A/N: What a week, huh? Hope everyone is doing well both personally and with recent developments... ;)

Chapter Twenty-Six:

Prince Chuck's eyes went wide and wild. He snapped his fingers immediately, attempting to banish Amara back to her cell, to be locked away again.

Queen Amara remained where she was, and Prince Chuck felt a sinking of his gut. He tried again, but again there was no result, not even a flicker.

His dread increased immeasurably. Queen Amara had gotten her powers back. How?

Benny, Dean, and Cas regained their footing, but they might as well have been invisible for all the notice Chuck paid them now.

Amara approached her brother. Though she seemed resolute, there was a sadness about her, too.

"I will only say this once, Chuck. We were - are - family, in spite of the way you have treated me. You and I both know I cannot kill you and you cannot kill me. But...I can make you hurt, if I have to. Surrender yourself now and it won't come to that."

Chuck scoffed. "You call us family, but offer me nothing but threats. I stood in your shadow for too long, Sis. I'm not going back."

Amara sighed. "It wasn't a threat, Chuck. It was a warning. And it's more than you deserve."

Chuck glared. "Well, you've screwed up the plans. But I'll scrape together a new ending anyway."

Suddenly Chuck was aglow in a strange light. The ground began to tremble under foot and the sound of it was like thunder. From nowhere a lightning strike cracked and struck out at Amara, but a black smoke had erupted just in time to absorb the blow.

Cas and Dean looked at each other, unsure of what to do or how to help. A little way behind them, Kevin and Charlie were also stunned, and Sam was still unconscious.

The black smoke around Amara was now spreading in dense tendrils, which were reaching out for Chuck.

The Prince narrowed his eyes. The light glowing around him transformed into several bolting beams. They pierced through some of Amara's dark smoke.

Amara clutched her chest and let out of grunt of pain. But still she stood and even took a step closer to her brother. The smoke was all around her body, like a shield, and more strands grew like arms at her command. A few managed to spike sharply out at Chuck, and then two tentacles of smoke were wrapping around the Prince's neck.

Prince Chuck choked and shuddered. For a moment it seemed that Amara was unstoppable, but then Chuck sliced with his blade, which glowed blue in his hand. He cut at the smoke holding him, and though it was not solid, it withered at the contact. L

He regained his breath, then stared daggers at the Queen. Lightning flashed again in the dark sky, menacing. The air smelled like burning metal. "Well, Amara, what now?" he taunted. "We can do this all day."

"But you won't," said a harsh voice, and Dean was shocked to see it was Cas that had spoken from beside him.

Chuck just had time to turn an incredulous look at the angel before Cas's eyes were glowing blue again. He lifted his hand and the Prince grew stiff as Cas's power enveloped him.

It wouldn't have worried Chuck - an angel's strength would be incredibly short-lived when facing a god, but...

It was enough. Because in the instant he was held by Castiel, Amara took the opportunity provided. The black smoke reached out again, and a thick stream of it curled around Chuck's whole body like a python. His arms were forced to his sides, and another tendril wrapped around his blade and yanked it from his hand.

Chuck fought away panic. The smoke felt hot, just shy of burning. It was fine though, he could still get out as long as he -

"Now, Rowena!" shouted Queen Amara.

A figure emerged from the castle, and suddenly the Prince knew all was lost. The red-headed woman approached. Her eyes were focused and on her lips was an ancient chant.

It was a spell Chuck knew well, for he had used it on his sister years ago, with the help of a different witch in what felt like a much different time.

Rowena's chant never wavered, and Amara's hold grew stronger, and Castiel stood ready to fight again with his hand still outstretched, and even Dean Winchester now had a sword pointed in Chuck's direction.

And then Rowena finished in a loud, carrying voice. She gave Amara a nod, and the Queen snapped her fingers. Chuck disappeared right before all their eyes.

Dean blinked in disbelief.

The black smoke dissipated though the air still felt thick. Rowena and Queen Amara approached Benny, Dean, and Castiel.

"Hello boys," said Rowena. She looked a little drained, but still offered them a satisfied smirk.

Cas looked at Queen Amara. He gave her a bow, and Dean and Benny awkwardly followed suit.

"You need not bow to me, any of you. Your part in freeing me, in defeating Chuck, has put me forever in your debt."

Cas nodded his head in stoic acknowledgment. Dean said, "But, Your Highness, may I ask - where is Chuck? Is he really secure?"

"My brother is in a prison of his own making. But his powers are bound now, and with Rowena's help, I have strengthened precautions against him. He will not be able to escape his cell nor get his powers back in the manner in which I did, not even if he tried. And trusted guards will be added to his security shortly."

Dean released the breath he was holding. He couldn't believe it was over, that they were free. He looked at Cas, and his eyes watered slightly as he felt the weight of the world leave him.

Cas smiled tenderly at him.

"Hey! Hey!" came a slightly shrill voice. "We need help over here!"

It was Charlie, and she was kneeling over Sam's body, looking desperate.