Peace; What's That?

Chapter 1: Wait, I think I've heard this before.

Another day of non-apocalyptic solace came up to greet the city of San Francisco yet again. It's been months since the last huge event, going up against the 'ultimate power.' That was also what brought Chris to come into his powers, which eventually led people to understanding why the boys came into them at such young ages. When the child, or family itself, goes into a situation of imminent danger, the powers finally activate. With Wyatt, it was when Piper had been taken by Necron, whom was a skeletal demon. It made sense, considering the wound on Piper's stomach would've also killed Wyatt as he was in the womb. Even though Chris's hadn't come into power as early in comparison to his brother, but at an appropriate time.

"Wyatt, let your little brother play with the game please," Piper said while cleaning up a few last things in the conservatory. The child was standing near Chris while playing on a video console, ignoring the silent pleading in the sibling's eyes.

From one doorway, Phoebe walked in to see the toddlers, as Paige came in from the other wearing a black robe. "Piper, could you take Phoebe to the doctor today? I need to grade papers."

While nodding, coupled with a "yeah," the eldest was already grabbing her coat. Considering the last time she was pregnant with a fully magical child, and possibly a trait passed down from Piper, the empath hadn't gone to a proper doctor. Which explained the reason why curiosity shone in those brown eyes. "Doctor?"

"Yeah," the eldest said while just barely touching the swollen belly, "I need to make sure my niece in there is Okay."

"Who said anything about a doctor appointment, though?"

"Oh come on, Pheebs," Paige said while grabbing a few last things. "It's not like Ava is inexperienced with magical unborn children. Need anything, just call."

Still trying to find a word of protest, Phoebe's finger was still raised as the orange-haired sister orbed out to Magic School. Lips temporarily twisting in her frustration, the pregnant columnist grabbed her own coat once again while heading out. "I can't believe you went behind my back with this, either. I mean, I saw my daughter, and she was very healthy."

It wasn't annoyance in that voice; Just the attempt to make her sister feel a little guilty. Actually, if there was any annoyance, it was towards herself. Being able to see the future, but not seeing the 'ambush' coming. While getting into the car and buckling up, (it's the law,) she sighed while leaning back. "Hey, you mind dropping me off at the optometrist afterwards? I swear, I can feel the lens getting fuzzier every time I look at a letter."

After buckling the two boys into the child seats in the back, Piper got in herself before starting up the car. "Sure. Not like it's out of the way to dad's ."

Just as Phoebe had known, the unborn girl was still healthy and well. Which proved there to be no need for a doctor, even if they were experienced with magical children. As the Charmed one entered the optometrist's office, only one responded. The whole place was devoid of customers, with a young woman behind the glass counter of demonstration frames. While some received an eerie feeling from the lack of people, the columnist really preferred things this way; So it was just her luck.

Luck never lasted long when you were a Charmed One, however. When you were an empathic witch, and the one at the counter, who still had to be in college by looks, couldn't be read... That typically set off warning alarms in the woman's head. Still, there wasn't any harm going through with an appointment. Putting up a 'classic' smile, Phoebe barely let a hand rest on the glass counter.

Before she had a chance to say anything, the light-haired girl looked up with a wide smile. "Hi, what can I do for you?"

Well, she definitely seemed normal enough. That was what could be gathered from so few words, and no emotional waves going with it. Even a bored feeling would have put the pregnant woman at far more ease. "Yeah, I'm here for an appointment with Doctor Norway? Phoebe Halliwell."

For a moment, one could have sworn the receptionist's brown eyes gleamed at the name. As quickly as the moment came, it had passed, as a few sheets of paper were checked. Nodding, a hand pointed to a small hallway with 5 doors along the walls. "He's just about free, so you could sit inside exam room three. It shouldn't be more than a minute."

Giving a thanks, Phoebe headed for the specified room with a hand seemingly supporting the bottom of her swollen torso. 'Wonderful time to start playing soccer with my insides, I'll tell you that,' she thought bitterly. Yes, it was wonderful to know that your child is active enough to give kidney and bladder shots, but sometimes you wish it'd fade away for the rest of the term. While easing herself back into the chair, a few shifts were made for comfort's sake.

No more than a few seconds later, from when the witch found a comfortable position, the door opened. In walked a man no more than a few years older than she, with peppered hair. If he was a little leaner, and looked to have smiled more in his life, he would resemble Victor far more. There was only one problem... "What happened to Doctor Norway?"

Looking up with a strained smile, the columnist started to think it'd be better if he was the one seeing an optometrist. One of the eyes seemed to be heading for a direction all it's own. "Sick. I'll be taking over his appointments. Now, we're going to lean you back a little. My methods are a tad different, but some would say more effective."

While easing the chair back, brown eyes looked about a little suspiciously. Nothing could be read from this man, either, not even malicious intent. While back by a few degrees, a hand went over both eyes, as a 'tsk'ing sound was heard from his teeth. "Your third eye isn't properly synchronized with your emotions. It's to be expected, however, when a witch is with magical child."

This gave more reason to as why the woman normally listened to those instincts. Alarms meant something bad was going to happen. About to bring up her hands for an attack, confusion washed across the trained 'warrior.' Anyone would be confused when they found their wrists bound down, without having noticed such a thing being done. About to say something, the 'doctor' gave an inaudible apology before things felt to be moving. Whatever was going on, with her sight hindered still, little could actually be done. These strangers were taking care to make sure nothing happened, such as the chair tipping over, or bumping her into the walls and doorways.

Out of the trip, which made itself feel to be hours long, a feeling similar to catching onto a whitelighter's orbing had to be the one thing that helped Phoebe relax just a little. Throughout the 9 years of being a witch, she had learned the feeling of blinking, shimmering, orbing, dying, astral projecting, and going from one place to another with spells; Like the 'To Call A Lost Witch' spell. With this, it was a cross between orbing, and when the sisters and her went through a portal that led to Valhalla. Then there was that one added detail which really made the blinded experience something else; Waves of relaxation hit along the empath's consciousness, bringing about a slumber that wasn't from boredom or fatigue.

Feeling the pregnant witch fall to the induced sleep, the small group of transporters nodded to each other around the wheeled contraption. In a shimmer of refracted light, the doctor with the unusual eye released the illusion. A rather thinly built cyclops, of orange-red pigmentation of the skin and a delicate grip when taking the Charmed One off to set in the incoming chair. They were in an office, of which didn't look to different from a conference room as well at the moment. Off to the side, there was a desk buried in paperwork, pushed against the wall haphazardly. The longer table, surrounded by chairs none too different from the one Phoebe had been carefully set down in, was of the collapsible sort; Indicating the fact that sit-down meetings weren't of the normal kind. Finally, with the others waiting outside, it was time to alleviate the precautionary charm.

As the brunette columnist started to slowly come to her senses, the first thing noticed was how 'pure' the air smelled. Almost like another reminder, from that one time she had been up where the Elders normally stayed. Almost, but not quite, as if there was something around giving the reminder of papers and ink; Unaware that it was from the stack of paperwork and stamps waiting to be placed on it all.

The next sense was hearing, naturally. There weren't any voices, or sounds of birds, cars, or anything else that would hint to her location. The only thing that there was, was the sound of footsteps belonging to several people. Considering the situation, this brought enough alarm for the woman to wake up even faster. The sight which welcomed Phoebe, however, was so different she could almost laugh.

In comparison to her own age, those around seemed to be nothing more than kids; Not much older than Billy, if not matching. The only difference would be that one demon, which had been giving off vibes that were more good than what was felt from people in the city, and a toddler in the cutest of outfits. Concentrating a little, however, and one would easily deduce with those aware eyes, that it wasn't some normal child sitting across from her. The other four held mixes of dark emotions and good, even though the redhead was more difficult to get a read on. Out of them all, the one that could be considered evil right away was with the shortest, with the white headband, red eyes, and most unusual of hair. Yeah, that one was definitely the darkest of the group with what could be read.

Now a new problem arose, which was more human than anything else in this situation. Not the part where that very toddler started to speak, but where Phoebe had been unable to understand those words. Not even having gotten much of a grasp on Chinese when dating Jason, this seemed to be Japanese, and even further from the witch's talents. Face twisting in an attempt to comprehend, eventually she had leaned back shaking her head. "Yeah, you see, I can't understand you..."

The child did seem to stop at that, not saying anything, but the stares were a little unnerving. She had to figure something out, which meant a carefully worded spell. There didn't seem to be much personal gain, but one never could be sure in this business. That, and there was the issue of not knowing how much power this would need without any ingredients. Improvising, Phoebe did her best with a spell, relying on the experience of the past nine, nearing ten, years. "I call upon the Power of Three; I can't understand them, they can't understand me. To avoid making this situation messier, please tear down this language barrier?"

The power a tiny limerick can do, as tiny white orbs circled downwards around all of those in the room, and unknowingly Phoebe's other two sisters. Waiting for a moment, out of precaution, the witch slowly said, "think we could start over? Preferably if there's an explanation on why I was abducted."

By the looks in those strangers eyes, the spell had worked. Instead of giving them the knowledge to understand English, or her mouth moving to speak in Japanese, it wasn't till the young child had started to speak that the spell unfolded. While not there in reality, as one could say, the mind was given a trick. Under the one speaking, subtitles of the spoken language formed. Much like on a DVD, but in their eyes. A little unusual, but definitely not the strangest of side effects caused by a spell.

"I apologize for the rough treatment in your condition, Mrs Halliwell, but it was necessary," the toddler in blue started to say, inexplicably able to keep the matching pacifier in the same exact place. Without waiting for a response to such a claim and excuse, the boy continued. "I am called Koenma, ruler of Spirit World."

Reading in sync with the foreign words, the witch couldn't believe there was a 'Spirit World.' The closest thing to such would be where the whitelighters and Elders stayed, but this room couldn't be from such a place. "You expect me to believe that? Once my sisters, or my husband, find out I'm here, they are so going to vanquish your sorry asses."

While some of the faces looked confused, the one that had called himself Koenma seemed to keep a terse expression. That redhead, while not actually showing obvious signs of amusement, one could see such in those emerald eyes. Finally, the girl with blue hair was going into a giggle fit, as if there was a joke no one else could have heard. Confused, still alarmed but mostly the former, the pregnant witch eased the chair back. "What's this about?"

"If you'd let me continue, I'd have explained. Reports of demons and warlocks have been spotted in Makai; The demon realm."

"Makes sense, if it's a 'demon' realm," she said, subconsciously voicing the thoughts. Clearing his throat, Koenma continued.

"It's not for Underworld demons, however. More fights are breaking out, and drifting dangerously close to the borders into the human realm. Either way, we've concluded that they're being chased out into forbidden territory," he gave a pause, knowing that the witch would inquire about 'forbidden territory. "In times unrecorded, demons had two subspecies that were in a war, which flooded Spirit World with so many spirits that my father and a Council of spirits known as Elders, gathered the strongest souls of witches, psychics, and demons, for the preservation and balance of all the species. The Makai was created, for the subspecies of demons that developed on nature. Then in a pocket of the human world, there was a place that'd later be considered a Hell in religions, but better known as the Underworld. There, demons that went off of evil, and the darkest of what could be developed in the heart, continued to dwell. While there is a further story, that is how demons separated their lands, and why there is a difference."

"Wait, so the Elders are here? I remember my one trip there, and it didn't look like this," Phoebe said, while easier to understand, remained somewhat skeptical.

"Spirit World is larger than some would think. The Elders are quite a distance from here, so naturally the environment changes in it's own way. Though I have never been over there myself."

Finally, the dark haired young man with slicked back hair showed his impatience. Slamming a fist to the table, which had almost caused the witch to jump, he yelled out irritably, "get on with the point, diaper breath!"

Scowling, Koenma took out a remote, pressing a single soft button towards an unseen area. Nothing that went towards logic, till a screen started to descend behind the young-looking deity, for all others to see. Those whom appeared to be humans appeared in areas faster than the blink of an eye, wielding balls of light and energy. The targets were those of more unusual appearances to the Witch's eyes. In some ways, they seemed human, but held claw-like nails, elongated ears, inhuman eyes, and rather tribal markings over specific areas of the body. Those, while the youngsters ended up caught in the Upper Level Demon's blasts, seemed to hold their own. Dodging at incredible speeds, and deflecting with bursts of energy that were, while similar, completely different from what Phoebe had been used to.

After five minutes of the gruesome battle, the screen went back up into the ceiling. Basically everyone had a similar look upon their face, while expressed in a rather unique way. None, save the red head, understood completely what had happened in that short episode. Letting the event sink in for that full minute, finally the toddler spoke up once more. "That was a fight between Makai and Underworld demons; Taken no more than a mile from Makai's borders into the human world. According to Hiei's report," Koenma said, giving a nod in the direction of the one with red eyes, "this was only the beginning. After there were only 100 Makai demons left, naturally to be assumed the strongest, the Underworld demons came up behind, and stabbed them all with similar daggers."

Now that was familiar, and the columnist didn't need a second thought to know what was going on. After all, there was a time she had used it herself. "They weren't daggers. They're called Power Sucking Athames. You stab someone with it, the athame draws in all of the power from that person, and the wielder is able to tap into said power. The only way to get it out of the person is to stab them with the same weapon. At least, that's how it was for us." Sighing, getting the point after dealing with a kidney shot from the baby, she said "they're collecting these Makai demon's powers."

Finally an emotion that didn't match neutrality and observation came upon the green eyed man's faces. Something closer to a scowl, or disappointment, brushed into those old eyes. "It makes sense, though how this was even allowed to happen is quite curious. Unlike Underworld demons, and Witches, Makai demon's hold an ability that's completely neutral, like the rest of nature. We're not determined by the sides of Good and Evil. As such, we're not bound by the same laws as you. Essentially, it'd be considered stronger, for there's no limit set by personal gain, or selfless sacrifice."

Phoebe's brows raised, somewhat in surprise that a young man, despite the years in his eyes, knew so much about the technicalities of their worlds put together. This couldn't be the whole thing; Till, whether by a connection set by the red head, or reaching the conclusion herself, three possible theories came up. There's a new leader in the Underworld, organizing the factions together again, gathering powers from Makai to gain an incredible advantage against all sides. Another is something preparing for an event similar to Witch Wars. Where the last is someone manipulating the scenes, having all of these demons gather powers, to take it all themselves, and rule the realms completely.

"They couldn't wait till after I wasn't blown up like a balloon."