A/N: Shoutout to whoever gets the references in this chapter! BTW, Paige's line of thinking is how I believe the new series relates to the other and is the inspiration for this story. Enjoy!
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The seven of them enter the attic. Phoebe looks around. "A lot like ours back home."
Paige asks. "Do you have five white candles?"
Maggie makes her way to an armoire to the side of the attic which had been outfitted to become storage for their witchcraft items. She grabs the candles and walks back over to the small group. "Here you go."
Paige smiles. "Thanks." She begins to place the candles loosely into a circle. She takes out a lighter from her pocket and proceeds to light the candles.
Maggie asks. "You smoke?"
Paige gives a giggle and stands once she finishes the job. "When you've been in our line of work for as long as we have, you learn to stock up on everyday items to put together a spell in emergencies." She looks between Phoebe and Piper. "So, all three of us, or do you think it'll work with only one?"
Piper says. "All three of us. We don't want to take the chance of summoning the wrong spirit. The last thing we need is Grams lecturing us on giving the power of the Charmed Ones to another group of witches."
Phoebe quirked a brow. "But we didn't."
Piper shrugs. "Who knows what she'd come up with? Okay, ready?"
The three stood outside the circle and chanted.
Hear these words
Hear my cry
Spirit from the other side
Come to me
I summon thee
Cross now the great divide
The Vera sisters watch with interest as a column of white lights rain down into the circle of candles and form into a young woman.
Maggie let's out a gasp. "She looks just like the picture in the Book of Shadows."
The woman steps out from the candles and says. "Hello. This is a surprise. It is nice to see you all again."
Piper smiles before enveloping the woman in a hug. "Hello, Melinda."
"Piper. I hope all is well with you." Melinda looks past Piper to the Vera sisters. A look of concern crosses her features. "Neena hasn't escaped, has she?"
Phoebe says as she hugs Melinda next. "Nope. Another set of Charmed Ones."
Before Melinda can respond, Piper's phone rings. Piper holds up a hand, signaling for the conversation to be postponed momentarily. She sees that it's Wyatt calling. She puts the phone on speaker.
Wyatt shouts from the other side. "Mom! Melinda collapsed and she won't wake up!"
They all hear Chris and Leo in the background yelling Melinda's name.
Melinda says. "She's fallen because you summoned me."
Phoebe asks. "Why is that?"
Wyatt asks. "Mom, who's that?"
Piper answers. "We summoned Melinda Warren."
Wyatt's voice says. "Here, Dad. Talk to Mom."
A moment later, Wyatt and Chris orb into the attic.
Melinda grins. "Hello Wyatt. Chris."
Both teens hug Melinda. Wyatt asks. "Do you know why Mel passed out?"
Melinda looks at Piper as she explains. "Melinda is my reincarnation. She is sleeping because I am here. No harm shall come to her as a result. However, she must learn this on her own, just as I had to for my previous past lives as Callisto and Livia." She looks at Chris. "I knew you back then. You were a powerful warrior. I can say no more about your past life other than that, I'm afraid."
The look of disappointment is evident on Chris' face.
Piper asks into the phone. "Did you hear that, Leo?"
"Yes. I'll put Melinda to bed and watch over her. I'll talk to you later." The line goes silent, so Piper hangs up.
Piper turns to her sons. "Time for you both to go. You intruded into someone's home uninvited."
The two notice the Vera sisters for the first time. Wyatt's eyes go wide. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive us!"
Mel smiles at them. "It's okay."
Maggie points to herself and her sisters as she introduces them. "I'm Maggie. These are my sisters Mel and Macy."
Melinda asks. "Is your name Melinda, as well?"
"Melanie."
Melinda nods. "I see."
Wyatt places a hand on Chris' shoulder. "We'll look over Mel. She's vulnerable to demon attacks, especially since Dad doesn't have his Elder powers anymore." The two of them orb out.
Piper says. "Now that that question is answered, here's another one we hope you can answer, Melinda. It's the reason you were summoned." Piper indicates the Vera sisters. "Meet the Charmed Ones."
Melinda's brows furrow in confusion. "Were your powers transferred to them?"
Phoebe answers. "No, nothing like that. But there currently seems to be two sets of Charmed Ones."
Melinda asks. "Is that possible?"
Paige asks. "You don't know?"
"My premonition only included Prue, Piper and Phoebe." She looks at Paige. "But, you are proof that my vision was not complete. The power of premonition does not show all there is to know."
Phoebe asks the Vera sisters. "What are your powers?"
Macy uses her telekinesis to throw a lamp towards Mel and Mel pushes her hand out to stop it in midair. Maggie shrugs. "I can read minds. That's how I knew Phoebe was magical. I heard her thoughts about a premonition."
Piper points at Mel and turns to Paige. "She has my power! What the hell?"
Phoebe grins. "I guess it's official. They're related to us through Melinda."
Macy asks. "You mean. Melinda." She nods toward Melinda. "Is our ancestor?"
Maggie says. "Now we know why our Book of Shadows has a page on Melinda Warren."
Paige asks. "How many other groups of Charmed Ones are there?"
Phoebe asks. "What do you mean?"
Paige turns to her. "Well, Melinda would have maybe tens of thousands of descendants by now, right? How many of the lines are magical?" She turns to Melinda next. "Your prophecy said that each generation will be stronger than the last, right? If Macy, Mel and Maggie are also Charmed, there must be others out there, right?"
Phoebe says. "Good question."
Macy asks. "Is the magic hereditary? We know our mom was a witch."
Melinda answers. "Yes. I inherited magic through my ancestor, Neena. She was the first witch. She gave birth to twins. Witches come from one twin. Warlocks come from the other. All witches and warlocks are related through her. My line was given the powers of moving items with the mind, freezing time and premonition. Before I was burned at the stake as a witch, I prophesied that each generation of my line would become more powerful than the last, culminating in three sisters who would become the most powerful witches of all time. The Charmed Ones."
"Wow." Maggie says in amazement. "That's so cool!"
"Yes. Though my prophecy was of Prue, Piper and Phoebe. If you and your sisters are also Charmed, how many are there altogether?"
Harry, whom has been soaking up the conversation finally speaks up. "Perhaps I can ask the Elders and see what they say about this issue?"
Piper gives a laugh. "The Elders? What a joke!"
"Pardon me?"
Piper crosses her arms and regards the Vera sisters instead. "Let me guess. They're cryptic as hell? Refuses to give straight answers? Talks about the 'greater good'?"
Mel narrows her eyes at Harry. "Yeah."
Phoebe says. "Better get used to it. We've been doing this since the nineties and we still don't get why they don't just gives us the straight answer to our issues."
Harry says. "We are simply mentors to witches. We want you to learn to figure out the answers yourselves. It's how you grow in the magical craft."
Piper waves a hand of dismissal. "Yeah, yeah. We've heard that spiel before."
Harry rolls his eyes before he says. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He teleports out of the attic.
Piper's eyes widen. "What the hell was that? That's not orbing! Why didn't he orb?"
Phoebe casts a side glance at Piper. "Possible demon or warlock?"
Mel holds a hand out. "Hold on. What's orbing? What are you talking about?"
Piper says. "Paige." Paige gets the hint and orbs in place. Piper gestures toward Paige. "That's orbing. It's what Whitelighters do to teleport to their charges. You saw my sons orb into the attic. They're half Whitelighter."
Phoebe points out. "Chris is half Elder, don't forget."
Piper replies. "Yeah, but Whitelighters and Elders orb the same way. That was not orbing."
Maggie says nervously. "Harry told us that the Elders are advanced witches who are charged with protecting and mentoring new witches."
Piper rolls her eyes toward Phoebe. "Looks like something for the Witch Council to look into."
Melinda asks. "Witch Council?"
Phoebe explains. "After Prue destroyed the Tribunal, Piper, Leo and Coop formed the Witch Council. It's meant for witches to take over our own destiny and join forces with superior beings. We were tired of being controlled by them."
Melinda says with wonder. "To think such a thing exists now, after the way I perished."
Phoebe points out. "Magic is still mostly kept secret, but a lot of things can change in four hundred years."
Piper says. "With these supposed 'Elders' trying to control what Macy, Mel and Maggie does, it's very concerning."
Macy and her sisters exchange glances. "Okay, you're legitimately scaring me."
Melinda walks forward and places a hand on Macy's shoulder. "Do not worry. Piper, Phoebe and Paige are the most powerful witches alive. With their help, you will come into your own. You are my descendants. You can take on anything and anyone." She steps back and heads toward the circle of candles. "For now, I must go back to my current incarnation. It isn't good to stay away for too long in my soul form." She steps into the circle and becomes transparent. Melinda turns toward the group. "I believe in you all. Blessed be." Melinda becomes orbs of light and disappears. A wind travels through the attic blowing out the candles.
Paige asks. "So, what now?"
Macy suggests. "Dinner? It's getting cold."
Piper nods. "Good idea. We need to act casual around Harry. We can't have him knowing we suspect him of anything."
Maggie says. "I need to finish some of the side dishes, anyway."
Piper grins. "If you'd like, I can offer some tips. They're interchangeable with cooking and spell casting."
Maggie replies. "Sure, that sounds fun."
The group begins to leave the attic to have dinner.
