Time for the pirates and Kira!
Disclaimer for all chapters: I don't own Charmed. If I did, we would have seen this on screen.
lizardmomma: Yeah, full of surprises here. *hehe*
4. Old curses & new friends
IN KIRA'S LAIR
The Seer was pacing yet again, because this whole situation was kinda difficult. The Nexus's Shadow wanted to help her, the Avatars practically begged her on their knees and then there was Zankou's past self, still secured in his prison. Damn, this was not easy!
"Alright, a little help, please," Kira shouted to the ceiling. "What shall I do now?"
A shadow appeared next to her and whispered, "You know what to do. Your mind and heart will tell you."
Kira groaned. "And what do they tell me?" The letter for Zankou flew through the air and right into her hand. "Oh no, you've got to be kidding me! This is my death sentence!"
"You never know if you don't free him. You might survive," the voice whispered again. "It's your choice."
"I know," she replied quietly and there was no response following. Kira sighed and walked over to the imprisoned demon. "You're not making this easy, are you?" Then she freed him with a casual wave of her hand.
Stunned and shocked, Zankou looked around and his eyes found the Seer. "Kira, did you free me?" The woman nodded shyly. "What the hell did I miss here?"
"A lot," Kira answered, stepping forward. "Your future self had been here, looked for and found you and well, worked with me. And in the end he wrote this letter to you. Take your time to read it!" She pushed the letter into his hands and walked off. For a while only.
Open mouthed Zankou watched her go. He couldn't believe what she had said and so curiously opened the envelope. Taking out and folding up the letter, Zankou read,
"Hi past me,
you may wonder why you should rely on Kira now but that's easy. She helped me with a task I was given by Wyatt Matthew Halliwell. Yep, you heard right. A witch is leading us with exposed magic. Anyway, while being in the past I realized Chris was right to change the past. That's where Kira stepped in and she was helpful here, so don't kill her! Chris is Wyatt's younger brother if you ask yourself who he is.
Still, I managed to change some things. Though not that much, yet I managed to find you and bring you to safety. So, be nice to Kira and do whatever you need to bring us forward!
Greetz,
your F.S."
Zankou slowly accepted this and made his way to follow the Seer. He was curious as was all this meant. Besides, he needed to be updated with the recent events. Finding the woman, he begged her to tell him everything she knew what she did. It was strange to see these two together.
MEANWHILE AT THE MANOR
San Francisco had a new attraction, though the citizens didn't know of that fact. Paige, however, had made contact, because she had acted too quickly and had now a little cut on her upper arm and was scolded by her sisters at the moment.
"Paige, what were you thinking?" Piper half yelled, with Chris in her arms. "You didn't know what you were facing and now you have the result! You were reckless, again."
The youngest sister rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Mom, I'm sorry. I was acting on instinct and this saved an Innocent, by the way."
"Great," Phoebe demanded with crossed arms over her chest. "And what price for? We could lose you, again."
Wyatt orbed over to his aunt, healing her small wound. Therefore his auntie took him into her lap. "Thanks Wyatt. What do we do now?"
"At first, finding out who you met and what you were cut with," Piper said calmly now and shifting her baby son in her arms. "I get the feeling we should hurry. Where's Leo, damn it?!"
Phoebe walked over to her older sister, hugging her. "Don't worry. Leo's busy with Magic School, looking around for this new offer as the leader. He'll be here soon."
"Wait, what did I miss?" Paige requested shocked. "Since when has Leo gotten this offer?"
"Oh. It happened this morning. The Elders appeared all of a sudden and begged Leo to run Magic School on their knees. Yeah, well, we all know of Leo's great magical knowledge and he's the best canditate," Phoebe explained smiling. "You agree, don't you?"
"Of course." Paige stood up but swayed on the spot. "Ooh, not good. I'm not feeling well. I think you should quickly find out what's wrong with me."
"Can you watch the boys until Leo's back or we're back with the solution to your 'health', right?" Piper asked and her youngest sister nodded. Handing Chris over, she still wanted to know one thing. "Where do we find your attackers?"
"They are pirates and might exist out of time. Oh, their spot is in the port, normally." Her sisters smirked at her before walking off. "Okay, guys, shall we play a bit?"
That they did but two hours had passed meanwhile what had changed a lot as well. Wyatt and Chris were staring at their aunt Paige who looked a lot older than their Mommy and that said a lot. And then a magical door appeared and Leo came through.
"Hi boys. What's wrong?" the father asked curiously and his eldest boy gestured to Paige. "Paige, is that you? You look …" His voice was lost all of a sudden.
"Oh Leo, there you are. Piper and Phoebe told me about your job offer." Then the youngest Charmed One noticed his look and the ones of her nephews. "What's wrong? What happened now?"
"It'd be better if you look in a mirror," Leo suggested and took his baby boy into his arms. "Where are Phoebe and Piper?"
"Hunting my pirates." Paige saw herself in the mirror and gasped. "Oh my God! I'm getting old – older than Piper! No. Great, I'm cursed. Leo, help!"
Leo smiled at her. "Sorry, can't help you with that, Paige." He laughed at his boys' antics as Wyatt was making fun for Chris. "Okay, what makes you think you're cursed? And why pirates?"
"Well," Paige began, sitting down and taking Wyatt into her lap. "I acted on impulse and saved an Innocent, by the way. And those pirates came out of the fog and cut me with a knife and then vanished." She looked directly at him now. "How did you get this job offer?"
"Oh. It happened this morning. Piper was making breakfast and I the boys ready as Odin and Sandra orbed in, along with Kevin and Roland and they begged me to run Magic School." Playing with his boys, Leo told Paige the latest news in the Halliwell home.
FLASHBACK
It was morning and Piper was already up. Giving me the order to take care of the boys while she made the breakfast ready. It took some time before I joined Piper in the kitchen. Just as we were about to start to eat, an orbing sound was heard and four Elders were standing in the room.
Odin started nervously, because Piper had raised her hands. "Well, we are only here to make an offer to Leo if he agrees."
"Which is?" Piper asked and put her hands down as she saw Chris needing her. "Now tell us! We don't have all day."
Sandra stepped forward and let the men know she spoke now. "With Gideon gone, we've decided to let Leo do his job. There was an argument but the majority won. That's why Odin is with."
"I see," Leo concluded a bit bitter. "Why me as I clipped my wings and left you. For good. So why?"
"You have a great magical knowledge and you've learned a lot more over the years. It's a fact that you are the best canditate. Are you taking the job?"
"Right, and the fact that Gideon was my mentor has nothing to do with it, does it?" Leo requested incredulously. "If I would, how would my working hours be?"
"Like any regular job in the mortal world," Sandra explained calmly. "But this decision would be onto you as you run it. So what do you say now?"
Piper and I exchanged a look. Her eyes were hopeful and even the boys showed their thumbs. That made the decision easy and so I ask for a thinking period of time. It's a hard decision.
END OF FLASHBACK
"So, that's it. The story of the day but I think yours will be better since you're aging with every second. You will be older than me soon," Leo said, looking at her concerned.
"I hope then my sisters find a solution. I'm not that old yet," Paige whined like a child. "What do you want me to do?"
"Stay calm and enjoy watching the youth."
"Very funny."
Still, Paige and Leo watched the boys in their laps. Unfortunately, they were falling asleep at the moment. I mean they were still little and needed their sleep, or better nap. At the end, Paige and Leo just talked.
MEANWHILE AT THE PORT
Phoebe and Piper arrived at their destination the classic way – with the car. Stepping out, both sisters sighed and looked over the port, searching for the omninous pirate ship. Still, Piper couldn't let go.
"What was Paige thinking?" she amended harshly. "She shouldn't act as a Power of One, yet she doesn't listen." The eldest sister looked at her younger one. "How do we bring her to stop it?"
"Beats me," Phoebe replied sighing. "Must be her whitelighter side acting, I guess. Any idea where we find this pirate ship?"
"I'd say where this fog comes from." Piper gestured nervously to the upcoming fog which was slowly enclosing them. "So what now?"
A Captain appeared in front of them. "So you are here. To save your sister, I assume. Yes, a curse has been placed on her and you must act quickly."
"Why should we?" Phoebe wanted to know curiously. The knives on their throats were not helping. "What do you know we don't?"
"Well, it's simple. Your sister is aging rapidly and before she might die, I suggest you two to go a museum tonight and steal the Golden Chalice."
"What for?" Piper asked confused. This was something she didn't want to do but what would have no other choice obviously.
The Captain stepped aside and revealed an old fountain. "That's the Fountain of Youth which can only be activated with the Golden Chalice. Oh my bad, I didn't introduce myself: My name's Captain Black Jack Cutting and this is my crew. Do we have a deal?"
The two Charmed Ones looked at each other stunned, not knowing exactly what to do. Still, Piper and Phoebe knew there was no other option as to accept.
"We do," Piper said finally. "Can we go now as you want us back tonight, right?"
Jack Cutting bowed his head and indicated them to leave what the sisters did immediately. After they were gone, the Captain started to laugh. At the end, he'd be young, again and could flee from this curse.
BACK AT THE MANOR
"You are going to do what?" Leo asked incredulously as soon as Piper and Phoebe had returned home. "You can't do that, because magic could be exposed! It's not right!" Chris was getting agitated at his Daddy's outburst. "Shsh, it's okay."
Piper sighed. "Look at Paige, Leo and tell me what you would do to save her?!" Her husband shook his head. "See, there's no way and we'll be careful. Promise."
"Besides," Phoebe added knowingly. "We need to help Paige. Maybe this Fountain of Youth could save her as well."
"Just accept it, Leo," Paige said smirking. "You'll leave to take care of the boys while I'm going to babysit for you two if my lovely sisters manage to save me, alright?"
Looking at the three sisters, though one of them was gray, the man really saw no other choice. "Okay," Leo accepted the deal. "Please, be careful. We don't want to have the Cleaners' attention, again."
"Right." Piper leaned down and kissed her boys on their forehead and Leo on his lips. "We will. Right now we need to change and to prepare all for the night." Looking at her watch, she noticed the time. "Oh boy! Phoebe, hurry up!"
Phoebe quickly kissed her nephews and followed her older sister up the stairs. There they changed into black clothes, to be unseen in the night and researched online where the Golden Chalice stood in the museum. After they were done, both sisters hurried down and into the car and to the museum.
Since the other two didn't say anything while running out, Leo and Paige exchanged a stunned look. Shrugging, both turned to the boys who watched all with interest which they could see in the boys' eyes. After all, Paige and Leo could only wait.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Phoebe and Piper silently made their way to the museum. Luckily it was closed and just one door was opened for them. They didn't know what to think about it but still, they had work to do.
"Alright, if this goes well at the end, I'm going to take Paige's offer. No matter what," Piper said quietly as she froze the security.
"Deal. And she's doing my house work for a month," Phoebe added as well silently.
"Done." The two sisters then reached their destination. "Alright, here we are. The Golden Chalice. Phoebe, you're more like a cat than I am," Piper concluded and guided her sister to the stairs. "Take a deep breath and go!"
"Not helping," Phoebe muttered and turned back to her sister. "Would you?" she asked and gestured to the swirling security lights.
Piper nodded and did as told. The lights stopped and she watched anxiously how her younger sister made her way through the lights. Then she let the glass explode and freeze at the same time.
"Wow," Phoebe said amazed and quickly grabbed the Chalice just as the alarm went off. "Damn!"
"Ooh," Piper said and joined her sister in the running department.
As soon as they were outside, both Charmed Ones let out sighs of relief. In record time, Piper and Phoebe were back in their car and drove instantly to the harbor where they were already expected.
AT THE PORT, AGAIN
"About time you're back," Jack Cutting greeted the sisters as soon as they stood in front of him. "I take it you got the Golden Chalice. Well, then bring the Fountain of Youth to life."
Phoebe handed the Chalice over to the Captain who held it under the Fountain. The younger sister turned to her older one nodding who recited the spell to activate it.
Activate the Fountain of Youth,
Bring it to life for the South.
It seemed to work, though the wording seemed off. Captain Black Jack Cutting tested immediately and was young again, demanding to kill the two witches. Yet this broke their deal and the sisters could quickly convince the Captain's crew to mutiny. What the crew did and Phoebe managed to save some drink for Paige before Piper happily let the Fountain explode. As fast as they could, both Charmed Ones hurried home.
BACK AT THE MANOR
Paige was then given the drink and returned back to her young self. Even the boys on their blanket exchanged a high five, making all adults raise an eyebrow at their action.
"How did it go?" Leo wanted to know curiously, taking Chris into his lap once again. "Just tell me, you weren't exposed, were you?"
"No, I don't think so," Piper replied and took Wyatt in her lap, sitting next to her husband. "If we were exposed, I'm sure we'd have had guests by now, don't you think?"
"Maybe," Phoebe concluded and made silly faces at her nephews who rolled their eyes at her. "Mmh, they don't like my faces anymore."
Paige elbowed her sister softly. "No wonder, you're scaring them for life. They have to live with us for good."
The older sister stuck her tongue out and Paige returned the gesture, making the other four sigh. Leo and Piper shook their heads and decided to not say anything, because the day had ended well and all was quite okay for the moment.
Still, the boys fell asleep in their parents' lap and both decided to bring them upstairs. After that was done, the three sisters and Leo just talked about all what had happened today. And, of course, the boys' behavior. It seemed that they were prematured.
IN THE UNDERWORLD
Kira and Zankou walked back together in Kira's lair after the Seer had told the demon everything about what had happened before – with Zankou's future self. At least what she knew and had found out through her pool.
"This is so weird," Zankou stated after the tale. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. Fire away," Kira offered.
"Why did you free me if you knew I might kill you in the future?" the demon asked curiously. "I mean what has gotten into me to get to you at first? I don't understand."
"Neither did I, believe me," the woman said sighing. "Your presence in the past caught me totally off guard a year ago. I helped you as best as I could but you acted on your own still. Changing the future, you said – like Chris Halliwell, by the way."
"Huh?" Zankou was confused. Clearly.
"Chris Halliwell returned to the past to save his older brother, Wyatt, from turning evil. In the end, it was an Elder who managed to turn him but Chris prevented it this time. So, the future is bright now, I think."
"I see." Zankou sighed. "Obviously I was not that successful. Anyway, I take it the Charmed Ones are quite a challenge for any demon, right?"
"And so will the Halliwell brothers in the future. Oh, I forgot to mention that Excalibur also belongs to Chris."
Zankou laughed. "And this Wyatt is the Twice-Blessed child?" Kira smirked before turning serious again. She nodded. "What? It's true. Oh my, what a powerful family! But definitely a challenge for me." He rubbed his hands in glee.
Kira shook her head at him smiling. "You will see where this leads you to. But for now, let us watch how the Avatars may fail in their attempt to get the boy."
The Seer and the demon watched curiously the drama at the Manor since Death was on his way. For a special case.
TBC...
New version for the pirate one as well. Mmmh. What could be next? ;)
Reviews are very appreciated!
