Mending What's Broken - A Wizards of Waverly Place Fanfiction…

A/N - Hello all, welcome to my first story here on fanfiction. Before you read, I will let you know this story is set after The Family Wizard Competition final episode of the show. So if you have not seen it, there are spoilers, I suggest you do it before reading this, or you will be lost. Anyway, I have been a long-time fan of Wizards, one of my favorite shows ever, and started to re-watch it again, and after two episodes, this idea came to me. I had to write it, and I hope you all enjoy it. I know where this story will go, but feedback is always welcomed. Thank you, and enjoy!

Magia Ultra Mente Somina - Magic Beyond Wildest Dreams (these words are essential)

Disclaimer: I do not own Wizards of Waverly Place, just the plot of this story.

Chapter 1

The competition was over, it was finally over, and Max Russo couldn't believe how things turned out. Justin, his older brother, got to keep his wizard's powers to become a professor of Wiz-tech, while his older sister Alex Russo one the competition and became the family wizard. But what did Max get? Nothing, of course. He lost his powers, became human, and gained ownership of their family Sub shop. Not that he wasn't grateful for his mother and father trying to include him by passing the family business down, but it wasn't fair that he was the only Russo who didn't get to keep his wizarding powers. Of course, many people lived as mortals, like their family friends Harper Finkle and Zeke Beckerman, but it wasn't the life Max wanted.

At first, Max thought he could handle being human with Harper, Zeke, and even his parents trying to give him tips and tricks on how to live normally. But over time, it felt like he was being pressured, and life just felt dull without everyday magic shenanigans. Sure he was still at home with his sister, who got into crazy magic adventures, but she was mainly the center of them, and Max barely had input in them. So about a month after the family competition and the Evil Alex incident, Max decided to find ways to work around the wizarding law and get his powers back. Of course, he knew how risky this would be, but he didn't care.

During the day, Max would go to school and run the sub shop, as usual, but at night, he would sit up for hours and search for ways to get his powers back on his laptop. On occasion, when the family was out and about, he would find ways to sneak into their family wizard's lair to try and search through the magic books his father had in there. Of course, this was a rare occasion as Max didn't have magic so Max couldn't access it on his own; the boy would only gain entry right after his father and sister had their lessons. He would sneak in as quickly as he could while they came out to distracted talking. Like today, Max could sit and read through some of the books. Max had everyone believing he wasn't brilliant, but it was only an act to try and get people's attention with how his family worked. So he hid his brilliant skills and used them to his advantage when he needed them most.

After searching through a few books, Max sighed, feeling hopeless, and wondered why there wasn't any information. Setting down his fourth book, he got up and began to search every inch of the lair that he could in hopes of finding something that could give him answers. While checking the bookshelves behind the desk, he didn't hear the door from the sub shop entryway open, and someone walked in.

"Max? What are you doing here?"

The voice caused him to jump in surprise, and he turned to his sister Alex with their friend Harper. Alex had asked the question, and he could see the concerned look on her face as the two eyed him with slight pity. Max sighed; he had finally been caught, or so he thought.

"Oh uh…I was doing some light reading…haha yeah, light reading."

"On wizard books?" Alex wondered as she raised an eyebrow at him.

He nodded, "Yeah, it helps me get my fill of magic in since I no longer have powers. It helps me find comfort in a way." Max quickly lied, hoping his devious scheming sister wouldn't see right through it. Max believed this was his only chance not to get caught.

At his explanation, though, his sister came over and hugged him. It must've worked, for they weren't a hugging family, and his explanation made his sister feel sorry for him. At first, he hadn't hugged back, but once he saw she wasn't pulling away, he hugged back and tried not to cry. Max had kept his feelings about losing the family competition for a month; he wasn't about to break in front of his sister and Harper. He quickly pulled away and started to walk out of the lair. His sister grabbed his hand and kept him from leaving.

"It's okay, Maxie, you can stay. Harper and I are just going to do some research for spells. So you can be in here, it won't bother us. If you ever need to talk, I am here for you. I know it must be hard." Alex stated, making Max look at her in slight surprise, but he smiled and nodded. She added, "If you ever need to be in here for your light reading, just let me know I'll let you in."

Max had been surprised at her offer. Typically, Alex wasn't caring, but she seemed serious about letting him into the lair. Smiling, Max hugged Alex and said, "Thank you, that means a lot to me." Max finished after letting her go.

"Your welcome, baby bro."

"I'm eighteen, Alex."

"You may be, but you'll always be my baby bro."

Max just grinned and laughed a little as she walked away after saying that. It was such a sweet moment, which they rarely had, that Max kept a mental note of it in his head. Harper and Alex went to study some spells, as they had said, while Max continued to sit at the desk and look through some more of the books. Looking at the time and seeing it was four pm on a Sunday, Max knew he had to be finishing up for their parents would call them for dinner any time soon. Sighing, once again leaving empty-handed with no answers, Max put the books away, ready to follow Alex and Harper out, who were both done. As Alex and Harper walked out, Max was about to round the corner of the desk to follow them when he tripped over something. Crying out in surprise and landing on the floor, Max lay there for a moment, dizzy until it passed, and then slowly sat up. Looking over to see what he tripped over, Max was surprised to see a small box sticking out from underneath the bookshelf he had just put books away at.

Max dusted himself off and walked over to put it away. However, he stopped when he decided to pick it up and look at it. The small box was wooden and had black outlines; it seemed like someone had carved it by hand. Blowing the dust off, Max was even more surprised when he saw the carved words in the box. "Magia Ultra Mente Somina" Eyeing the words, Max wondered what they meant. Could this be his answer to getting his powers back? Going to open the box, Max frowns when he notices it is sealed well with a lock. Groaning, Max was on his hands and knees, trying to look under the bookshelf to see if he could find a key.

"I don't know where he went - "

Panicking at a voice coming to the lair, Max hid the box back in its spot and stood up. The door opened, and Alex came in from their sub shop again. "Maxie, you in here still!?"

"Uh yeah, I'm coming!"

"Alright, dinner is ready," Alex stated as she smiled.

"Okay, thanks. I'll be there in a moment. I need to go to my room real quick."

Surprisingly Alex didn't question him further but just nodded and left the lair. Grabbing the box from under the bookshelf again, Max waited until he was sure Alex wasn't out there. Going quickly to his room from the Sub Shop with the box in his hands, Max took it to his room and hit it on his desk door, and Max would figure out how to open it tonight. With another yell from his mother to come down for dinner, Max made sure he covered the box well before joining his family. Thankfully they only asked once what took him so long, and Max explained that he got lost in his video games. Alex backed him up on this, knowing he had been in the lair; Harper didn't say anything. Max ate his dinner while his mother, father, sister, Harper, and even Zeke (who joined them for occasional dinners, even with Justin at Wiz-tech) all chatted. All Max could think about was that strange box; why was it in their family lair? Under a bookshelf, no doubt? Did his father know about it? Could it give him the answers to getting his powers back? Would he be able to keep all this from his family? Max couldn't wait till tonight…