Disclaimer: Out of ten characters, I own four. The other six don't belong to me. Guess which they are.
Paris turned to see that Bianca hadn't moved from the place she'd been standing before the spell took hold.
"What happened to your leaving?" Chris asked coldly, not sparing her feelings a second thought.
Bianca opened her mouth, eyes slightly glossier than normal, yet no words came out. She looked like she was close to tears.
Everyone did. Phoebe was staring into the air as though it held all the answers to why that child had had to go through such treatment. Paige was watching the ground, thoughts awkwardly silent. Leo was holding Piper in his arms as she cried softly. The rest of the team was affected in similar ways.
After a length, Andre asked the question which most were wondering about. "What did she mean 'schizophrenic shock'? There's no such thing... medically..."
From the look Chris gave Andre, Paris felt it was her place to say gently, "You don't have to tell them anything, Chris. I know... I know why it took you three years to tell me, so you don't have to say anything to anyone else. They'll understand."
"They threw him in the cellar," whispered Bianca, looking dazed. Tears were now spilling down her cheeks as she remembered what her future self had shown her. What had changed her. The team, the Charmed Ones, and Leo stared at her, attempting to process her claims. "His mother locked it magically, binding it so that he couldn't orb out, and no one gave him anything to eat for days and days... and his parents would come down and beat him, no matter if he was conscious or not... they didn't care that he was starving, or... or freezing, or-"
"That's enough," said Chris coldly, sharply. Phoebe directed her watery eyes toward him, sensing how he had been completely caught off guard. His face was stony-- cold, hard, and decidedly unfeeling.
Bianca dropped her gaze to the ground, something taking place within her that was left unsaid. It was Paige that spoke, however, and ardently. "Geez, and all you did was use magic? How could they do that? Magic is in your blood, or else you wouldn't be a witch in the first place! Magic is who you are! How could they punish you for it? Especially since they used it themselves! And like that! That's just-- just--"
"Evil," whispered Bianca. There were only a few who understood how ironic that one word was, coming from her. She took a shuddering breath and looked up, directly into Chris' eyes. "Do you... do you remember when we were thirteen, and my future self came?"
"The one with the brown hair, tight black leather-- extremely self-satisfied?" responded Chris emotionlessly. When Bianca nodded listlessly, he finished, "Nope, can't seem to recall her."
Choosing to look past the toneless sarcasm, Bianca said in a shaking voice, "Well, um... a week later, when I went to see my, um... client... she came back and... she... she took me to where you were... and she showed me what I... what I had done."
"Wait-- you saw that?" said Chris in mild alarm.
Bianca nodded, looking back to the ground. "Yeah... and it changed me... I canceled the deal to kill you and left the Underworld. Then, two years later, the Elders recommended me to the Resistance, and, well, here I am."
Chris gave her a strange, almost comical look. "Gee, glad I could help."
"Okay, not that hearing the history between you two isn't interesting," began Duncan, "but I think we made the wall angry."
When everyone looked around in confusion, Duncan indicated the glowing red walls they hadn't even noticed. Paris frowned and placed her hand on the wall, attempting to get a read. She instantly jumped back.
"Yeah-- I think angry would be an understatement!" she exclaimed. "Oh God, it is livid!"
"What? What'd we do?" asked Andre instantly.
"We--" began Paris but stopped. A far off expression crossed her features. They all watched her as she seemed taken out of the moment, almost as though thrown in a long premonition. She suddenly turned to Joden, looking confused and still in her own world. "Why?"
Joden looked just as lost as she did. "Why what?"
Chris looked between them. He turned his eyes on Paris and seemed to concentrate, searching for the answer using some extended branch of empathy. After a second, her eyes snapped back to reality and she and Chris yelled in unison, "LOOK OUT!"
The furious wall had crumbled in on itself out of spite, and everyone dove out of the way. Giant chunks of stone were flying everywhere, leaving the bewildered team to scatter backwards. "Chris, shield!" Paige cried out.
Chris' eyes went wide. "Oh yeah!" he said, seeming to remember for the first time that he had magic. He threw out his hand and a scarlet shield, like Wyatt's blue one, materialized around them.
Piper rounded on the boy, shaken, her thoughts on her little blonde son. "Oh yeah?" she echoed. "OH YEAH? We nearly die and all you can say is oh yeah?! God, it's not as if we don't have anything to live for or anything! I mean, none of us can possibly have a job or a family or--"
"Geez, I'm sorry, ok?" he retorted, rolling his eyes. "Magic just isn't my first reaction anymore. But nobody's hurt, so -- what the hell is that?"
"What?" came several voices as they all spun to see what he was talking about. Where the wall had collapsed was an opening, or archway. It was completely dark inside-- save for the ten glowing figures that were slowly advancing through the fallen debris, that is.
Chris let the shield down. The figures made their way into the glow of the torchlight, revealing themselves to be... them.
There was another Piper, another Phoebe, Paige, Leo, Chris, Paris, Duncan, Joden, Andre, and Bianca, all wearing all black. It was obvious they were evil...
"No, we're not evil," said the black-garbed Leo, as if in response to all their thoughts. He smiled maliciously. "We are you... just the sides of you that you don't let come out... or, often, anyway."
The alternate egos smiled cruelly, evil Paige cracking her knuckles. The good ones shared looks of crestfallenness. Chris audibly groaned, and Bianca laughed unconcernedly, clapping him on the shoulder. "I don't envy you, man." She wasn't the same as she was before. She was back to picking on him.
Chris threw her a look. "Oh, just shut up." After glaring a second more, he sighed. "Alright," said Chris, and they suddenly remembered he was the leader of the team by the tone of his voice. "If these people really are us, then they'll know all your moves and all your principles. They will probably be hard to beat, so whoever vanquishes or knocks out their match first, help someone who looks like they're struggling."
There was a heavy silence.
"Everyone ready?" asked Chris, looking falsely cheerful. At their nods, he smiled in a cynical fashion. "Okay. Guns out or not?"
"No guns," said Chris' or his alter ego. The bad boy snapped his fingers and all the guns vanished. Joden moved slightly... "Guns are impersonal cheap shots that take all the humanity out of a fair fight. Isn't that right, Chrissy?" He asked his good half in mock innocence.
"Were you eavesdropping on us?" Chris demanded of his evil-like self in mock scandalized tones. When his self didn't answer, he rolled his eyes. "Okay, let's get this over with. Break!"
He and his companions separated, each pairing off with his or her own self. Then the fight started.
Phoebe and her clone were instantly at each others throats, marshal arts, levitation and all. Piper and herself were trying to blow each other up, but finding themselves immune to their own power. Leo and neoLeo were at each other, using true world war two fighting tactics. Paige was orbing rocks at herself, as was her twin. The vampires were flying, spitting, and biting; Joden and Andre were brawling with their own halves; and Paris and hers were having something resembling a staring contest. Bianca and Bianca were throwing daggers. Chris on the other hand...
His dark side cocked his head. "What do you say we take this in the other room?"
Chris didn't reply, but both flamed into the newly formed massive cavern. Then the duel started. The evil half had no self-induced limitations and was immediately hitting his good half with all kinds of flashes of light, telekinesis, explosive powers, and more. Chris blocked the attacks with his shield, telekinesis, and moved through the spells with intangibility. Gradually he realized how hopeless this was starting to look... his other ego had way more powers and magical influence. And all Chris had time to do was defend himself. Gritting his teeth, he pushed outward with his telekinesis and threw more power into it than he ever had been forced to before. All of the other's magic was thrown away from him. But Chris didn't have the strength to use that much power for long... In no time the evil one was at his throat again.
Phoebe didn't know how long it was before she had the upper hand against her double, but as soon as she did, she struck out with sideways levitation and drop kicked her self into the wall. The evil half was knocked unconscious. Phoebe spun around to see what was happening to the others.
Piper had already managed to completely vanquish her half, and Leo was just getting up from knocking out his opponent. Paige had her alternate ego in a headlock, and screamed to Piper, "A little help... if you don't mind!"
Piper flicked her fingers and evil Paige exploded. Paige sighed in relief and exhaustion. Joden came and sat down beside her, sporting a bloody lip but otherwise unharmed. He sighed as well. They turned to see Duncan stepping across his other self's limp body, scarlet eyes swirling back into black, Andre was already bandaging a wound, and Paris was still locked in a staring contest. Bianca had finished first and was idly watching a torch light flicker about.
"Want some help?" called Joden to his girlfriend, but suddenly the wind picked up in the room, the focus on the two Paris-es.
The others gasped, emotions, random panicky thoughts, and horrible scenarios coursing through the air around them, letting the humans, witches, whitelighter, and vampire feel and sense echoes of them. The wind picked up even more, whipping both Paris-es' raven black hair wildly about. The good Paris leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing in concentration, and without warning, her evil counterpart screamed out in agony. The evil one vanished in a pick up of wind. The others cheered.
"How did you do that?" asked Phoebe, thinking the feeling had reminded her of when she used her empathy.
Paris glanced up, seemingly worn out. "Wha--? Oh. Um, Chris does it with empathy sometimes and taught me how to do it with Reading. It's just a simple little trick... that takes a lot of energy."
"Speaking of, where is Chris?" asked Duncan, looking around. The flying lights and sounds of battle coming from within the archway caught their attention. Sharing a look, they took off to see what was going on.
What they found was surprising. "Damn, Chris," said Joden under his breath, watching the alter ego using moves and magic completely unprecedented. "Who knew the kid was suppressing that much power?"
No one answered. Paris, without a word, sprinted over to where Chris' pack had been thrown during the fight. She quickly rummaged through the front and found what she was looking for. She flicked the lighter on and screamed, "CHRIS!"
Chris glanced up from blocking the furious attacks with his shield and relief flooded his face. "Yes! You are a Godsend, Paris!" He extended a hand and took the flame, expanding it as he brought it to him. Without warning he swished an arm and fire overtook the entire center of the cavern where they were fighting, the force of the heat knocking back his companions. For a moment they could see nothing through the intense blaze, when suddenly steam overtook the cavern.
It billowed back enough to reveal both Chris-es standing yards away from each other, both with their arms extended and each wielding a power. Chris had flames roaring around him and into the center where they clashed with the evil-ish Chris'... ice.
"Chris has the power of ice?" said Leo, confused. "I thought fire deemers only had the--"
"Hot end of heat?" finished Paris, watching the battle intently. "Yeah, because fire comes with embracing your good nature, ice comes with embracing your evil... therefore, Chris doesn't have as much experience with ice."
"That's complicated," voiced Paige, an unexcited expression on her face. Paris snorted.
When the duelers realized this approach seemed to be getting nowhere, they abruptly shut off their powers and glared at each other. After a moment, without warning, they were at it again, using a different strategy. Several minutes went by, neither of the two gaining or losing anything. Though their Chris wasn't displaying as many powers as the other Chris, he seemed able to hold his own, anyway.
More minutes went by. Joden checked his watched and glanced back towards the tunnel. The Charmed Ones and AndrŅ made themselves comfortable on the ground and watched the lightening fast fight with intrigued expressions. So Prue wasn't kidding, Piper mused. He does have some pretty serious powers. But why won't he use them?
It felt like an hour had passed. No one had the option of taking over for him as they had discussed, because they all knew they'd be dead in seconds. But instead of becoming more worried, Paris seemed to be getting irritated or exasperated, one. At last, after no one could take it anymore, she yelled, "Alright Chris! Just vanquish his butt already!"
"What do you think--" duck, doge, throw, duck, "I've been trying to--" similar series of movements and magical counters, "do?"
"Chris, you can beat him," she said, somewhat softer. Something seemed to pass between them that wasn't being spoken, even though they had no eye contact and could barely even hear each other.
"Paris, no! I can't do that now! I might not be able to switch back and ya'll are stuck in the same room--"
"Chris, just freeze his ass into oblivion!" Paris screamed, surprising everyone present.
"Paris!" said a shocked Joden. "You swore!" She threw him a look that said 'now is not the time'. He was silenced easily.
Vaguely, they could make out his other half saying something, taunting him. For a second, the entire fight froze on both ends. The evil-ish Chris looked smug and their Chris looked winded. "You-- Paris-- fine, I'll freaking do it!"
"Do what?" asked Paige, but only Paris seemed to know the answer, and she was clearly distracted.
Chris' eyes suddenly began to swirl with a blackness... a blackness like the Source's. Time stood on edge. The transformation in his eyes was complete-- they were eyes of the Source. Without a word, he threw out his hands and his counterpart was engulfed in sheets and sheets of black colored ice. The winds roared as the other struggled against being frozen and fire whipped the cavern. Lightening flashed across the high ceiling. The ground shook violently. There was a moment of blinding scarlet light and wave of heat, and then there was darkness. Silence.
Nothing happened... until... Paris flicked the lighter on again, and the entire cavern lit up, revealing their Chris on his knees. He was breathing labouredly, eyes screwed up in pain. The other Chris was a melted puddle on the floor. Paris was at Chris' side in an instant. "Come on, Chris, you can do this. Come on, talk to me."
"I told you?" he choked, doubled over. "I might not... be able to switch... back." He looked up at her suddenly, smiling brightly. "I lied."
Paris gaped at him for a moment before smacking his arm. "You-- you--" she struggled for an insult good enough to express her anger, but coming up with only, "You jerk! You know you scared the hell out of me? Damn, Chris!"
Chris burst out laughing. "Paris! Watch your mouth, girl! Geez...!"
Paris gave him a death look. "Don't you tell me to watch my mouth! You've been a sailor since you were ten!" Chris just continued laughing. The two got up at length and came back to their companions.
Joden looked Chris up and down. "You know, you've got some serious ass-kicking power. What's with the suppressing it complex?"
Chris laughed. "Suppressing it? How do you think I finally got rid of the Titans yesterday?" Joden looked contemplative. Chris ignored this, and looked to the others. "Everyone okay? Any broken bones, internal bleeding, etc. etc.?"
Andre laughed. "Gee, thanks for being so concerned. But nah, we're fine. We can kick our own butts pretty easily."
Chris grinned. "Well, that's good news."
"Chris!" scolded Phoebe, getting a somewhat questionable vibe from him and laughing. "I felt that!"
Chris rolled his eyes. "Empaths..." he shook his head.
"You're an empath, too, you know," Paris reminded him, rolling her eyes. Chris smiled innocently.
"Why, whatever would make you say that? It couldn't be because I can feel it every time Bianca is checking out my ass, and would you stop that?" he added, glaring at the offending girl. Bianca blushed brightly and everyone else burst out laughing.
Phoebe, Paige, and Piper found it particularly funny as they knew the two would be engaged. They now seriously doubted whether it would go on to marriage, however, due to their current situation... but it was funny anyway.
They were pulled from their amusement, though, as the wall in front of them began glowing golden. The laughing stopped abruptly. The glowing faded away, leaving an opening in the wall. The team, Charmed Ones, and Leo shared looks, and, as one, moved towards the new door.
When they entered, they knew at once their quest was over.
The walls were lined with all the artifacts they could have ever imagined. Some were small with little spinning pendulums, some emitted puffs of multi-colored smoke, some simply shined and looked pretty.
"Wow," breathed Paige with a slight laugh. "I... think we found it."
Chris, who stood beside Paris, had been feeling strange emotions wavering from the girl ever since she had zoned out. Now those reached an all time high. He looked at her, querying. It didn't feel right. It felt like what he sensed from her every time she Read something she didn't like, but wouldn't ever speak of aloud. He knew she had Read something disturbing, but his instincts were telling him to trust her. He was still uneasy, though.
"Paris?"
"Chris," Paris said softly. Her eyes searched his in a way they'd never done before and he instantly knew something was very wrong. She cut him off before he could begin. "Chris, please. Don't fight this. You can't fight it, not this time." He opened his mouth again, but she put her finger over it, hushing him. Gently, she whispered, "Please." and walked away. No one had noticed their exchange. Casually, she walked over to an object and picked it up. "What do you think this is?" she asked nobody particular.
Joden completely stopped. Then he pulled out a hand gun.
Two thoughts raced through everyone's minds: 1. How does he still have a gun, and 2. Oh shit, the green pins must be here! And sure enough, there were shimmers of demons all around them. But...
Joden had raised the gun within a second, whirled around, and had it pointed straight at Paris' forehead. Before anyone could react, he had pulled the trigger... and shimmered out.
As though in slow motion, Paris' body began to fall backwards... her indigo blue eyes open... but the spark of knowledge and understanding, the spark of life... it was gone.
A/n: Hey, wonderful readers! Thank you, all the seven people who reviewed! At least you make me feel like my story has potential... Please review, people! Even if it is one or two words, it won't kill you (trust me, I know. I review other stories I read) and it means a lot to the author, especially when they've held out-- what-- 19 chapters? So, please, don't let me down.