Disclaimer: Okay, now let's see if anyone actually reads this. How many disclaimers does it take to make Chris and Wyatt mine? Hmm…. Guess not enough yet. Not mine!
A/N: I know it has taken me a while to update this but I'm afraid I've been suffering from writer's block on both this story and Lost Child. But I think I've managed to overcome it with this one. Or at least now I know all the events I plan on happening. Looks like there is one more chapter after this one and then a Epilogue/Teaser for the sequel I have planned. So anyhow, hope you all enjoy the way I go with this.
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Chapter 17 We Need YouAn hour later Chris sat on the floor in front of the couch with a pad of paper and pen clutched in his hand. "Alright idea thirteen shot down," he called out crossing the latest theory off the list. 'Only Aunt Paige would consider orbing the demon into an active volcano,' he thought smirking to himself.
"I still think it might have worked," Paige argued.
Chris just rolled his eyes and turned to stare at his darker self, who for the last hour had said nothing at all. He like Chris was sitting on the floor, but was spending all his time glaring at various family members trying to intimidate them. "You know, they lived with me for almost a year and a half. You aren't gonna scare any of them. Just be glad Mom hasn't tried to blow you up yet," he pointed out glaring at his other self.
"Chris, I never tried to blow you up," Piper quipped defending herself.
"That doesn't mean you never wanted to," he teased knowing full well that his neurotic zeal at trying to save Wyatt had infuriated all of them at times.
Piper just looked away nervously. She wouldn't lie to him and honestly she had considered it a time or two before she knew he was her son.
Chris noticed the nervous look and wanted to immediately kick himself for bringing up a touchy subject. "Hey, Mom, it's okay. All that's in the past."
"You are so pathetic," Dark Chris growled after hearing his attempt to assuage his mother's feelings of guilt.
Chris turned back to him. "Well I'm not the one trapped in a cage, now am I. So who's the pathetic one now?"
"Oh, don't worry. Once I figure out how to counteract the spell she cast on these things to keep me from swiping them away, I'll be free and you'll be the one in trouble then," Dark Chris warned with a very dangerous look upon his face.
"Ha, the only way you are gonna do that is to figure out how to orb the crystals away, and since orbing is a good power, I just don't see it happening anytime soon," Chris shot back with just as much vehemence as his other self.
"Um, not to break up the sweet little bonding moment you two are having but I think we might want to get back to Zankou," Wyatt suggested seeing that the argument would never end otherwise.
Both versions of Chris gave him dirty looks but the good one did actually listen. "All right then. What's the next idea?"
"How did we defeat Zankou in the future?" Phoebe asked looking from Chris to Future Leo wondering if either of them knew the answer.
Dark Chris couldn't take it anymore though and burst into the conversation. "Don't you listen, Bimbo? You didn't! He tricked you! I'm the only one who has been able to defeat him yet."
Chris snarled at Dark Chris. "But you didn't defeat him either, now did you? You just trapped him like the first Source did, leaving him to be someone else's future problem." Dark Chris didn't answer that. It was true. He hadn't vanquished Zankou. Truth be told he hadn't really wanted to. He just wanted him out of his way so he could rule without any interference.
Phoebe glared at Dark Chris and turned to their Chris. "What I meant was that we somehow damaged him enough to get him to back down. How did we do it?"
Chris could only shrug. He wasn't exactly sure how they had done it. But Future Leo did know. He remembered the day very well. "It's sort of complicated. Zankou took in the Nexus and you three destroyed it as Astral Projections with a spell that's in the book."
"What? Why would we destroy the Nexus? And none of us Astral Project, and why would we want to?" Piper asked in confusion and then made her way to the Book of Shadows. "I've never seen a spell in here that is supposed to destroy the Nexus. I'm sure I would remember it if I did."
"It's there. It's listed as to vanquish a Suxen, and you had no choice. Zankou would have gotten the Nexus and used it to rule the world if you hadn't, and Prue told me how to use Astral Projection before she died. And believe me if you hadn't have used it none of you would have survived the explosion." Leo explained remembering how it had nearly destroyed the Manor itself.
"And Zankou survived that. We are screwed," Paige pointed out flopping down on the couch in a defeated manner.
"Well maybe with Wyatt's added firepower we can boost the spell enough to destroy him this time," Phoebe suggested thinking it might work.
"Are we really considering destroying the Nexus? I know we are meant to do it or it would not have happened in your future, Leo. But it's not time yet, is it? I mean for right now he's just after Chris. How are we gonna convince him to be more interested in the Nexus?" Phoebe pointed out realizing how much they'd have to change the events of time to accomplish their goal.
"She's right. There is no telling what events might change if we remove the Nexus from the world too early. A lot of good events my not come to pass because if it," Chris considered staring forward pensively and everyone else nodded agreeing with him. They couldn't risk hurting the side of good like that, not unless it was their only choice. "What about a plain and simple vanquishing potion along with a Power of Three spell? It worked for the original Source."
"That sounds a little weak to me. I mean if this demon is so powerful that even The Source couldn't vanquish him and it took us destroying the Nexus just to get him to back off…" Piper just didn't think after everything they'd went through that a simple solution would do it.
"But there were special circumstances behind what happened when you destroyed the Nexus. Zankou weakened you three so immensely beforehand that you lost confidence in yourselves and the Book of Shadows turned against you. It won't happen that way this time. Zankou doesn't have that power over you yet," Future Leo pointed out trying to bolster their confidence some. "Zankou doesn't even know that you all have this future information."
"Wait, but didn't Wyatt say that Zankou always seemed to know what we were gonna do before we did?" Phoebe asked realizing that every plan they were making might somehow be going straight to Zankou.
Future Leo nodded. "That's because he stole powers from a Seer and then vanquished her, but he can't see everything we are doing. To do that he'd have to be getting premonitions non-stop. We have to trust that somehow he'll make a mistake and we'll stop him."
Chris sat biting his lip for a moment trying to remember something and then it hit him. "Wait, I remember something about that Seer. In my original timeline, which we all know has been completely blown out of the water by now, well she came to you for help when Zankou came after her. She offered you information about him in exchange for the opportunity to become a mortal. I guess somehow Zankou's timeline must have gotten pushed up when he decided to kidnap mini-me, since he's already taken the her powers."
"How exactly does that information help us, Chris?" Phoebe asked wondering what he was getting at.
"Because I knew the Seer. I went to her a couple of times when I was searching for the demon that I thought turned Wyatt, and her premonitions were a little on the flaky side if you ask me. She wasn't exactly the best Seer there ever was. If he's using her powers, maybe we could trick him somehow. Plant a false vision. Lure him into a trap so we can vanquish him with the potion and Power of Three spell," he pointed out.
"Yeah but, Chris, a potion would require us to get a piece of his flesh or some blood to make it and other than Wyatt and Future Leo there none of us have ever even seen him yet. What if we can't manage to wound him?" Phoebe pointed out nervously.
"Well, we can use the false vision to trick him into getting the sample and then when he comes back for mini-me you can vanquish him. Between the potion, the Power of Three spell and Wyatt's firepower you might just be able to destroy him." Chris knew it sounded as if he was grasping for straws but they were running out of time and they had to come up with something before it was too late.
Present Leo spoke up then still worried about whether or not they could actually get what they needed to make the potion. "Wyatt did any of you ever manage to injure him in any of the times you traveled back in time?"
Wyatt shook his head knowing that neither he nor his mother or aunts had managed it. "We were mainly trying to protect Chris though. We didn't have a whole lot of time to go on the offensive. He was usually in and then back out before we had enough time to do any real damage."
"That really doesn't bode well for us making a potion does it?" Paige asked.
"It would if…" Wyatt began and then looked around the attic spying what he was looking for in the corner and then walking over to it.
"What, Wyatt?" Piper asked nervously noticing the direction his gaze was focused on.
Wyatt stood there for a moment taking a deep breath. This was something he knew he'd have to eventually do, but had always held back from for some reason. "I never used it, you know?"
Chris stood and walked over to where his brother stood with his back to them all, not knowing exactly what was bothering him so much. Chris didn't touch him but Wyatt knew he was there.
"I was always afraid that in the heat of battle I'd make a mistake and use it on you, well the other you," he said glancing back over his shoulder for a moment then reached his hand out in front of him and turned facing the corner again. Then in a whispered breath he called out, "Excalibur."
A sudden gust of wind flew through the attic and blew a blanket from the item it covered in the corner and with a loud slicing sound the mighty sword flew from its stone and landed in the hand of its rightful ruler. The entire room was completely silent as Wyatt stared at the blade he had always been meant to weald but had never had the courage enough to take up.
But the silence was broken a moment later by cackling laughter. "A sword! You have got to be joking me. You think you are gonna match Zankou in battle with a sword."
They all turned to the darker Chris who had stood and was enjoying himself thoroughly while trying to completely debase those around him. Chris stepped forward next to the crystal cage and glared at his other self. "I wonder if it would hurt me to torture myself?"
"Chris," Piper warned worried for a moment that he'd actually try it.
"Fine! For your information, that is Excalibur and even if you don't have any respect for anyone in this room you should at least understand the importance of that sword," he spoke out hating the fact that his darker version refused to show anything but contempt for anything in his life.
"Oh, I recognize the sword and I also understand that the wonderful Twice Blessed Brat there is the famed reincarnation of King Arthur, but I also know that he has no experience with a blade, Zankou on the other hand…" His smirk was broad enough to almost be considered a smile.
Chris stared at his darker self for a moment trying to see the deception in his features but he had to admit that he just couldn't see it. "He may be right, Wyatt."
"And what difference does that make?" Wyatt asked not seeing any other choice.
Chris spun towards his brother with a look that clearly said he thought his brother was losing his mind. "A lot actually. I'm not gonna let you sacrifice yourself for me Wyatt."
Wyatt crossed his arms before him holding the sword down so the point nearly touched the floor and plastered a look on his face that warned his brother not to test him. "And why not? You nearly sacrificed yourself for me, Chris."
"That was different," Chris answered crossing his own arms ready to take this argument as far as it had to go.
The look on Wyatt's face grew sour and he shook his head sadly. "We aren't going back to that stupid 'Twice Blessed, I'm more important than you' theory are we? Because if that's the card you're playing I'm gonna tell you right now, Chris, that you are full of shit."
"Wyatt," Piper said in a warning tone at his use of foul language around the children.
"Sorry, Mom, but someone's gotta get through that thick skull of his," Wyatt answered never taking his eyes from his brother. "You don't get it do you, Chris?"
"Don't get what?" he answered.
"You think that you mean nothing. That if you weren't around the world would just go right on without even missing a beat. Nothing would change. Well you are more wrong than you can ever imagine." Since the day he had first told them about Chris being Evil in his timeline he had thought a lot about his brother's words. His claim that Wyatt was the important one, and he had come to several conclusions that his brother had probably never even began to examine.
Chris didn't answer him. He knew what his brother was trying to do. He was willing to say anything to convince Chris that he was wrong, but Chris just wasn't buying it. Wyatt was the important one. Chris was the extra.
"Listen to me, damn you! I see that look in your eyes. I know what it means. You aren't paying attention." With those words Wyatt moved forward and stopped just inches in front of Chris so he could look him straight in the eye. "I don't care how many times you've traveled through time you are still my little brother and you are gonna listen to me for a change, whether you like it or not."
For a moment Chris stared him in the eyes defiantly but eventually he broke eye contact and let his posture slump admitting to himself that he did need to at least listen to his brother's views whether he wanted to agree with them or not.
When Wyatt saw this he continued on. "Good! Now, Chris, if you were never born or if you had just decided that it was too much work to try to save me from becoming Evil what would I be like right now?"
Chris glanced over his shoulder and nodded towards his darker self. "Worse than him."
Dark Chris snorted at the thought that anyone could be more evil than he was and was about to comment sarcastically so when he was interrupted. Wyatt already being on a roll decided to put his dark brother in his place too. "Hey, you may rule the Underworld, buddy, but I ruled the entire feakin' world, so shut up!"
Dark Chris snarled at that but kept his mouth shut realizing just how much backbone the Twice Blessed Brat was beginning to show, something he had never done in their own timeline.
"Now, I'm gonna tell you something that might surprise you, Chris. I may be the prophesized child and all that crap but to tell you the truth, I'm not that much more powerful than most witches. Not anything like I was when I was evil. And I blame you for that. That's right. I blame you and do you know why?" Wyatt asked knowing his brother would have no clue.
"Not really, but I'm sure you are gonna tell me," Chris answered sarcastically. He had to admit that he had never figured Wyatt would blame him for anything, not after the way he and their parents had been treating him recently but he was curious about it anyway.
"Because you weren't there! You weren't there to push me into being what I was meant to be. Not to mention the fact that I had to listen to them warning me every time I turned around that I had been evil in your original timeline and without you around to pull my butt out of the fire it could easily happen again. Do you know how hard it is to live up to your full potential when every time you want to use magic you have to wonder if it's gonna consume you? You weren't there to be my balance or my conscience or whatever you should have been. I needed you and I still do, so get this straight I'm gonna do whatever is necessary to save you." Wyatt paused to catch his breath and the entire attic was completely silent after his words. None of them had realized what life without Chris would have done to him. "I won't go back to a life without you, Chris. I don't want that life back."
Chris had been watching his brother's emotions play across his face as he spoke and the words he said combined with the emotions he saw were overwhelming. Chris had never imagined that his brother would feel that way. Sure he knew that Wyatt was grateful to him for traveling through time to keep him from turning evil, but Chris had always assumed that he had served his purpose after that and he wasn't really needed anymore. Hadn't the evil version of his brother told him that he didn't need him? Chris remembered that day very well but this was not that Wyatt. This Wyatt was a completely different person. "I'm sorry, Wyatt. I just didn't realize."
"Well now you do. So don't argue with me anymore. We are going to pull this off one way or another." For the first time in his life Wyatt felt a surge of confidence streak through him. It was most certainly a welcome change to his usual worry over ever little thing magical.
Chris smirked slightly and nodded at his brother, " Okay, Wy. We'll do it your way." For now, Chris added silently knowing that anything could change at a moments notice.
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"Chris, are you sure about this? I think maybe you and your dad should go ahead back to the future," Piper pointed out as they all got ready to put their plan into action.
"No, Mom, not yet. Once we have the potion ready I'll head back. You might need my help getting a sample from Zankou and besides I don't want to give my other self enough time to cause any more chaos in the future before the change is made," he said glancing at his father from the future remembering oh too well what his fate would have been if Chris hadn't resorted to desperate measures. His first thought had been to leave his father in the past until after the change was made but the notion of him retaining memories of the hell Dark Chris had put him through stopped that idea dead in its tracks. They'd have to all three go back together before Zankou was vanquished for everything to work out as planned.
Piper followed his gaze and thought that just maybe she understood what he was referring too. The future version of her husband, though didn't look like he had aged any, did look as if he had been living through hell and she could only imagine what had been done to him. "He doesn't blame you, you know."
Chris donned a small smile at that his gaze never leaving his father. "I know. Don't worry, Mom. Dad and I are better than we've ever been before."
"I'm glad for that, Chris. You both need each other," Piper said reaching out touching his chin, pulling his gaze back to her. "We all need you, Chris. Don't ever forget that."
His smile brightened even further. "I won't forget, Mom. Never again! I promise."
"So are we ready to do this?" Paige asked from across the room interrupting their conversation.
Piper and Chris turned to join the others who would be involved in the plan. Chris looked around and saw that everyone seemed ready. Paige and Phoebe had several all-purpose vanquishing potions in expectance that Zankou wouldn't be alone. Present Leo had baby Chris in his arms and little Wyatt standing beside him ready to orb them 'up there' until the first battle was over. Wyatt from his time stood with Excalibur ready to fight. And his father from the future was standing next to the crystal cage with his arms folded over his chest. "Are you sure you are okay with this, Dad? If you don't want to stay with him your younger self could always switch with you," Chris asked seeing the look of hate that his darker self was bestowing on their father.
Future Leo looked towards the dark presence in the cage and nodded. "I'll be fine, Chris. I'm not the one who's a prisoner anymore."
"Give me one chance and you'll be much worse, Elder!" Dark Chris growled out in disgust.
Phoebe stepped forward and held out a potion vial to Leo. "Just in case."
Leo looked at her and then to Chris in confusion but didn't take the vial. "What's this?"
"It's a vanquishing potion. The same as the one we used for the original Source, "Phoebe explained. "Chris asked us to make it for you."
"Chris, you know I won't use this!" Leo said in utter shock that his son would suggest it. For one brief moment he had the urge to slap it from Phoebe's hand.
Chris stepped forward and took the potion from his aunt and then pushed it into his father's hand. "Dad, I know you won't do anything that would risk hurting me. It won't vanquish him, I promise. It doesn't have his blood in it. It will just injure him enough so you can get the upper hand if you need it."
Leo sighed in relief. For a moment there he truly had been worried that Chris would expect him to kill his evil self if necessary. He could never do that. Not even to the darker version of his son. "All right. I'll take it, but I doubt I'll need to use it."
Chris gave him a very serious look and spoke in the firmest voice he could. "Dad, you have to be prepared to use it if you need to. Promise me, okay? I didn't risk everything to lose you now when we are this close to fixing it all."
Leo stared back at his son and nodded in acceptance. "I'll be fine. You just go do what you have to."
Chris wasn't sure if that statement made him feel better or more anxious about leaving his father behind but he knew there was no other way.
"All right then, let's go," Piper called reaching out to grab Chris' arm as she turned to her husband from the present. "Remember, orb them 'up there' as soon as I call you." With that Piper, Chris, Wyatt, Paige and Phoebe orbed away to a find a much safer battleground.
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A/N: That was probably the hardest chapter I've had to write so far, as far as the facts being complicated that is. I forgot how much hell the sisters went through when they vanquished Zankou on the tv show. But anyhow I tried to keep the events as canon as I possibly could with only a few changes. So anyone want to guess where they are orbing to?