"He passed the test." Rath reported to Lonnie and Nicholas.
"We've got bigger issues." Lonnie said. "Max's sister and second are close."
"Our dupes? Don't worry. We can take ‘em. They're weak- too human for their own good. They'll get eaten alive down here."
"They've got Ava with them."
"So? Ava's a cream puff- would've melted long time ago without Zan."
"I dunno- she stood up for herself after he died."
"They've also got four brown-haired girls with them. I knocked into one of them. I got a strange vibe from her."
"You get a strange vibe from-"
"Shut up Rath." Lonnie cut him off. "What do you mean?"
"She's not normal." Nicholas said. "I can't tell about her but I know that."
"We'll take that for what it's worth." Rath said.
Nicholas stared at him. "Don't screw up." Then he was gone.
"Don't screw up." Rath mimicked. "What a little weasel."
"He's a weasel but we need him." Lonnie pointed out. "I want to go home- I am warning you, you will wish you died the way Zan did if something you do is the reason I'm stuck here."
"Don't threaten me Lonnie." Rath snarled. "I'm not Zan, I'll hit you."
"Try it." Lonnie dared. "But know that I will make you sorry."
"Pheebs are you sure you have that spell memorized?"
"Yes. Now all we have to do is get Lonnie alone."
Ava made a face. "You must be pretty strong if you're going up against Lonnie." She shivered unconsciously.
"It's just a little switching powers spell." Phoebe said. "We've done it before."
"Be careful anyway." Ava warned. "She's got a screw loose."
"Just one? I'll be fine." Phoebe said lightly.
Ava smiled in spite of herself. "So cornball."
Liz yawned as she pulled on some jeans. They'd all snuck into the local Y to get cleaned up.
"Liz you decent?"
"C'mon in Michael."
"Where's Maria?"
"I'm here."
He followed the sound of her voice. "I want you to be careful today." He began roughly. "We don't know what'll happen- what it'll be like. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Thanks for the warning but I knew what I was getting into when I came on this trip. I'll be fine. You don't have to worry. That's not your job anymore." She pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
"Don't say that." He took the hair band from her. "I know I've acted like a jerk. I admit it. But it'll always be my job to make sure you're safe."
"Michael, give me back my hair band." Maria said grabbing it from him. "Look we're no longer, your choice, not mine but that's the way it is." She walked out.
He grimaced. "Don't say it- any of you." He followed her out, leaving Ava, Isabel, Liz, and Phoebe looking after him.
"He loves her." Phoebe said.
"I know." Liz said.
"Think he'll ever get his act together?" Ava asked.
"Trust me, as the girl who's practically his sister, he's working on it." Isabel said. "Michael has a lot of issues."
"Duh." Phoebe said as she walked out.
"She doesn't like Michael does she?" Isabel asked.
"No not especially. To Pheebs, I'm the little sister and since Michael inadvertently made me cry she's not to fond of him."
"I understand." Isabel said. "Max is like that with me- and I pity Kyle if he ever breaks Tess' heart."
"I don't see that happening Is." Liz smiled. "Kyle really likes Tess."
"But he's- oh, what did Maria used to call him? In fifth grade, when we were all in the same class."
"Chia head." Maria supplied, as she came in again. "I called him chia head."
Isabel laughed. "He had bad hair and nothing in his head." She said. "If he ever reverts to that, Michael is going to go Neanderthal on him."
Liz giggled. "Maria is Piper out there?"
"Yeah, she's talking to Kyle and Alex. They want to know if we should have breakfast."
"We have stuff in the van, right?"
"Yeah, but there's this awesome bodega on our way- you'll flip over some of the stuff they have." Ava said. "Save the food for later."
"Okay. Let's go. Everyone got what they need?" Liz asked.
"Yeah."
"Okay let's go."
"You're repeating yourself." Maria pointed out with a grin as they exited the building.
"Sorry." Liz rolled her eyes. "Joy, go easy on Jer today okay? Last thing we need is you two fighting."
"We never fight."
Isabel snorted. "Please." She said in a sisterly tone.
"We don't!" Maria protested.
"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much." Alex joined them.
Maria hit his shoulder. "Stop."
"Max and I will go in first." Tess started. "According to the book, protocol for this situation has me at his left, Lonnie to the king's right, and Rath to Lonnie's right."
"Fine." Lonnie said as she looked around them. She didn't like not knowing everything about a situation. But first and foremost she wanted to know where the hell their doubles were.
Max took Tess's hand. She nodded at him, and they entered the building. The Royal Four walked into a room with a long table. None of the delegates were seated, but as the Royal Four entered, all bowed.
Max looked surprised and a little nervous. He also had this feeling that someone was calling for him.
"Nothing." Isabel said grouchily. "Why is he so blocked off?"
"Maybe Lonnie and Rath are putting up some kind of a field." Ava suggested. "They made two sets but they built in these genetic codes to try to keep us from finding out there are two sets. That way we can't compromise each other."
"Ava show us where you guys live. Maybe we can get a bead on where they are." Liz suggested.
They were sitting in a restaurant near Penn Station drinking sodas and talking.
"All right. If we get stopped don't say nothing- let me do the talking." With that command, they started down the street.
"My lord Zan, it is an honor." One of the delegates said to Max. "Lady Vilondra, Lord Zath." He gave them each a civil nod. "Lady Ava." He saved her for last and gave a grand bow.
Tess smiled as best she could. This was very strange and- "Brody?"
"Actually, I'm Larek."
Tess smiled more genuinely. The book had mentioned him as their world's closest ally. Max shook his hand. "It is a pleasure. It's been many years." Max said.
"Too many." He took Tess's hand and kissed it.
At that, even Rath seemed to notice that something was simply off.
The delegates introduced themselves one by one, and they sat at the long table. Max was at the head, with the other members of the Royal Four right behind him. Nicholas walked in the room and Tess unconsciously shivered.
"Anything?" Michael asked hopefully, looking around the place Lonnie and Rath inhabited.
"Nothing. Sorry Michael." Phoebe apologized.
"Liz?"
"Just Max's pocket knife. I guess he dropped it."
She was holding it so tightly her knuckles were white.
"Kyle? Did you find anything?"
"Candy bars heavily laced with Tabasco sauce." He made a disgusted face.
"That's Rath's stash." Ava said. "I can't believe you found it." Suddenly she shivered.
"What is it? Are you cold?"
"No." Ava looked confused. "It was weird. Like I was sitting in this room staring at Nicholas and then I was back here."
Everyone looked at one another. "See if you can get that feeling back. Try to communicate with Tess." Michael encouraged. "If you can, tell her we're here."
Ava closed her eyes. She saw the room again. "Tess." She whispered in her duplicate's ear. "We're on our way, got it? Don't tell Lonnie and Rath, don't let Max out of your sight and don't let yourself be alone with him." She indicated Nicholas.
Tess affirmed it nonverbally, understanding.
"Where are you?"
Tess concentrated for a second, and suddenly the information popped into Ava's mind, without a word having bee spoken.
"They're in the old Martin building on 23rd St." Ava said once she was back.
"Let's go."
"Wait." Liz said.
"What?"
"Nicholas probably told Lonnie and Rath we're here so they'll be more suspicious and alert. We shouldn't look like ourselves." Liz said.
"Explain yourself." Michael said.
"Ava can you change our hair and clothes?" Liz asked.
"Change em, change em or mind warp it?"
"Change them, change them." Prue answered. "Make us look like the last people on earth that your friends would think were us."
Ava looked doubtful. "You sure?"
Isabel sighed. "Show me how so we can do it faster."
By the time Ava and Isabel were done Liz had sky blue streaks through her hair with a short leopard print skirt and black top. Piper looked like a reject from a Grateful Dead concert, Michael's hair was worse than Rath's, Prue looked like she had in high school only with blonde hair, Phoebe and Maria had gone with blue hair, Isabel had jet black hair with bright red streaks, and Alex and Kyle were doing the muscle man T-shirt with Dennis Rodman hair. All were dressed as opposite from normal as they could get.
"Somethin's missin'..." Ava drawled.
"We don't really have time to worry about it now, do we?" Liz said.
"Ava, you forgot to change yourself!"
"No I didn't. You think they expect me to look like a cornball?"
"True." Isabel nodded. "Oh tattoos. Can you do that?"
"Sure." Ava said. Liz ended up with a butterfly on her thigh which you could see the edges of peeking out from her skirt, Phoebe and Prue didn't need any since they already had one, Piper got a Claadagh symbol on her shoulder, which was in plain view thanks to her tube top, Michael got a scorpion, Maria got a rose on her ankle, Isabel received a heart, Alex opted for a piercing instead of a tattoo, and Kyle got a skull and cross bones.
"Can we go save Tess now?" Kyle finally whined.
"Yeah let's go. We don't got much time."
"What I wouldn't give to be able to blink right now." Liz muttered as they headed for the surface.
"Leo. Hey Leo." Phoebe said. "Orb us over there."
"Are you nuts?" Liz said. "Talking to yourself in the middle of New York-"
"Ain't half as bad as appearin' outta no where. C'mon girl, hoof it. Ain't that tough."
They all walked as quickly as possible. "Harlow is that it?" Liz asked pointing.
"That's it." Ava answered. "Spread out and act like you belong here."
"Isabel, music store. Do your thing." Maria said.
"Done." Isabel walked over and subtly did her 'thing'.
"Alex, kiss me." Phoebe said, not giving the hacker a choice in the matter.
Prue and Liz made themselves invisible by looking in the window of Hot Topics at Goth-like dresses. Michael and Ava kept lookout as they got sodas and Isabel and Maria danced.
Piper pretended to be perusing a magazine stand near her sister and their cousin while she too kept an eye out.
"How long are we doing the inconspicuous thing?" Kyle whispered to Prue and Liz.
"As long as we need to." Liz said. "Kyle I realize we're just friends and all but make it look like we're together. Put your arm around me."
"Uh, Liz, don't take this the wrong way, but I really am over you. I don't want Tess- or Max- to think otherwise."
"Kyle I am trying to make us look less like we're on a stake out. Now if you'd rather I'd pull a Phoebe." Liz motioned to where her cousin and Alex were sucking face. "Then I can do that too."
Kyle laughed. "Do I get to see the tattoo?"
"No." Liz said indignantly. "Just put your arms around me and try not to look repulsed."
He laughed. "Oh, it's just too easy to play with your mind Parker."
"I have the power of fire Kyle. Don't piss me off." Liz said.
He ruffled her hair. "Toasting me would come back to haunt you, I guarantee it."
"Behave you two." Prue said. "We don't need to attract attention to ourselves."
"Prue, Prue, Prue, live. Don't lecture."
"It's Britt, remember?"
"Right. Sorry." Liz said as she moved to the beat of the music Isabel had made louder.
Tess studied Nicholas. She really didn't trust him.
Something about him bothered her. It wasn't the mild sort of discomfort she usually felt. This was three steps from a panic attack if she looked at him too long. She frowned, and shivered a tiny bit. She tried to mask a yawn. She hoped no one noticed- one of the delegates was running on and on...
Lonnie poked her. "Stifle it. This is serious."
Tess considered mind warping her but decided against it. With every mind warp she did she could choose what the other person saw about her- not what she saw from the other person's mind. When it concerned someone like Lonnie, Tess decided to save herself the pain. She instead focused inward, trying to figure out what about Nicholas in particular disturbed her.
"I'll need time to think about this." Max was saying.
"Not to long. We can't hold on to these bodies for long." Brody/Larek said.
"Half an hour then?" Max said.
"Alright."
Max and Tess headed outside.
Liz shivered a little as she drank a cup of vendor's coffee.
"Here." Prue gave her a jacket. "Don't worry. Britt Warren's bank account is pretty phenomenal."
"Anyway we can keep the accounts you know, permanently?" Liz asked hopefully.
"Sorry, Ivy. You know that they're for emergencies." Alex said. "Here, eat this. I got it from the McDonald's up the street."
"What is it?" She asked.
"It's French fries."
"Are you sure?" Liz asked.
"Well that's what I ordered." Alex said.
"Thanks Hes. Any sign of them?"
"No not yet."
"What is taking so long?" She sighed.
"They're deciding the fate of five worlds. Of course it's going to take a few hours."
"Well I'm starting to worry. What if they don't like a decision and they decided not to let Max and Tess out?"
"He's the king. They can't do that." Prue said reassuringly.
"But what if they make him go home?"
"They can't MAKE him do anything."
"I guess." Liz said.
"C'mon let's go see what Jer and Harlow are doing."
Michael and Ava were sitting on a bench, talking. Michael had an eye on the building.
"Hey guys. Anything happen?" Liz asked.
"Not yet." Michael answered. "But I've been using a little trick Ava taught me- it's a way to kind of keep a mental eye on other like me- Tess is really close to wigging out."
"Talk to her Michael. Try to keep her calm. Maybe get her to show you how to get down to where she and Max are."
"The connection don't work like that. He knows how they feel, but can't change it direct like." Ava mumbled. "They're taking a break now."
"Maybe they'll come up then?" Prue ventured. "You know I think I agree with you Liz. I'd love to be able to blink right now."
"They ain't coming out- they're having a real quick talk, but wit Lonnie and Rath right there- you got it. There's also some weird dude with frizzed hair who wants to talk to her."
"Frizzed hair?" Liz asked. "Michael, didn't Max say that Brody believes he was abducted once?"
"Oh Jeez." Michael snorted. "That is too weird."
"You said it."
"Wait you know this guy?" Prue asked.
"He owns the convention center." Alex explained.
"Alien central." Liz clarified.
"Oh. What happened to Milton?"
"He sold it and split." Liz said. "Ava can you tell what's going on?"
"She's given Max the message in code- she don't know if he understands- she's talking to this dude- Larek. Max is coming out here." Ava sounded excited.
"Is he alone?"
"He thinks so. Rath is followin' him but no Lonnie."
"Prue I've got an idea but I'm gonna need your help." Liz said. "Can you project and distract Rath while I project and talk to Max?"
"Don't do it, there's an easier way." Ava said. "He figured out you're here, he wants to talk to all y'all- I warned him bout Rath, so no worries."
"Still I think we need to get rid of Rath for a few minutes." Liz and Prue exchanged a look.
"Phoebe." They said at the same time.
"Phoebe what?"
"She'll distract Rath and he won't think anything of it cause he's never seen her before while Prue talks to Max."
Ava sighed. "You still don't get it. Rath ain't a problem for you to worry about. Max is coming out here. He wants to talk to Isabel, to Michael, to me, to you, to Maria, to Alex, to all of us before he goes in there and gives them his decision."
"Yeah but Rath knows us." Liz hammered. "He's gonna know something's up and he and Lonnie are gonna be more on guard. He can't see us."
Ava closed her eyes. "Whatever." She finally said. "But Max is coming out here to talk to all of us. Not one of you witches. All of us."
"So we send Piper to freeze Rath and Prue to turn him around." Liz said.
"Good idea." Prue said before she split and grabbed her sister to stake out the entrance to the building.
"I don't understand." Tess said. "Say that again please." She smiled at Larek, though she was starting to feel a little frazzled.
"I've made my decision." Max came back in. "It was not easy."
"And?"
"No deal."
Nicholas rose. "You've all heard everything that was said here today. Reconciliation was offered and denied. You all know who you can blame."
"Sit down." Max said. "I offer a counter proposal."
Nicholas looked pissed but he sat back down. "Alright. I'm listening."
Larek met Tess's eyes, questioning.
"Ava goes home in place of me."
Tess stared at him. "What?" She almost demanded, before she realized. A smirk threatened to form on her face. Lonnie and Rath were both completely outraged. A storm of protest came from them.
Nicholas seemed to get back to his feet first. "No woman has ever ruled- Khivar will not abdicate his throne for some court ornament!"
"I'm not saying Ava will rule. I'm saying she goes home and Larek rules in my place."
Larek himself looked pretty surprised.
"Khivar has shown himself to be incompetent." Tess heard her own voice say. "He has been unable to crush a rebellion for fifty years."
"Nobody asked your opinion." Nicholas said.
"Quiet Nicholas." Max said. "The Granolith isn't a part of this deal."
The delegates consulted each other by look, by gesture. "You are the only one who benefits from this deal." A fat woman hissed. "What does my world get?"
"Peace." Tess said regally. "With Khivar, a commoner, off the throne we will send a message that reaffirms the old values, the old standards."
"He's ruled our world for a long time. Longer then you've been alive in this world." Nicholas said.
"He stole the throne." Tess said.
Nicholas gave a fierce look. "We have been prosperous."
"Ask the people." Max said. "Ask the people if they feel prosperous after fifty years of war and rebellion. Ask them who they want to be lead by."
Nicholas looked at Lonnie and Rath before looking at Max again. "And them?"
"These two are criminals and shall be dealt with accordingly." Max said. "As you all know, the Royal Four was sent to Earth for sanctuary. Less commonly known is that there were two sets. Those two," Max jerked his chin. "Killed their king."
"The hell we did. He was my brother!" Lonnie said. "How could you think that?"
"We have a witness. We also have a psychic who can see anything she chooses just by touching someone."
"Call them." One of the delegates commanded.
Brody/Larek looked disturbed. He leaned across the table to whisper to Tess, "Is it true?"
She nodded.
Max looked up. "Leo, bring Phoebe to us." He said to the sky.
Blue light flickered and Leo orbed in with Phoebe and Ava.
"What the hell?" Rath swore.
"Who is this?" Brody/Larek asked.
"Leo Wyatt, Phoebe Halliwell, Ava, this is Larek."
Some of the delegates looked disgusted, others looked intrigued.
"Parlor tricks Zan?" Nicholas snorted.
"No not really." Phoebe said. "Which one Max?"
"The one that looks like Michael."
Rath jumped back. "You can't make me do nothin'. I got rights."
"You don't have to do anything but stand there. Leo anyway you can make him?"
"This is unjust." Nicholas snapped. "He deserves trial!"
"Do you have time for full trial? Consider this an emergency situation." Tess said.
"Look I touch him, I get what I need and then one of you can see it through me." Phoebe said. "Consider me a witness for the prosecution."
Finally, the fat lady waddled over. "Proceed."
"This won't hurt a bit." Phoebe said as she took Rath's hands in hers. It was over in a minute. She stumbled back a little releasing Rath's hands. Leo steadied her. "You bastard."
Leo held her back from attacking him. "All right, who wants to know the truth?"
"I'll take it." Brody/Larek said. "Miss Halliwell?"
"Phoebe. They killed him."
"Why?"
"He didn't want to come to the summit. They were desperate to."
"What did they do?"
"They got this basketball from some guy on the street, Lonnie pretended to drop it and when Zan went to get it they pushed him to the ground while a truck was coming. Rath made it speed up." Phoebe said. "Some street accident, huh?" She looked at Nicholas. "And I have a feeling that little worm over there was in on it."
Max grimaced. They were losing ground rapidly. Calling another delegate a worm was a no-no. Tess brought Ava to the front. "This is Ava."
"When did she become a cornball?" Lonnie snorted.
"Shut up Lonnie. You're in deep enough without insulting me."
"Who do you think you are?"
"Someone who knows more about this then you do."
"Prove it." One of the delegates challenged.
"I'd like to talk to you in private." Ava said to the delegates. "Without him." She pointed at Nicholas.
"DO you have-"
"We have proof of criminal activities on the part of Nicholas and Kevar. Tell me, where do you buy your weapons?" She pointed at a random delegate. "Where do you think he buys his?" Another delegate was singled out. "All from the same place."
"Ava follow us." Brody/Larek said. "Max, Tess, you are excused for now. You, what is your name? Leo was it?"
"Uh yes."
"Can you make sure that Rath and Lonnie do not leave?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
"What is taking so long?" Liz said as she paced.
"They're dropping a whole bunch of bombs in there. But think about it this way, if it works you'll never have to worry about Max leaving."
"I'm mostly worried about Phoebe. You guys should've let me go. At least I have an active power."
"They won't let Phoebe be hurt." Piper said. But her ragged nails showed she was worried too.
"Ask me a question." Liz said to Isabel.
"Why?"
"Because I need something to think about."
"Why did you lie to Max?"
"About what?"
Isabel shot her a look. "He may've forgiven you, and you may've forgotten but you lied Liz."
"If you're talking about the witch thing, technically I didn't lie Isabel."
"Think about that then. Or, how's this, think about why Max took Tess instead of Ava, or you. If you really want to blow your mind think about why he wants to stay here."
"Oh!" Liz said with a wave of her hand, accidentally moving about a dozen bags of chips at a wall at top speed.
Michael gave Isabel a look. "That's enough. I used to do that all the time. You might want to try focusing all that energy on something else. Something like-"
"Mud." Isabel suggested demurely.
"Not funny." Michael said as he walked to where Liz was standing. "You okay?"
"Fine." She said.
Maria joined the group that was slowly congregating and sighed. "You don't look fine. Talk to me Lizzie."
"I can't think of anything to say."
A sigh. "OK. Then you can just sit there and I'll sit here and we'll wonder about what the heck is going on in there together. In silence."
"Not a good idea." Michael said. "Liz hit me."
"No."
"I will." Maria offered eagerly.
Michael sighed. "Hush pixie."
"Michael my hitting you is not gonna solve anything."
"Maybe not but it would help you get out some frustration."
"I have lots of frustration." Maria shoved in her two cents.
"Yeah but Maria you're not telekinetic." Michael said. "Liz gets any madder and she's gonna move the Statue of Liberty back to France."
"No she won't. She'll just explode." Isabel teased lightly.
"No but she just might astral out of her body." Prue said. "Lizzie Beth, I think you should take Michael up on his offer."
"I'd rath- Here, someone's coming." She said. They all snapped to attention as the door opened.
It was Phoebe and Leo.
"Well?" Liz asked.
"We got kicked out." Phoebe complained.
Leo looked faintly amused. "You kept calling the other delegates worms. You were weakening their position. Besides, they don't need us to contain Lonnie or Rath any more."
"Contain?" Isabel questioned. "And which delegates did you call worms Phoebe?"
"Just the one that was following us at the mall yesterday. Nicholas."
"Where's Ava?"
"Max and Tess and her are making some deal with the Brody Larek frizzed hair dude."
Leo nodded. "It shouldn't take much longer."
Liz closed her eyes and prayed to God, Aunt Penny, and her grandmother. Please watch over them.
Michael and Isabel looked at each other. Michael turned away from his almost sisters eyes. "Maria? Can I talk to you?" He mumbled.
"Not now spaceboy." Maria said looking at the sky, which was starting to darken.
"Yes now." He insisted. "Before Max comes out with the news. I want to tell you this so you never doubt where it came from."
"Fine." Maria said as she took his hand and dragged him about five feet away from the group.
"I love you."
Maria snorted derisively and began to laugh.
"What is so damn funny?"
"You." She said bitterly. "You love me, but you're leaving anyway."
"No, I'm not. I'm staying, no matter what Max and Tess and Isabel's choices are. I want to stay here, with you."
Maria looked at him carefully. Then she hit him on the chest with her palms in a pushing gesture. "I love you, too, you jerk."
Feeling confused, Michael nevertheless drew her close and kissed her.
They broke apart when they heard the applause coming from their friends.
"It's about time." Isabel crossed her arms over her chest.
"Maria, on the way to Roswell, you and I need to chat." Prue said.
"About what?" Maria asked.
"Isabel." Michael prompted. "You promised."
"Did I?" Isabel grinned.
"Yes." Michael met her eyes.
"Okay. Alex can we talk?"
"Um..." Alex tried hard to resist the temptation.
Phoebe nudged him gently towards Isabel with a grin. Piper gave her sister the thumbs up sign.
Isabel took his hand. "I'm sorry." She said simply. "I never meant to hurt you."
"Okay. So friends right?" Alex said in an easygoing way.
"Friends." She agreed. She held out her hand and they shook.
"Isabel." Michael said in a tone that said that wasn't good enough.
She shot him a glare. "You have your way, I have mine." She seemed to say, though all that came out verbally was, "We'll work on anything else when the time comes."
"Now all we have to do is wait." Liz said.
"I hate waiting." Piper said.
"Join the club." Michael groaned.
Ava stared hatefully at Lonnie and wondered if she should let Liz give Lonnie the present she had for her.
Then she shook herself. That was something Lonnie would do. She was better than that. "So it's agreed?" She said finally. "I will return and rule Antar, with Larek overseeing it."
"And what about us?" Rath asked.
"Who cares?" Ava couldn't stop herself.
"They could cause problems."
"All their allies are gone." Ava said.
"Yes, but with some of us still here, they could blow the whistle on our little secret." Tess said. "Maybe even form new alliances with the FBI or something."
Max paled.
"There is a way." Ava said quietly.
"We trust them to your care." A woman said hastily. "Our time grows short. A ship will arrive for you in a week's time."
"I’ll see you at home." Ava said as the delegates left.
"What's the plan?" Tess asked.
"Liz can vanquish them."
Tess paled a little. Her eyes turned to Max's face. "You're still the king. What you say, I'll do."
"First I wanna see what Liz's plan is." Max said.
Tess turned to them. "You better not piss her off- I've seen some of the stuff she's capable of. And her family! Did you know she could imprison you together in a locket for eternity?"
"What the hell is she?" Rath asked.
"Your worst nightmare." Tess answered.
Rath snorted. "Yeah right."
"Let's go. This story's almost over, but the boy still has to get the girl and get rid of the bad guys for a happy endin'." Ava said.
"Ava, thank you." Max said.
"But you left out one part. Girl has to get boy." Tess said as she led the way out of the room.
Ava laughed. "You'll get him, no fear. He couldn't stop talkin' 'bout you whole way here."
"Really?" Tess grinned.
"Guys." Liz made everyone look up and over to the building where their friends were coming out.
Ava, with Lonnie and Rath in tow was first.
"Everything ready Pheebs?"
"Ready, willing, and able." Phoebe handed over the locket.
The first glimpse of actual fear passed over Lonnie's face. "You wouldn't! Anything but being stuck with him fuhevah!"
"It's not my decision." Liz said. "It's Max's and Ava's."
Max and Tess exited together. They looked drained.
"Tess." Kyle breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey Kyle." She ran straight into his arms.
Max and Liz looked at each other before they hugged. "I'm glad you're okay." Liz said quietly.
Kyle was awkwardly trying to get a look at Tess' face. "Are you ok? What happened?"
"Will you cut out this mushy crap?"
Everyone glared at the speaker. Lonnie stared back. "What are you?" She directed the question at Liz.
"A-"
"Nightmare come to life." Kyle said hastily.
Liz looked at her friend. She shrugged. "What he said."
"What do you think we should do with you?" Tess asked Lonnie and Rath. "Obviously we can't just let you go, and we don't really have the resources to imprison you, and we don't want to kill you."
"Actually Tess the imprison part isn't true. We do have those resources." Piper said.
Lonnie and Rath both blanched.
"I'd rather you kill me than lock me up with her." Rath said frankly.
"Max?" Tess said. "It's your decision."
He looked to Isabel, to Michael, and finally at Liz. "Suggestions?"
Liz tugged his ear to her mouth and whispered into it for a moment or two before he stood up. "Well?" She asked.
"Do it."
Liz began. "Outside of time, outside of gain, know only sorrow, know only pain." A brilliant light flashed and Lonnie and Rath were literally sucked inside the locket Liz held in her hand.
Tess shivered and covered her face with her hands.
The locket snapped shut and Liz gave it to Ava. "It'll be safer on Antar."
Ava stared at it with awe. "Yeah, I'll make sure it gets locked up real safe."
"Actually you can wear it if you want. The only people who are able to open it are the ones blood related to the casting witch."
"I don't think I want neither of them that close." Ava said.
"Okay. Then do with it what you want. Just take it off this planet." Liz said.
"I can do that." Ava agreed. "Let's get outta here."
"I don't know about you all but I'm starving." Phoebe said.
"What else is new?" Liz teased her cousin.
"Let's get changed and go to the Hard Rock Cafe." Tess suggested. "I don't think I want to go anywhere with a Dennis Rodman wannabe." She teased Kyle. "That tattoo better be removable."
"I don't know. I think I'm gonna keep mine." Liz said.
"What?"