"You ready?" Piper asked Chris.
"Yes," Chris tried to say confidently.
Inside he didn't feel anywhere near ready. He'd had a reasonable night's sleep and a good breakfast and was supposed to feel ready to begin learning the art of using Excalibur from his Mother. Truth is, he'd avoided this moment most of his adult life. He was afraid of what the power would do to him, even though his Father assured him it would not corrupt its true owner. Chris looked at Excalibur wedged securely in its home of stone. All he had to do was reach out and pull it free. His family were watching him, waiting to see him prove to them that he truly was destined to be the magical sword's master. What they didn't know was he would also be proving it to himself. Chris hesitated, suddenly overcome with self-doubt. For years his Father and the Elders had been telling him he was the chosen one, but he had never been able to test their words as the stone had been destroyed in his time many years ago. Now, finally, he would find out for certain, and he could not shake the feeling in the pit of his stomach that maybe they were all wrong. Wyatt was more powerful than him after all; it made much more sense that it belonged to Wyatt. He looked back at his family, still waiting, and wondered if they were doubting his story right now as well. He forced a smile, trying to appear confident, as he reached out his hand to grasp the sword. He wrapped his hand around the cold metal handle and realised he was sweating both on his palms and his forehead from the anxiety. He just hoped the excess moisture wouldn't cause the sword to slip from his hand, making him look a complete fool in the process. He took a deep breath, and then closed his eyes, gently starting to pull on the sword, and to his great relief and complete surprise it started to come free extremely easily. Immediately he could feel the power flow through his body, and it got stronger the closer Excalibur came to being completely freed. The feeling was so intense that when he finally pulled the magical sword completely free he had to take a step back to steady himself.
"Overwhelming, isn't it?" Piper said to him.
"Completely," Chris answered, having now found his footing.
"Okay, show's over people, we've got some serious training to do. Off you go, you've got a potion to make, times a wasting," Piper said as she tried to herd Leo, Paige and Phoebe out of the attic.
"All right, we're going," said Leo, "and just remember if you have any trouble just shout and I'll come right away."
"We'll be fine," Piper reassured him.
"Thanks, Dad," Chris called to him as they started walking down the stairs, Piper closing the door behind them.
Chris had turned his attention back to the sword trying to find a comfortable grip that allowed him to compensate for how heavy it was.
Piper could see what he was doing. "Don't worry, in a few hours you'll feel like you were born using it," she said reassuring him. She walked over and picked up the sword she had conjured that morning and readied herself. "Let's get started," she said.
Deep in the Underworld, Wyatt had been rounding up demonic support when he sensed Excalibur. He knew immediately that Chris had removed it from the stone and that now time was against him. He needed to gather as many low-level demons as he could and implement his plan as soon as possible. His plan was to distract the sisters with as many simultaneous demonic attacks as possible, all around the city, leaving him free to go to the manor and fight Chris, if he had to, for Excalibur. Unfortunately he saw no way around keeping Chris alive, he could not take him back to the future with him as he would just take back Excalibur again, nor could he leave him in the past for he could prevent his younger self from ever using the Magical Sword. Seeing no other way around it, he had coldly decided Chris would have to be an unfortunate casualty of his quest. He looked around at the demons in front of him, but decided he still needed more. He thought afew more hours wouldn't make any difference; he just had to make sure everything was right.
More than four hours had past, without a break, when both Piper and Chris noticed a tray of food being orbed into the attic.
"I think Dad's trying to send us a message," Chris said, grinning.
Piper looked at her watch, "Wow, I didn't realise how long we'd been at this, we could definitely use a break."
Piper grabbed the tray and walked over to the couch, placing the tray on a small table in front of it. Chris decided to stretch out on the floor near the table.
They ate quietly for a while before Chris broke the silence, "Dad was right, you're very good at this considering you were only trained for a couple of days yourself."
"Thank you," Piper said, accepting the compliment. "You seem to be catching on very quickly, as well. How do you feel?" She asked.
"I feel fine, I guess," he answered, not sure what sort of answer she was looking for.
"Do you feel confident using Excalibur? How are you coping with the extra power?" She asked, still searching for the right words.
"Oh, I know what you want to ask," Chris said suddenly realising where his Mother's questions were leading. "No, I don't feel like taking over the world."
"Sorry. Had to ask," Piper said slightly embarrassed.
"Yet," Chris added with a grin.
"Don't joke," she said trying not to laugh herself, "it can happen easier than you think."
"I know," Chris said more seriously this time, thinking back to his original future, and to Wyatt's evil rule.
"You, know, I don't want to hurt him," Chris said to her honestly. "I never have. I just want him to go back to how he was when we were kids. We were very close, and then it all just…changed," he said, not really wanting to elaborate.
Piper could see the pain in her son's eyes as he was obviously thinking back.
"You may have to," she said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Chris asked her, surprised at what she had just said.
"Hurt him. You may have to, Chris. We both know he's more than capable of hurting you," she looked away to compose herself wondering whether to continue voicing her fears. Deciding it was in Chris' best interest to confront the issue, she turned to look directly into Chris' eyes as she added, "killing you even."
Chris could see how hard it was for his Mother to admit this to him, but he also knew she was speaking the truth.
"But," he started to say, but Piper interrupted him.
"No buts, Chris. He will fight you for Excalibur and he will fight you to win. Defence will only get you so far. You have to want to win as well. I will not have you die because of Wyatt again." She said firmly to him.
Chris suddenly realised how hard his death must have hit her last time. He hadn't really thought about it, because he always thought she had Baby Chris, but come to think of it he had lived with them for nearly two years so his death must have had an impact on all of them in some way.
Chris could have dropped the subject there, but he wanted to get through to his Mother his feelings, just in case. "It's much easier said, than done." Chris said to her, and then he continued, "I vowed I would kill Wyatt last time, if I couldn't save him before I was born, but I don't think I could have gone through with it." He paused, and then asked her, "Could you kill him?"
"What kind of question is that?" She asked him, slightly angry.
"Well, you're concerned about me, but what if he was threatening me, or Paige or Phoebe. Could you attack him to save one of us?"
Piper realised she hadn't thought about it.
"That's a decision I hope I don't have to make," she said dismissing him.
"I hope so too," Chris agreed deciding to drop the subject.
"Are you ready to start again?" She asked him, as she stood up.
"As ready as I'll ever be." He answered.
Chris and Piper had not long started training again when Leo, Paige and Phoebe orbed in. Piper went to yell at them for the intrusion, but then saw the urgent look on their faces.
"What is it, what's wrong?" she asked.
"I've just heard from the Elders, there have been demonic attacks all over the city. We've been asked to go out and save as many people as we can." Leo said as calmly as he could.
"Why would so many demons be attacking out in the open like this?" Piper asked.
"Wyatt," Chris answered.
"Well, if it's Wyatt then I should stay with Chris because this is obviously a trap." Piper stated.
"Innocents are dying, Piper, it's a demonic onslaught," Phoebe said to her, "if Chris needs us he can call Leo."
"She's right, Mum, you have to go. I don't want innocent lives on my conscience. I'll call Dad if I need help. Did you have any luck with the time potion?" He asked Leo.
"Sorry, not yet," Leo answered. "But, don't worry, we will," he added.
Chris nodded in response.
"You're with me," Paige said to Piper, "come on we've gathered heaps of potions."
Piper moved over to Paige and held her hand. "Remember what I taught you," she said to Chris.
"I will," Chris said to her.
"I'll take Phoebe, if any of you need help, just call," Leo said to all of them, but particularly to Chris, and then the four of them orbed out.
Chris was only alone for a few seconds before he heard someone orb in behind him. He turned, knowing exactly who it would be. Wyatt stood in front of him, confidently holding a sword of his own.
"Hello, Wyatt," Chris said to him, then his eyes moved down the sword Wyatt was holding.
"You noticed I've come prepared. This demonic sword is powerful," he said holding it out in front of him and looking at it approvingly. Then turning his attention back to Chris, he continued, "Although nowhere near as powerful as Excalibur, it will serve its purpose. The underworld can be a very useful place, you know."
"I won't let you take Excalibur, you'll have to kill me first," Chris said to him.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Chris, because that is an invitation too good to refuse," Wyatt said, half smiling, as he walked calmly toward Chris.
Chris tried to appear confident as he stood his ground, but he could feel his hands trembling and a lump start to form in his throat the closer Wyatt came. He wondered for a split second whether he should call out to his Father for help, but decided against it, wanting to finally face Wyatt alone. The time for thinking was now over as Wyatt, now in front of Chris, did not hesitate as he lifted his sword to strike Chris down.
Chris instinctively blocked his strike, and then again and again, as Wyatt released all his fury at once. Chris tried to remain calm, remembering what his Mother had just taught him and feeling the power of Excalibur flow through him. He found that he moved from the defensive to the offensive as he struck out at Wyatt for the first time, taking Wyatt by surprise. Wyatt managed to block just in time pushing Chris away.
"I'm impressed little Brother, you've worked hard over the past few hours, but it will be no match for my years of experience." Wyatt said arrogantly.
"We'll see," was all Chris had to say, now feeling more confident. So confident, in fact, that he did not wait for Wyatt to attack him again, instead he lifted the sword and started striking at Wyatt hoping he would realise that Chris was not the weak little brother Wyatt was used to, but a formidable opponent worthy of Excalibur.
At the same time Piper with Paige and Leo with Phoebe had their own battle on their hands, frantically fighting off multiple demonic attacks throughout the city, completely unaware of the battle going on between the two brothers at the manor.