYWHERE
Frozen had been its advantage and the half Elder was happy to speak with his older brother. Though only short-lived when his bubble broke and he saw someone who should have been dead.
"I cannot believe he's back! What's impossible," he muttered. "Get away from me!"
"Hello Christopher! Long time, no see," his opposite greeted him. "You can't run away from me."
"I can try!" the boy yelled and started to run. But in every direction he turned his opposite was waiting for him.
"I told you, you can't escape me, son," the voice said in a spooky tone.
Recognizing this the brunette sat down on what's like a couch. His opposite followed and for a few minutes it was silent.
"So how come you're back? I thought my aunts killed you when I was a baby?" Chris asked. To his surprise the man answered him.
"The Avatars played foul tricks on your father and me. As your aunts killed me, one of them saved some of my ashes and then put me in here," the demon revealed.
"What for?"
"Actually, since you've come here I'd say to play on your fears – to gather information for the men in black here," his opposite declared by playing with his fingers.
"Then why are we sitting here like old school buddies who haven't seen each other in a long time?"
"No idea, but my gut feeling tells me you already have lived all your fears out. More than once."
The brunette agreed. "The Avatars were defeated by the Charmed Ones and Zankou last time. Good and evil together."
"So you're suggesting we should work together. To get rid of the Avatars for good? Mmhh. Sounds interesting," the demon spoke.
"Would be a new perspective of life for you. Helping someone instead of feeding on their fears?" the boy offered.
"You're kidding me, right? My reputation speaks for me! As well as my name! What would the demons say when they'll hear I work with my arch enemy?"
The boy sighed. "You're hopeless, you know that? It's time for a change. I can fulfill all your wishes. As long as you'll leave my family alone. And also our future offspring! Deal?"
The demon scrutinized his young opposite. He should have known that the young man could choose good words – to get anyone work with him. Does he have a choice? Not really, considering his powerful opposite and his more powerful older brother. He wouldn't want to face them now as adults, would he?
"Okay, you got your deal. So what do we do now? It's a bit dark here, don't you think?" He showed in the darkness.
"You want some lights? Here," he said and threw some orbs in the air what remained there. "Okay, let's discuss a few things before we carry out our plan."
Now the demon sighed. He still couldn't wrap his mind around it. The demon of Fear working with the Halliwells, his arch enemy for a very long time. But the Avatars are a threat to the Underworld as well.
Chris couldn't believe it. He'd managed Barbas to work with him. Wow, definitely a magical history point. The Avatars would fear them.
Both put their heads together.
TBC ...
I take it you didn't think I would do that! Again, full of surprises. Bad, bad me! LOL
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Reviews are really appreciated!
