A/N: Thank you for the reviews, follows and favorites.
In this chapter there are some references to season five's "Centennial Charmed".
Achlys
In New York, a man thrashed in bed, tangled in the sheets, haunted by a nightmare:
"We've been through so much together, haven't we? Our love's so strong, nothing can destroy it, not even this. We're meant to be together", he said, looking at Phoebe, who was holding a potion in her hand.
"I don't think so", she said coldly and threw the potion at him.
When the potion hit his skin, he felt an insupportable pain in his body, the explosion, taking him out.
A vanquish.
Cole woke up sweating and shaking. The memories of that day would haunt him forever. He was vanquished by the hands of the woman he loved and some way he thought he deserved it. He went crazy and did horrible things after all. He couldn't explain why he lost himself like this. The only thing he knew was that he was different now. All the confusion in his mind was gone and he was thinking perfectly clear.
He remembered every detail of that day, what happened after the flames consumed him...
Flashback
He felt everything spinning around him, as he fought against the pain. 'The Wasteland', the thought crossed his mind, his eyes closed.
"You're stupid!", he heard a familiar voice and promptly opened his eyes.
He was in his Penthouse.
"Why am I here?", Cole asked, feeling dizzy.
"The Alternate Reality you created was replaced by the original one", the Avatar replied.
"I don't understand... I felt the flames, the pain...", Cole said.
"You survived, because of your great powers. You're very lucky", the Avatar explained to him.
"Lucky? Me?", Cole looked surprised at him.
"You could have died or, in the middle of the journey, ended in the Cosmic Void between life and death", the Avatar said, approaching him. "Anyway, you lost a lot of your powers... I can't feel them on you anymore... You're just an ordinary magical being", he added in disgust.
"I don't care...", Cole said truthfully.
The Avatar shocked his head: "You're stupid, Cole! You were a waste of time", he said and faded out.
Cole took a deep breath and looked around him still confused. He couldn't go through this anymore. He needed to go away.
Away from her...
He looked around him one last time and shimmered out.
End of the flashback
From that day on, he tried to rebuild his life. He didn't want to be part of the age-old battle between good and evil anymore.
A new life required a new identity and Cole Turner turned into Cole Carter. He chose New York to begin his new journey, he found a job and sometime later he knew Kira.
But the memories insisted on coming and Cole wondered if one day he would be free...
In San Francisco, holding a piece of paper, Phoebe Halliwell tried to finish the spell to summon Achlys, under the watchful eyes of Chris. "Why don't you help Piper and Paige with the potion, Blue Eyes? I can do this alone", she glanced at him.
Chris grinned at her: "You're taking too long to write a simple spell, Brown Eyes".
"Oh, look who's talking... The Whitelighter who can't heal", she let out a nasty smile.
Chris put his hand on his heart: "It really hurt me, you know".
Phoebe rolled her eyes: "Chris!", she warned him.
"Fine, I'll go see your sisters", he said and went to the kitchen.
Piper and Paige were there, working on the potion.
"Future boy, the potion is ready!", Piper said proudly.
"I hope this work...", Paige crossed her arms. "Where's Phoebe? Does she finished the summon spell?".
Chris shocked his head: "No... Maybe you should help her", he remarked.
"I did it!", Phoebe appeared abruptly. "I finished the summon spell".
"It's about time", Chris said unenthusiastically. "Let me see it", he gently took the piece of paper from her hands. "That's it?", he mocked her, after read the spell.
"You're a very negative person, you know that?", Phoebe said, getting the piece of paper back.
"Enough, you two!", Piper said. "Wyatt is safe with Sheila, we have a vanquish potion and a summon spell. So let's do this!".
"That's the spirit!", Chris said seriously.
Phoebe rolled her eyes and went with them to the living room.
The sisters started to chant the spell to summon Achlys:
In this night and in this hour
We call upon the Ancient Power
Bring us Achlys, the princess of sadness
So we can save the world from darkness
As they finished it, a creature, wearing a black cloak and hood appeared in the room. She looked curiously around her.
"Throw the potion!", Chris ordered to Piper.
But when she throw the potion at her, Achlys waved her right hand and the vial froze in the air. The oldest Halliwell sister reacted fast and tried to blow her up. But, to her surprise, her power didn't work on her.
Achlys waved her hand again and Piper and Paige flew against the wall.
"I smell so much pain and sadness... The pain in your eyes is so easy to read", Achlys said, moving towards Phoebe. She grabbed the Charmed One by the arms.
"Leave her alone!", Chris shouted and threw himself against Achlys. He couldn't use his powers in front of Phoebe, but he still could fight. However, Achlys easily managed to push him off. She waved her hands and he flew across the room.
"Chris!", Phoebe shouted, as she saw the young man falling unconscious on the floor.
"Now, you and me", Achlys said, grabbing her by the arms again, a red smoke wrapped her body. It was too fast. Phoebe wanted to scream, but no words came out. All the sadness moments of her life came back to her in flashes. Her eyes were filled of tears as she felt again, with the same intensity, the pain she went through when she lost her loved ones.
"I smell guilt", Achlys said, a smile formed in her deformed face.
"Cole...", finally a single word came out of Phoebe's mouth. "My fault... Oh God!", her eyes widened, her heart was beating hard and fast.
Chris finally opened his eyes. "Mom...", he whispered to himself. He needed to do something, before Phoebe died. He looked at the vial froze in the air. That was his only chance to save his future mother. "Potion!", he called and the vial orbed in his hand.
"Achlys, I told you. Leave her alone!", he shouted and threw the vial at her. This time, she couldn't freeze it. She cried in pain and exploded.
"Mo... Phoebe! Phoebe, are you okay?", he ran to her and wrapped her in his arms.
"My fault...", she whispered and fainted.
