A/N I had a complaint that Phoebe calls Chris "nephew mine" too much. This was done on purpose in order to help you, my reader, keep the Chris who is reading this letter separate from the Chris in the letter. Although, of course, both Chrisses are the same person, because they've lived totally different lives, they're two different characters. But if this bothers enough other readers, I can most definitely change it. So if it bothers you, please let me know!
CHAPTER NINE
Chris Perry showed us where to go and we popped in, finding two of the magical forces--a leprechaun and a dwarf--trying to save the Elder as they yelled at this Titan, the biggest, strongest, meanest-looking guy you ever saw--obviously the Titan leader--that they beat him before and would again. Big Meannie told them that their numbers were dwindling and that soon all of the Elders would be dead.
We announced that we didn't think so. But when we tried to battle the big brute, no such luck, and we ended up orbing out with the Elder, landing in a sewer where the remaining Elders were hiding. That's when we realized that despite being goddesses, we still weren't as all-powerful as we thought we were. Talking with the Elder we just saved (while, yes, I flirted with him--oh, you can't tell your Uncle Jonathan about this, nephew mine, you just can't!), we found out that Leo had become a folk hero, because he had figured how to save the other Elders. That upset Piper--she didn't like getting all this info second-hand--she wanted Leo now! Leo promptly jingled, but that wasn't good enough for Piper, who used an earthquake to shake the whole sewer! Leo still didn't show. I thought maybe Leo was still busy saving the world, giving us time to vanquish the Titans. Paige pointed out that her power didn't do much against Big Meannie. So I grinned at both of them, deciding to try out my power.
Back at the Manor, I used all of my charms and wiles on another male Titan, one not as big or as dangerous-looking as Big Meannie, although I kept Chris Perry' advice in mind and kept my eyes averted from his, so he couldn't turn me into stone. Just when I thought I had him, Big Meannie himself showed up, wanting to know what was going on. I tried to sic my new disciple on him, but he told his leader that he was just playing along until Cronus showed up. Ah, so Big Meannie's name was Cronus!
I was very disappointed that my powers hadn't worked, but forgot about that when they suddenly tried to attack me! Just when I thought I was a goner, Paige walked in, used her own power, and they vanished--vanished, not vanquished.
That's when we realized that we simply could not do this without Leo. But when we tried to get him to come, we got Chris Perry instead and were very disappointed. I was getting so frustrated at seeing Chris Perry orb in each time I wanted to see Leo orb in that I was about to love him to death, while Paige looked like she wanted to put her original plan in action, and Piper, well, I don't even want to think what Piper wanted to do to him at that point!
Paige and I told him that every plan we came up with ended the same way--with our deaths--and that we really needed Leo. Chris insisted that he couldn't bring Leo back and then wanted to know why we needed him so badly--we were the Charmed Ones, couldn't we do this on our own?
I smiled as I told him that that Leo always gives me the confidence I need to know that I can do what I have to do--and that's still true to this day. Big Meannie and the other two had shook my confidence badly and I needed Leo's help.
It's different for Paige--Leo helps her remember her training and helps her focus. She was so upset, she couldn't focus and needed Leo's calming influence.
Despite that, Chris still refused.
So Paige demanded that if the Elders had assigned him to us as our Whitelighter, then it was about time for Chris to start acting like our Whitelighter and do the same thing for us that Leo always did, but when he tried, he failed miserably, mainly because he was just so darn impatient! I was more certain than ever that we could not do this; Paige's focus was totally gone. Frustrated, Chris finally admitted that he needed help, but he still didn't want to go get Leo; instead he decided to go find Piper to see if she could help to get us to concentrate. As he orbed out, Paige and I exchanged amused glances. We couldn't wait until Piper told us about this conversation!