A/N: Okay so this chapter was really enjoyable to right but also my most difficult yet. Hopefully i have written it well and i don't end up confusing a load of ya. I blame time travel and an over active imagination.
Everyone looked at the angel of destiny as she spoke but when she finished all eyes turned straight to Chris. "Me?" Chris asked for clarification. "Why are you here to inform me of my destiny? Don't angels of destiny normally keep it all hush hush until after it's all over?"
The angel of destiny smiled at him sweetly, "Yes, I am here for you. I am here to inform you of your destiny because I must. And yes we normally keep quiet until you complete your destiny but you see your destiny Chris is rather unique. You don't realise it yet but you already completed your first destiny. After you completed that we gave you a new one. One only you could succeed in. Your parents and aunts know the completed destiny that I speak of."
The sister's and Leo's faces darkened when she finished speaking. Everyone else was confused and remained silent. Chris turned to face his parents and aunts. "You know what she is talking about?" he choked. "Don't bother I can see it on your faces. Though I cannot hear it in your minds." Chris whirled around to face the angel of destiny angrily, "You're the one doing it. You are blocking their thoughts from me. Why?"
"I block their thoughts just temporarily. You will know all of it soon I assure you", the angel replied. "Does he really have to? Why must he remember all the pain?" Piper cried angrily.
The angel smiled apologetically at the eldest charmed one as she answered. "He must remember it if he is to complete his new destiny. He won't only remember the bad but the good as well. To all things there is a balance." Chris didn't like the idea that he would remember something painful but he didn't think it was fair for his family to decide whether he should or shouldn't remember. "You're going to cause so much damage among the relationships of this family. How can you expect them, no expect us to keep fighting for the greater good?" Leo asked. Chris smiled to himself as his dad corrected his statement. Sure he didn't always see eye to eye but his dad tried to do right by his family. Chris sometimes felt as if he had two different conflicting views of his father bottle within himself.
"I don't expect you to", she replied sadly. "But I know you will. I cannot give you the answers you seek. They must be discovered on their own. Now Chris I have been sent down to help you understand the role you are about to be given. To do this you must visit the past." She paused as she heard the charmed ones and Leo gasp. "You must return and visit a few of your past lives. They are expecting you and have valuable information for you. I cannot interfere with free will though so it is not a demand that you listen to us but a choice. This offer is not made available often but to one who has already sacrificed so much we will consent to it. If you accept you must do so understanding that this is something you must do alone. Nobody is permitted to go with you. Now what is your choice?" The angel of destiny stood there looking at the young Halliwell for a moment.
Chris was a maelstrom of emotions when the angel asked the question. She had not denied this would cause disastrous problems for the family but it was a once in a life time chance. No, it was even rarer. Yet he loved his family. Could he really do this to the people he loved for the sake of his own curiosity? Or the sake of his own survival? He opened his mouth to answer the angel when Wyatt stopped him. "Chris, go. Ignore what everyone else thinks. This is important to you, to your destiny. It's like grandma Patty says 'You can hate your destiny, get mad at it if you want but don't fight it'. And she is right. We're your family. We will deal with the consequences when you get back." Chris stared into his brother's eyes seeing nothing but the deepest compassion and love. He looked around and saw many of his family nod reluctantly to him.
"I'm ready. I have made my decision. I will go", Chris answered confidently though he felt anything but it. The angel of destiny bowed her head, "Before you leave you should know neither Elder nor angel of destiny granted you your new ability. A most curious occurrence."
"Wait but the only forces on the side of good that bestow powers are Elders and the Angels of destiny. If they didn't grant him it, where did he get it?" Leo questioned apprehensively.
"I'm not at liberty to say. Perhaps Chris will fill you in when he discovers the answer" she spoke slowly and softly before a swirling vortex of blue light popped into existence by the stairs. "Walk through and meet the first. When you have seen what you need to see another portal will open", she whispered. Chris walked around the table and stopped in front of the portal. "I'll see ya all real soon", he said as he glanced over his shoulders at his family. Taking a deep breath he walked forward into the light and the portal snapped shut.
"Christopher is on the path and will return shortly. But time will be short when he returns and each of you must be ready. You will need your book and all your courage to face the hard times to come. Drew when he returns you must tell them what you were about to say before I arrived. The time will have come when he returns but not before", the angel of destiny smiled solemnly. "Now I must be off so I don't interfere. Blessed be", she whispered and with her final words she dematerialised into golden orbs which rose through the ceiling.
Chris stepped out of the portal to what he could only assume was a wealthy ancient home. The sun shone brightly out the window and its rays showed to Chris a lush green landscape. The house its self was made of stone mainly and had lavish wood furnishings. Looking around he saw totems and sculptures with words in ancient Greek. He was struck by how he could read it when it was clearly in a language he had no knowledge of. Sure being part Elder he could speak any language his charges could but he couldn't read it. Just as he moved forward transfixed by this new revelation he heard voices coming towards where he was.
Chris ducked behind the nearest wooden chest as two males in flowing robes swept into the room. Sure he was back here to see his past life and gain knowledge but all his instincts fought against him being discovered. At least until after he discovered his past life and had a little chat. "Why will you not give me what I ask for?" asked the taller of the males in an angry voice. Chris gasped as he realised it was Wyatt and the other person was himself. "Do I ask that much of you?" Wyatt sneered.
"You have never asked for much", past Chris replied solemnly. "And I give you everything I have readily. I give you my heart and soul each and every day. I hold nothing back from you in terms of affection, land or wealth. Or love. I give you my body whenever you ask for it. I enjoy the way we spend nights together safe in each other's arms. But the thing you ask from me now is the one thing I cannot give you." Past Chris turned away from past Wyatt only to be grabbed roughly by the wrists.
"It is true you give me all you have said. And though I love you with all my heart your shameful defiance sometimes causes me to take those things by force when you are feeling spiteful. For those times I am sorry. I never mean to hurt you but you know what I face. You alone hold the power to achieve such a quest yet you refuse to use it for the purpose it was intended", Past Wyatt grew angrier as he went on. "You used to use it for great deeds but now you squander your magic on petty individuals of no worth. Why use your magic to save one innocent who can ill afford to repay the favour, when you could be using it to save the guilty rich who will pay any price you ask? You have great power but do not utilise its full potential. Money and power are all that matter in this world. Those who cannot see it are fools. But I warn you now one way or another I will have that Golden Fleece you cling to." Past Wyatt shoved past Chris to the floor and stormed out.
Chris watched as his past self stood and made his way to the bed, sitting upon the end. Chris could tell his past self was in great pain and that the treatment had been rough. Yet he knew that his past self had suffered far worse at his lover's hands. Chris found he could accept that his brother had in another life been his lover quite easily for he understood that souls always searched for their kin in each new life. Relationships changed but they always felt drawn to one another. Chris stood up and walked towards his past self for he was eager to confirm a suspicion the conversation had installed within him. Past Chris jumped as he realised someone had approached him soundlessly, "Who are you? How did you get in here?" he asked angrily his voice rising. Seeing Chris' face he calmed and breathed deeply. "I'm sorry I did not wish to meet you like this. You are the future me aren't you?"
Chris nodded and before he could stop himself he asked a different question than the one he had intended, "How did you know I would come?" Past Chris laughed before he clutched his side. Chris became worried about his past self as he watched him hold his side. If he had to guess the cause he would assume his past life had a couple of broken ribs. "I had a vision", Past Chris interrupted his thoughts when he could speak again without such pain. "I have two gifts that of premonition and my Golden Fleece."
Chris felt his mouth dry at the mention of the Golden Fleece again. Chris knew a lot of Greek mythology. Like he knew that according to legend where ever the Fleece went the land prospered. But the Fleece was said to be the wool from a golden ram sent down by Zeus. Over the past sixteen years of his life though Chris had learnt that history was not always kept as accurate as one might hope. "Can you tell me more about your Golden Fleece? Might I be able to see it?" he asked quietly.
"I could tell you more about it but I doubt you have time to hear about it. Heracles could return at any moment and so we must discuss what is required and not what is desired. As to you seeing it, I'm afraid that can't happen. You see I am Perseus, the man you saw before was Heracles. My lover", past Chris admitted shamefully. He did not know the future but to love another man was frowned upon in this time and he hoped his future self was not disgusted with him. "He used to be the greatest of men but the burden of fighting the good fight has chipped away at the man I fell in love with. He is now but a shadow of the great man he once was. Though he has fallen to darkness I cannot give up on him. I would gladly give my life if it would but show him the path of the light again. But I digress and I apologise. You did not come to hear of my problems. You cannot see my Golden Fleece for I no longer have it. Fear for its safety have caused me to send it to a future life of mine where it may once more be used to protect the innocent", past Chris mumbled. "I could not let it fall to the hands of darkness, or my lovers hands for if I did the side of good would be in grave peril."
Chris smiled at his past self. "You did the right thing and I promise you I will take good care of your gift." Chris dropped to his knees in front of his past life as the other Chris or rather Perseus gasped and looked at him in surprise. "You're the one who received it?" he beamed but just as quickly a look of horror took its place. "Quick you have to leave before Heracles comes back if he discovers you have it then me sending it away was all for nothing", Perseus cried.
"It's not that simple I was sent back in time. I can't leave until I find whatever information it is I was sent back for", Chris explained. "I was told so much in such a short time and I'm not sure who to trust anymore. Those closest to me have been hiding things from me."
"Look at me", Perseus said lifting Chris' chin so they looked each other in the eyes. "I think I understand what you are going through. Look at my life. My advice to you is to trust the people closest to your heart. If they care about you and you can feel that then take the leap of faith. Even if they do something you don't agree with keep them close to your heart and have faith. Things will work out the way they are meant to but only if you hold them close." Chris smiled as his past self spoke and he knew there was wisdom in the words after the life his past self had lived. Suddenly a glowing blue portal opened to his right.
"Well it looks like my ride is here", Chris joked. "Thank you for your words of wisdom and thank you for the gift. I swear I will use it just as you would have." Perseus smiled back at him, "I know you will. After all you're me." Both heard the voices of Heracles approaching. "Trust me", Chris quickly whispered to his past self. "Let me give you a small gift of my own", he added at the look of confusion on his past self's face. He grabbed his past self and held him close to his body aggressively as past Wyatt entered. Chris watched as past Wyatt took in the scene shocked for a moment.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" past Wyatt growled. "I'm the one that will ruin you. I am the one who stole the Golden Fleece. And now it will never be yours", Chris shouted. Past Wyatt threw a bolt of electrokinesis at him and barely managed to dodge when it rebounded as Chris deflected it. Chris jumped into the portal with a glance back to see a furious Heracles hurling more electrokinesis at him and a Perseus with a stunned and appreciative smile.
Bianca growled through her barred teeth as she sent another energy ball flying across the room of her apartment. She had destroyed just about everything she owned besides what was in the bedrooms and bathroom. The apartment smoked and black scorch marks littered the walls. How could her mother, the matriarch of the Phoenix send her against the Halliwell's without even telling her who the targets really were? Why hadn't she questioned her more when she just said 'powerful witches'? But she knew the answer deep down. She had been trained to be a phoenix from a young age. She was trained to act like a soldier and soldiers didn't question orders. As she hurled the next energy ball she saw someone shimmer in. She barely registered her mother before she was forced shimmered out again to avoid the energy ball. After a moment she shimmered back, "Was there really any need for that Bianca?"
"It made me feel better", Bianca answered as she moved across the room and righted an arm chair to sit in. "Besides you shouldn't shimmer in when I am in the middle of raging."
Her mother pursed her lips as she contemplated her next move. "Your cousin informed me what happened. Have you heard from any of the others?" she asked her daughter. Her daughter gave her a dark look that sent shivers down the matriarch's back. "No, I haven't. If they went after Wyatt and Chris then they're dead", Bianca spat.
"You don't know that", her mother scolded her. "Don't I?" snapped Bianca. "You expect me to think that four average assassins could take down the mighty twice blessed Halliwell witch-lighter or his brother the prophesised elder-witch?" Her mother looked at her curiously. "I didn't realise that the younger Halliwell had a prophecy about him as well. Are you sure it was about him?"
"Mother! How many elder-witches do you know?" Bianca snapped again. "The prophecy read thus:
When eternal day passes back to night
On a blessed Wiccan eve
Born is a child of heaven and earth
As the balance of worlds restores
Do you get it now mother?" Bianca shouted. "You know Chris was born on the eve of Halloween, right? Born to an Elder and a witch on a day that was never going to end. Not until the world balance was restored. Prophecies aren't made about just anybody. Those two were singled out and I don't think sending our family on a suicide mission is very responsible of the matriarch of the family. So forgive me if I'm pissed at you", Bianca shrieked at her mother. "To make matters worse you send me against a former boyfriend without any warning. Considering what you pulled I would say I am dealing with it quite well. Now if you don't mind mother I am heading to bed. You can see yourself out", she said coldly as she closed her bedroom door behind her without a glance.
Chris stepped out of the second portal right into what looked like the altar room of a coven. And to make matters worse there was people there, now all staring at him. As he looked around at the faces he noticed he recognised a couple of faces. Penny and Dorie were over in one corner brewing potions or at least their past lives were. And the man walking towards him was obviously another past Wyatt. "Fortunate timing, very fortunate. He is ready for you now. If you had arrived much later you would have missed him", he spoke quickly as he gestured for Chris to follow him. The past Wyatt led him out of the room and down a narrow corridor that reminded Chris of magic school.
"Excuse me who is ready to see me?" Chris asked. "And how did you even know I was coming?"
"We didn't know you were coming. I was sent by your sister when she sensed you arrive", past Wyatt told him. "I must say you look so much like him. No she's not really your sister but she is his sister and since you are a future version of him that sort of makes you siblings I guess."
Chris laughed lightly to himself as he realised past Wyatt didn't grasp the mechanics of time travel any better than his Wyatt. "Okay and you said I almost missed him. Is he leaving sometime soon?"
"Why yes he is dying and she must get back to the battle for the stone", Past Wyatt answered as if the answer was obvious to anyone regardless of the time period they came from. "You mean the philosophers stone?" Chris asked eagerly.
"Yes. Yes of course the philosophers stone. What do they teach in the future?" Past Wyatt grumbled as he stopped outside a door. "In you go", he commented as he turned around and pointed to the door. Chris stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Enter", came a soft feminine voice.
Chris stepped inside the room and immediately saw the woman who had spoken. She was tall and had a striking presence about her. Chris could feel the power radiating off her skin. "Ah, you are the future life of my dearly departing brother aren't you?"
"Yes I am. Or at least I think I am", Chris answered unsure. Looking around he noticed a picture of himself and the woman before him. "Do you know why I am here?" he asked her.
"No I am afraid I don't", the women said and turned to face him so she could look him in the eyes. Chris couldn't help but gasp as he looked at the face of his youngest cousin. He was sure this past life was Junior, something about the eyes just made him sure of it. "What can you tell me about the philosophers stone?" Chris asked him.
"Is that why you are here? For knowledge of the stone?" She asked. "The future I come from, the stone is being hunted. I'm one of the people who are tasked with keeping it safe. I wondered if you might be able to tell me about it?" Chris replied.
"I think it would be best if you speak with your other self he can tell you more", she said.
"But I thought he was dying?" Chris asked confused. "He is. Yet he has a few hours of life left but there is no cure to his illness. Through that door you will find him. I must be off now but rest assured I will protect the stone. I will not let evil get a hold of it. Even if it costs me my life", she said to him. She disappeared through the door he came through with a sad smile. Chris walked towards the room she had pointed to. Opening the door he entered a bedroom and on the bed he saw a young man much like Perseus. Neither of them could have older than twenty five if he had to guess then he would have assumed they were around twenty three.
Moving to the bed he took the hand of his past life and whispered softly, "I came just like you were told I would." His past self looked at him and grinned, "I'm glad you could see me before I died. My sister gave me hours but I know the truth is measured in mere minutes. You come from a time when the stone is about to find its wielder, correct?"
"Yeah", Chris breathed back. His past self wasn't lying. Chris could see he was dying and that he didn't have the strength to hold on much longer. "Well, the wielders identity will surprise you, I can guarantee it. I created the stone and I do not regret it for one minute. But with the stone the wielder will set the balance of good and evil right again." A portal opened by the door and Chris stood making ready to leave. "One more thing", past Chris said. "The memories you seek are locked inside your own head. But unlock them with caution. Not all memories are good." Chris nodded thoughfully as he headed for the portal.
Bianca sighed behind the closed door she had shut on her mother. For the past couple of years, ever since her mother had dragged her away from Chris Halliwell the first time she had felt different. She felt confused. Until she had meet Chris that first time she had never questioned the path her life was on. Meeting him had changed her. She questioned whether it was right to kill innocent people. Having only known the younger Halliwell for a short time she couldn't be sure but she thought he would have agreed protecting innocents was the right thing to do.
When her mother uprooted from San Francisco and dragged Bianca away from her first love it had changed her. Her mother schooled her on the Halliwells and made her revisit all her training. She was still the best phoenix in her clan, but she had lost the bloodlust that drove them to be assassins. She was to be the next matriarch of the family but to be honest she wasn't sure she wanted the role. She was the only phoenix in the clan that felt killing innocents was wrong.
Bianca moved and sat on the bed holding her head in her hands. Her family was dying out now anyway maybe there would be no need for a new matriarch. Four of the eight had died recently at the hand of the Halliwell brothers yet she didn't feel angry about it. She had warned them not to go after them. All she had left was her mom, her cousin and her aunt. The end for her clan was coming she could feel it. Her mother had accepted a bounty they could not complete, especially not now. He would kill the rest of them when he learned they had failed. The question she asked herself as she sat in the dark was clear. Was it better to be vanquished by him who employed them or by the Halliwells?
As Chris was once more engulfed in bright lights he silently wished for home but when he could see again he sighed. Though he was home in the manor he sure wasn't back in his time. There was a witch that looked familiar by the book of shadows. "Chris", the witch called when he noticed him.
"Hey", Chris answered confused. "What are you doing here?" asked past Chris.
"I have no idea", Chris replied with complete honesty. "Who are you? What year is this?"
"I'm you. Or at least an alternative you apparently since i have no memory of this happening", Past Chris or rather future Chris answered. "You're in September 2004", he added to answer the other question.
"So we're not even born yet huh?" Chris muttered to himself. Literally he was talking to himself. Ha. "I wonder why the angel sent me here?"
"Angel? What angel?" older Chris asked. "Can't say. Future consequences", Chris smiled cheekily at himself and watched the same smile appear on his older counterpart.
"Okay but if you don't know why you are here and you aren't going to tell me I can't help you. Unless you want me to get mom and the sisters to help you?" older Chris offered.
"No. No, no. I can't risk them finding I've been here. You mustn't let them know I have been here", Chris spoke frantically.
"Calm down. If you don't want them to know then I won't say anything", the older Chris said. "But come on tell me what happened and we will figure out how to sort it out afterwards."
"Okay well an angel of destiny appeared to us while we were having dinner. She said she needed to show me my past lives so I could get the information I need to complete my destiny. Then she sent me back to two of my previous lives then I came here", Chris explained. Suddenly stuck by an idea he rambled quickly. "Wait if you're me and this is before I am born you must know the charmed ones whitelighter Perry..."
Chris trailed off as his brain swiftly put the puzzle pieces together. "You're here in the past, in the manor. You were their whitelighter weren't you?" The older Chris nodded, "Only for about a year. I'll be returning to my time soon. At least I hope I will."
"How could mom and dad keep this from me?" Chris fumed. When he finally returned to his time he was so going to have an argument with his parents. "Maybe it is to do with what the angel said", he mused.
Older Chris smiled but it was brittle. "You said the angel of destiny told you that you must remember painful memories to do with your first destiny?" he asked.
"Yeah that's right", Chris said slowly. "You know what she wants me to remember don't you?" The older version of himself looked at him, "Yeah, I think so. If I'm right she wants you to have all my memories. I'm sorry I would never want you to have them but if the angel of destiny says you need them to survive I think you should listen." Older Chris smiled at him apologetically. "Look when you do get my memories you have to promise me something okay?" older Chris stared at him until he nodded. "Don't let them change the way you feel about Wyatt. You're not going to see him in such a good light but just remember it wasn't your Wyatt it was mine. I mean you are close in your time right?"
Chris nodded while that sunk in. "Yeah we're real close. We've been going through a rough patch but I think all this time travel might have helped me get over it. I wonder if that is the reason for the journey. Right I really need to go before either one of us messes things up. It doesn't look like the angel is going to help me here. But before I go back I better write a spell to unbind the memories because I doubt anyone will want to help me do it."
Older Chris smiled at him, "Why don't you work on a spell to return yourself to your time and I work on the memory spell? Something tells me you are good with spell writing." Chris blushed as he complimented himself. "Okay. Five minutes then we share", he said as he settled on the floor while the older him sat on the couch.
"I've got it", older Chris remarked. "Good I just finished too", he replied jumping up to hand the time travel spell to the other him. "Nice spell. I'm sure this will work. And here take this read it when you get back to your time and it should unbind the memories. Although I don't understand how my memories ended locked up inside your head to begin with", older chris told him. "Thanks for all the help and information", Chris told himself as they stood across from each other and began to chant.
Benevolent forces hear our plea
Aid us in assisting the other me
Being different and yet the same
Return him now from whence he came –Older Chris
[Remove all memory that I came] – Younger Chris
Chris smiled as he saw his older self hold his head. Obviously his attempt to preserve the past by removing his visit from memory had worked. He smiled as white lights surrounded him and he felt his body lifted through time and space.
It was a relief when he found himself in the manor with all his family happy to see him. He was home at last. It looked like he hadn't been gone too long from their perspective. But the moment he saw his mum's smile he felt his anger rise. Chris had always had a temper and with just a simple smile he reached back into his pocket for the spell that would unbind his memories. Damn the consequences he thought.
A/N: Okay so please tell me what you thought of this chapter in PM or reviews. If you think it needs updating so it make more sense feel free to PM me and i will see what I can do. Nevertheless i hope you enjoyed it.
