In the end Bianca's mother was not as difficult to persuade as Chris had first expected- though he suspected this had more to do with being faced with some of the most powerful witches, warlocks and demons of all time rather than any particular passion for their cause. Most of the group went to track down the Phoenix, but Prue, Adric and Chris stayed behind to create the most powerful knockout potion they could manage using their collective knowledge. As they worked; Chris tried to ignore the amorous whispers and romantic glances the older witches were sharing, until eventually he could handle it no more- deciding instead to orb back to his hidden cave to retrieve the magic-binding chains that Wyatt, and then Prue and Phoebe had used to hold Paige. If their sleeping potion didn't work they would need another way to secure his brother. Next he found his way back into the cave Wyatt had been holding Paige- they needed a grimoire that was strong enough to hold the source's powers once Bianca's mother had taken them from Wyatt, and Chris remembered seeing Wyatt steel Adric's family's grimoire after he had murdered them, and this seemed the most logical place Wyatt would store it and the rest of the Grimoires he would have taken from the other guardians.

By the time he returned to the manor, everyone else had assembled. The phoenix stood facing the door to the basement, clearly working hard to remove any trace of fear from her face- the attempt was steadily failing. The group had clearly been waiting for his return as the moment he got back; they began to take down the protections on the door so they could reach Wyatt.

The explosions had stopped about twenty minutes after Wyatt had started- he had never been one for patience, but the moment the door opened, a volley of energy balls flew out of it, and Chris could hear the jingle of orbs as he tried to escape- not realising that the rest of the room remained protected even though the door was clear.

"Prue, quickly, throw the potion!" instructed Cole, who stood in the door way, shielding the rest of the group from Wyatt's attacks. Prue quickly ducked under his arm and threw the potion blindly into the room- using her telekinesis to guide it to its mark. Despite the amount of power the potion possessed; it still wasn't enough to fully subdue Wyatt, although it did cause him to collapse to the floor, suddenly powerless as he used all his strength to fight off the effects of the potion. Paige hastily orbed the chains Chris had collected onto Wyatt's hands and feet, but she doubted that they would be sufficient to hold him for long, and would certainly not hold back all of the twice-blessed powers if he were fully conscious.

Making good use of their advantage; the group moved swiftly into action. Paige orbed in a circle of candles to surround Wyatt, as Merlin seized the phoenix's wrist and moved her into position to take Wyatt's powers then all four of the Charmed Ones joined the chain as well- determined to ensure the phoenix had enough power to safely remove Wyatt's strong demonic powers.

Piper closed her eyes tightly as the Phoenix reached her and into her son and began her work. It was a difficult job, and all those watching could see the strain on the woman's face despite the extra power the Charmed Ones and Merlin were providing. Wyatt's power seemed to be visibly fighting back and by the time Lyn finally withdrew her hand from his chest, claiming she had done all she could, there was blood trickling down her face and she stumbled backwards, nearly collapsing into Leo.

No one paid her that much attention, however, they were all focusing on Wyatt who had suddenly become very still- no longer fighting off either the phoenix or the sleeping potion. Prue edged hesitantly towards him, her hands ready to defend herself if Wyatt acted, but he seemed completely docile. Prue turned to Adric expectantly who quickly scanned him to check that the phoenix had done the work she promised, and after a moment he nodded. An audible sigh of relief rose from the group, but then Wyatt struck.

First his eyes flicked open, darting around the room like a madman, and then his arm shot out, seizing Prue by the ankle and pulling her to the floor. She tried to defend herself by sending out wave after wave of telekinetic energy, but Wyatt simply raised his shield, maintaining a firm grip on his aunt, pulling her closer until he was able to hold her by the neck rather than her leg.

"Leave her alone!" cried Phoebe. She rushed forward, gripping her athame tightly, though there was little she could do. Piper and Paige were right behind her, but Adric was faster. He grabbed Chris's arm, jerking him to his side and swiftly curled his fingers around his neck, mirroring Wyatt's hold on Prue.

"Whatever you do to her I do to your brother." He warned, and there was a steely edge to his tone which told Chris he wasn't bluffing.

Wyatt narrowed his eyes at his future ally, but seemed to recognise the same determination Chris did, and he released his grip on Prue, pushing her away, Adric gave him a curt nod, releasing Chris in the same manor.

"Let's get out of here!" Instructed Cole, he grabbed Phoebe's hand as Adric and Piper helped Prue to her feet. Leo Merlin let them leave first, before following, but Chris lingered for a second, unable to believe that, if anything, his brother had become more demonic despite the loss of his powers. Wyatt gave him a small nod, never moving his eyes from Chris'. Eventually Adric noticed he hadn't followed and returned to pull him out of the room as well, but even as he ascended the steps he could still feel his brother's eyes on his back.

"Well that was a success." Commented Prue dryly, rubbing her throat.

"At least we have determined the correct explanation." Said Merlin, a sorry look on his face at the thought of what had become to Arthur's heir. Piper shook her head.

"No." She declared, staring defiantly at Paige. "I don't care what you say, you are lying. I would never lose my son for three hours, let alone weeks! There must be some other explanation- an enchantment, a shapeshifter, something!" Leo wrapped his arm tightly around her but offered no supporting words, and most of the rest of the group could not look her in the eye. Only Paige could return her gaze. She took a step forward and tried to take Piper's hand. Piper pulled her hand away, but Paige was not deterred.

"Piper, I promise you; you never let Wyatt down. After he was taken you did everything in your power to get him back. You wrote about three new summoning spells, and invented countless ways to get information out of demons. Phoebe and I had to slip you sleeping potion just to make sure you got some rest and Leo spent every day and most nights down in the underworld trying to find him." Paige took another step forward, again she attempted to take Piper's hand and this time she let her. "Whatever happened to Wyatt to change him was not your fault- it was no one's but the person that took him and I swear to you that once you got him back; you were the best mother anyone could have asked for- you only need to look at Chris to see what an amazing mother you truly were."

Piper looked up at Chris, her eyes glistening, and Chris gave her a weak smile. He could see that the fierce denial that had previously clouded her vision was fading, as she finally had to accept that Wyatt was who Paige and Chris said. She nodded several times, fighting back tears. Paige hesitantly moved to hug Piper, and when she didn't resist the two sisters embraced tightly, and now it was Paige that could scarcely hold back the tears as memories of her sisters' lives and deaths flooded her mind.

The rest of the group allowed the women their moment until loud crashes coming from the basement jolted them all back to the present situation.

"So what do we do now?" Asked Phoebe, turning to Merlin for answers. Merlin was standing closest to the door, holding on tightly to the Grimoire that now contained Wyatt's old demonic powers. The events of the last day had clearly saddened him, and he had a wistful gaze in his eyes which were resting on the door to the basement. It took Phoebe three attempts to get the old wizard's attention, and when she succeeded; his focus switched to Chris rather than her.

"As I told you before-" he said, "I could only help if the corruption lay in his powers, but it is clear that this runs far deeper. It is not magic that can save him now, but rather; he needs to be guided back to the light." As he spoke; his eyes bore in to Chris, and Chris felt as if he should know how to do as Merlin instructed, but even as the rest of the group turned to look at him as well, he still had no clue what he was meant to do.

"I've tried to 'guide him to the light.'" He said, infuriated that the warlock didn't have more to offer than useless riddles. "He won't listen to me. He's convinced himself that there is no such thing as good and evil, and thinks anyone who still believes in it is a fool." Merlin considered this for a moment, but he did not relent in his belief.

"You know, there was a time when Arthur thought me a fool as well." He confessed, speaking as if only he and Chris were in the room. "It was not until I confessed to him who I truly was that he began to listen to my advice. He fought against any magic in the realm, and for as long as he thought I followed him blindly and shared in his beliefs, he could never see me as anything more than his servant. It was only when he knew where I truly stood, that I could guide him to me." Chris nodded, understanding Merlin's lesson, but then he shook his head firmly.

"I can't tell him." He replied forcefully, trying to keep any hint of fear out of his voice. "I need his trust to convince him to do what's right, and the moment he knows the truth I lose that forever. Not that that really matters, of course, because the moment he finds out; he will kill me!"

"You should not be so quick to dismiss the bond you share with him." Chastised Merlin. "Twice I have seen him sacrifice his advantage in exchange for your life- these are not the actions of one whose only pursuit in life is power." Once more Chris understood Merlin's words but surely Wyatt only protected him because he believed he was on his side- the moment Chris told him the truth it was doubtful Wyatt would feel so protective.

"He's not telling him." agreed Paige. "It's too dangerous."

"More dangerous than allowing that bastard to escape?" questioned Adric- he had been promised that his family's murderer would be neutralised, and he was not one for half- measures.

"There must be another way." Chimed in Piper, who seemed to be taking Chris and Paige's side. Everyone else cut in with their own opinions- speaking over each other as they tried to negotiate the optimum plan. Adric, Cole, Prue and a hesitant Leo were on the side of Merlin's argument, but Phoebe, Paige, Piper and Chris put up a strong fight. As they debated; none of them noticed the ancient warlock slip away from their number- still carrying the powerful grimoire- to return to his age-long rest beneath the stone circle.

The argument only stopped when they realised Wyatt had ceased his loud escape attempts. The group waited for him to restart- not wanting to discuss Chris' treachery in such loud tones without the explosive cover. They waited for a few minutes, but Wyatt seemed to have given up. Adric feared he may have found another way to escape, but Chris could still sense his brother down there, and without the demonic powers clouding Wyatt's whitelighter abilities, Chris could feel his presence, stronger than ever- it almost felt as if he had his brother back. Suddenly a jingle rang out in his head, and he could hear Wyatt calling for him- not as an emperor called a subject, but more like he used to do when they had just been brothers.

"I'm going down there." He declared to the hushed group- finally accepting it was their only option. Although he was speaking to everyone- including both of his parents- he addressed his words specifically at Paige as she was the only one who had any real authority over him, and over the years of leading the resistance together, they had developed a strong trust. She frowned- clearly disapproving of his change of attitude, but she nodded anyway. Phoebe, bowing to Paige's superior knowledge of the situation relented also, but Piper wore the sort of concerned expression only a mother could- one that pulled at Chris to stay out of danger and to keep safe for her. One that made Chris feel so guilty about taking this risk, that he almost relented. Almost. "I'm sorry." he told her, looking down at his feet, rather than into her imploring eyes. "But you raised me better than to step back when I could step up and save lives." A small twitch of a smile appeared on Piper's mouth, her pride at the bravery of her second son mercilessly trampling her sorrow at the fate of her first. Chris weakly returned her smile, before turning and walking straight towards the basement door, fearing if he hesitated for just a moment more he may change his mind.

Chris descended the steps to the basement alone. He knew many of the others would want to follow him, but they hung back- figuring Chris was more likely to get through to Wyatt if they were alone. Instead, they waited by the door- ready to leap into action if Wyatt reacted badly to the revelation.

Wyatt sat slumped in the corner furthest from the light. All the adrenalin and anger that had possessed him a few minutes before seemed to have completely drained. Now he just looked tired. He seemed younger too and again Chris could see him as the brother he had grown up with rather than the monster he had become. His head was resting against the wall, but as Chris cautiously approached, he sat up quickly, and he had a glimmer in his eye that suggested he wasn't yet defeated.

"Christopher..." Said Wyatt, clearly confused as to why his captors would send in the one person whom may still be on his side.

"Wyatt." responded Chris. He sat down on the bottom step, trying to seem relaxed, and tried to work out what to say. Wyatt gave him a moment before breaking the silence.

"So are they locking you down here as well or do you have a message?" Chris could hear the frustration in his brother's voice- he wanted to know what was going on and what they planned to do with him.

"They want your surrender." said Chris, not entirely untruthfully. Wyatt scoffed and turned away- he would die before he surrendered and the one advantage he still held was that he knew Piper would never sanction his death. "Come on Wyatt, be realistic." Sighed Chris- still hoping he could make Wyatt see sense without his confession. "Without the source's powers you have lost command of your demons. Right now they are either fighting with each other for control of your empire, or taking advantage of your absence to do the things you never permitted. They are going to turn your empire into a demonic wasteland and you can't stop them alone."

"I still have followers." argued Wyatt, clearly angry that his brother had given up so easily. "Adric has power enough to keep them in check until I return, and there are also those who followed me because of my ideals."

"It won't be enough." insisted Chris- wisely deciding not to let slip of Adric's technically more significant betrayal. "You unleashed millions of demons into the world and killed most of the witches who knew how to stop them. You have maybe a hundred followers that follow you over you power, and that isn't enough." Wyatt knew this. Chris could see it in his eyes that he had doubts about reclaiming his empire.

"Well what do you suggest?" He growled. "You want me to join with the resistance? To cosy up with those that want me dead? Even if I tried, they would never allow it."

"If you surrender now, Paige will have no choice but to permit it." Pointed out Chris. Wyatt laughed.

"You think I would trust her word?" He questioned. "The moment she left her sisters; she would turn on me. She blames me for the death of her husband and Aunt Phoebe and she would seek revenge on me even if it cost her everything else." Chris sighed. He knew he had no other option.

"...The resistance has other leaders." He pointed out, but Wyatt was unconvinced.

"Do you mean Darryl?" He questioned doubtfully. "He would never permit it- not after what happened to his wife." Chris shook his head, shifting nervously where he sat, mentally planning his escape from Wyatt's wrath. "Well then, who else?" prompted Wyatt. Chris took a breath.

"Me."