A/N: This is it! The final chapter in Not This Time (& Never Again). I will be starting a new story hopefully in the next two weeks. Same characters, but the time frame will jump ahead a little. The story I have planned requires Reilly & Phiona being older, so it'll probably jump about 5 years. The tentative title for the new story is "Face Off". Keep watch for it!
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Peyton landed hard on a rock slab. "Ow… we've really got to work on the landing for that potion." She stretched a little, working out the soreness. "I thought the potion was supposed to bring me to Phy, not to the Bat Cave. Eww…this is so gross." She kept up the whispered commentary as she started walking. Even though she had no idea where to go logically her gut said to go left, because demons and right just didn't sound normal.
"Soon, sire. The thrice blessed bastard has five more hours until his deadline. He won't miss it. Especially when the fate of his little witchlet lies in the balance." Peyton ducked behind a slab of rock, listening to the male demon from the manor speak.
"It's not soon enough, Dargon! I want Christopher Halliwell's heat! I want to watch his blood drain from his body- drip by drip. And While he's dying, he'll watch the demise of his family. Eye for an eye, family for a family."
"It's not like you to take such an Old Testament view. Are you sure part of your former humanity isn't showing up? This would be such an inopportune time." The female demon from the manor sneered.
The Source stopped, turning slowly to face the female demon. "You tell me." He threw a fire ball, killing her instantly. "My humanity both gained and lost me a daughter, Dargon. This is personal, but it's not human. Instead, I will use all of the combined powers of the Underworld to defeat the Charmed line. Once I have, everyone's problems are solved, and Evil will once again roam free."
"Sire, what about Belthazor? It is a powerful demon who has realigned with the witches."
"Then he dies beside them."
A low moan echoed out of the cavern. Both the Source and Dargon groaned. Peyton grinned widely at both sounds. She knew that moan, and recognized the dismay in the groans. Phyra had obviously been making the demons' lives a living Hell. She made a mental note to buy her sister ice cream when this was over.
"Who hit me? Which one of you two cowards hit me? You'll be so sorry you ever did that when Wyatt and Chris get here. They're so gonna turn you both into puppy chow for this." Phyra's annoyed voice yelled. Beneath the anger, Peyton could hear the fear and tension in her sister's voice.
"SHUT UP!" The Source screamed in frustration. Peyton watched as he stalked over to Phyra and slapped her hard across the face. "Now you know who hit you. And as far as saving you goes, no one will be saving you. I have protected this lair from telepathy, orbing, shimmering, astral projection, invisibility and shape shifting. No one in your family can help you. I have stopped them from dropping in with every way they know how. But you will help me. Chris will come, and Chris will die. You are simply the bait in my trap."
"No! You won't get Chris here. I know you won't. Cause he's too smart to fall into your trap. It wouldn't surprise me if he already has another plan in the works."
"Nevertheless, he will soon realize that it is his only option." The Source turned to Dargon. "Go and prepare a torture chamber. I want to interruptions when Christopher gets here."
"Yes, Sire." Dargon shimmered away.
"Why do you blame Chris for this anyway? He didn't kill Maya. Reilly did, you big doofus." Phyra shot snottily.
"Impossible! There is no Reilly in the Halliwell's lives. I know. I've done extensive research, and know all of it You're trying to save your pathetic cousin from my wrath. Well, I'm warning you know, shut up, witch, or I might just kill you now, and not wait for your cousin to come rescue you."
"Oh, yeah, great plan." she quipped sarcastically. "Cuz Chris wouldn't know I was dead or anything. It's not like we have any type of psychic connection. God, who knew a Source could be so dumb." The last was whispered under her breath."
"I warned you. Enjoy the right to speak. I'll be back, and when I am, I'll have a power sucking demon with me. First, he'll take your magical powers, then your ability to speak." With a loud cackle, he laughed and flamed out.
"God, Chris, Wy…where are you?" Phyra sat down hard, trying desperately not to cry.
"They're at the Manor. C'mon, I'm getting us out of here." Peyton ran up to Phyra only to be thrown back by a force field.
"Pey, you can't do this. I…the shield is made by the Source. Your power isn't strong enough to break it."
"I know, but Wyatt's should be." Peyton drew in a deep breath, then flicked her hands at the shield, trying to blow it up. It shook, but held firmly. She tried again, only to get the same result. "Damn it!" Her temper slipped and she tried to TK a boulder to break the shield.
Phyra glanced around nervously. "Pey, you've to go hurry. He'll be back any second."
"I know, Phy. Don't worry, I won't leave you. How 'bout a spell? Ummm…'Evil cage, evil latch, let good find an escape hatch.' " Both girls waited expectantly. Nothing happened.
"It's not going to work, Pey. You've got to go, hurry. Just get Chris and the Power of Three. Hopefully, it'll be enough."
"It won't, I can assure you." The Source spoke calmly.
Peyton immediately drew up a shield around herself, and Phyra's cage.
The Source laughed. "Do you really think a pathetic safety shield will help you?" Again he laughed, this time bringing up both hands flat in front of him. "I really had hope for a larger challenge."
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"What is she doing? Is she trying to get both of them killed?" Wyatt burst out, watching the events unfold on the magical movie screen.
"Which one? Phyra taunts the Source, and Peyton just faces him down head to head. If I ever get them back, I swear, they are grounded until the day they die." Paige burst out.
"Yeah, and I'll bind their powers." Jax added, with a ton of sarcasm.
"We need to get down there. We have to help her!" Phoebe was pacing.
"How Phoebe? You heard him. We can't orb, can't shimmer, can't astral project….how do we get there? We can't exactly charter a jet there, and he blocked every magical route we can use." Piper argued tiredly.
"Not all of them." Chris stood quickly and ran to the potion closet. Inside was a small black book with a lock. Chris took a key out of his wallet, fitting it inside the lock. He flipped over a few pages, then ran full speed to Wyatt. "We need to black orb, Wy."
Wyatt started to smile, then lost the grin as quickly as it appeared. "That spell takes two white lighters to say. Both get black orbs. Chris, it's not smart for you to go down there. He'll be aiming for you."
"Yeah, I know. But as soon as we get there, I can reflect a shield from Pey, and that will turn all his attention on me. He'll be so focused on breaking it down, that you'll be able to help Pey get Phy out. Then, all of us can black orb out together."
"But…"
Paige's scream of denial broke him off. Both Wyatt and Chris snapped to the screen in time to see a large hole appear in the shield. Wyatt turned to Chris with a nod. Chris stood next to Wyatt and they began speaking.
"Black as night
Black is right.
Change our orbs
To Evil's type.
Keep them dark,
Show only an evil mark."
Instantly, both Wyatt and Chris' appearances changed. Wyatt's blond hair turned dark brown, as Chris' shaggy cut grew past his shoulders. Both were dressed head to toe in black, looking like the bad ass dark lighters they were pretending to be. Chris grabbed a few potion bottles from the supply cabinet and handed them to Wyatt. "These will give you a little extra fire power." He looked at his parents. "Keep watching. Dad, you and Aunt Paige say the spell if necessary. Go get Pey and Phy." The room filled with dark black orbs as Chris and Wyatt disappeared.
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Peyton's shield was gone. The Source laughed as he called up a fire ball. Peyton ducked and it hit the cage, weakening the cage around Phyra.
"Phy! Use your power! Get the fireball to surround the cage. It weakens it!" Peyton yelled as she called up another shield. This time she TK'd it over the Source as quickly as she could.
"Stupid child. This won't hold me for long."
"It doesn't have to… just long enough for us blow this joint!" Peyton yelled at him,
"Pey! Look, it's working!" Phyra yelled excitedly.
"For now, but the shield protects you. Once its gone, you will be killed as well."
Phyra screamed in pain, as the fire began to break through the shield, burning her.
"No!" Peyton lobbed a water ball at the fire, extinguishing it. "Quick, Phy, get out of there!"
Phyra dove for the hole in the cage. She shimmied out on her stomach, hitting the floor just as the hold closed shut.
"That did you no good!" The Source bellowed, as his powers finally released him from the shield, throwing a fire ball at them.
"Wanna bet?" Phyra asked cockily. She threw both hands out, and sent his fire ball back at him. Peyton joined in, cheerfully tossing water balls at him.
He roared in anger, and with a swift motion of his arm, threw both girls to the floor. "That will be the last thing you ever…AAGH!"
"Hello again. Fancy meeting you here, huh?" Chris drawled lazily. He had another fire ball and an energy ball both ready to throw.
Wyatt ran to Peyton and Phyra. "You guys, okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine." Peyton winced as the Source bellowed for his guards. Instantly, the room was crawling with demons.
"Shit! This sucks!" Phyra swore, using the demon's fire balls to vanquish them. Wyatt used his water control to freeze demons in ice, then called on his martial arts training that his parents had insisted on, and kicked the frozen statues, shattering them. Peyton alternated between blowing up demons with her left hand and tossing water balls with her right. Chris threw another huge energy ball at the Source. "You wrong, you know. I love Maya, even now. Even though she's gone. I would never have killed her." He knew the words would force the Source to rage. As the powers inside the Source grew out of control, he would self-destruct, just as Phoebe's baby Source had inside the Seer. Sparks began to shoot from the Source's eyes, mouth and nose.
Chris sent Wyatt a look. With a nod, Wyatt understood immediately. He grabbed both Peyton and Phyra's arms, and the four black orbed out just as a huge explosion erupted from the Source's body, wiping out all of the remaining demons in the cavern with bright white beams of light.
Wyatt, Chris, Peyton and Phyra landed in the attic. Peyton exploded Leo with a flick of her fingers accidentally, not realizing where they were. His orbs reformed with a resigned look on his face.
Peyton gasped. "Oopsie…Sorry, Uncle Leo. It was a mistake, honest!"
Leo's face broke out in a relieved grin. "No problem." He stumbled a little as Paige and Jax pushed by him to get to the girls. Paige alternately kissed, hugged and checked them for injuries as Jax gathered all three in a big hug, whispering, " my girls…my sweet baby girls."
"Mom, Dad. Stop, we're okay." Peyton gasped.
"Yeah, you guys should have seen it. Pey came in like Rambo. By the way, how'd you get Wy's powers?" Phyra asked, suddenly confused.
"Me and Wy swapped powers." Peyton looked at Wyatt. Suspiciously. "Which reminds me…how'd you make my orbs black?"
"They're my orbs right now, kid. And, I'm not telling. See I know two little witch lighters that would use the spell to do this all the time." Wyatt pulled her into a relaxed hug with a grin.
"So, you ready to switch back? I gotta admit, I'm looking forward to not being Twice-Blessed again."
Wyatt laughed. "Yeah, well, I guess I'd forgotten what it's like to not be the most powerful. It was a good thing to remember."
"Yeah, well, before you guys do that, can we go to Yummies? I'm starved. Demon gruel is really nasty." Phyra broke in.
Chris laughed, rubbing his hand over her silky hair. "As soon as we swap everything back, we'll orb over there for dinner, okay?"
"All right, but hurry. Seriously- I'm going to eat that restaurant right out of food tonight. Starting with Mozzarella sticks and loaded potato skins, then chicken broccoli alfredo and a broiled lobster, then…"
The family's laughter cut her off. This feeling of lightness that surrounded them was one that only occurred when the biggest Source of evil had been defeated, and good had a good lead in the fight- even if it was only temporary.
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Dargon paced the Source's now empty lair. "I will avenge this. I will avenge you…father." His eyes flashed, as fire rose up in them and then they went completely black.