TWO
Prue watched the scene of a bedroom. She recognized the
bedroom. It was Phoebe's bedroom. She could see Phoebe in the bed
asleep. It was dark out. In one corner of the room stood a man.
"Who's that?" asked Prue, very concerned for her sister.
"Don't be alarmed," said the Elder. "The man is not there to do
harm to your sister. He is Fate. He is there to help her deal more
effectively with your death. While she has accepted your death, she
is also feeling as if she is less significant than she is."
"That's crazy," said Prue. "She was one-third of the Charmed
Ones. I know she and I often had our differences, but she had to have
known she was always important to Piper and me. Without her, we would
never have become the Charmed Ones."
"That is not the problem," said the Elder. "Her concerns stem
from her power. She feels that her precognitive power is somehow less
important than those of you or your sisters'. Each power has a
purpose. While one may be more powerful or more important in a
particular circumstance, all of the powers are a necessary part of the
Charmed Ones. Fate is simply there to give your sister a different
perspective on her role as a Charmed One."
"Good," said Prue. "I know I didn't tell her how important she
was to me enough when I was alive. I wish I could have the chance to
tell her just one last time."
"I'm afraid that's not allowed," said the Elder.
"So, how are Piper and Phoebe really doing?" asked Prue. "I
mean about dealing with my death?"
The scene changed again. It was still Phoebe's bedroom but this
time it was light out. Phoebe lay on her bed, wiping tears from her
eyes. Used tissues littered the bed and floor.
"Phoebe is still grieving, which is to be expected," said Patty.
"From her point of view, it's only been a few days since your death.
It will be a while before the sting of your passing goes away. But
she's coping quite well. She's stronger than I would have imagined."
"I'm glad she's okay," said Prue. "I was afraid she might not
be able to escape the underworld after I died. I'm glad to see she
made it out okay."
"She's fine, as you can see," said Andy.
"What about Piper?" asked Prue. "How is she doing?"
The scene in the mirror changed again. This time Prue watched
as Piper came into view. Piper was in the attic of the manor rapidly
flipping through the Book of Shadows.
"She looks fine," said Prue.
"Except that she isn't," said the Elder. "She is in great pain.
And greater danger."
"Prue," said Andy, "Piper hasn't accepted your death yet. Right
now, she's desperately looking for a way to bring you back."
"Can she do that?" asked Prue.
"No, she can't," said the Elder. "But she won't accept that.
The anger and hatred inside her won't let her accept that you're gone.
Nor will it allow her to realize that she can't bring you back."
"What danger is she in?" asked Prue.
Once again the mirror changed. Prue watched as three women
moved through a dark alley. The women were dressed in dark, flowing
robes. Their faces appeared to be painted with strange markings. The
looks on their faces were unmistakable. They were the looks of pure
anger, pure hatred.
"That is the danger," said the Elder.
"What are they?" asked Prue.
"They're called Furies," said Penny. "They're creatures
consumed by rage and hatred. They search out humans who are also
consumed by anger and hatred. They turn the anger of those people
into uncontrollable rage. In order to turn them into Furies, like
themselves."
"Why are they a threat to Piper?" asked Prue. "Can't she just
vanquish them?"
"Normally, yes," said the Elder. "But this is hardly a normal
circumstance."
"Prue," said Patty, "Piper's anger over your death is more than
just anger. It's almost an uncontrollable rage. That's what the
Furies center in on. It will cloud Pipers' judgment. It makes her
susceptible to their power."
"They've already sensed her rage," said the Elder. "They want
to make Piper like them."
"We have to stop them," said Prue. "We can't just stand here
and do nothing. Piper is danger."
"There's nothing we can do, honey," said Patty. ""In order for
Piper to move on, she has to let go of her rage. No one can force her
to do that. She has to choose to do it."
"What if those Furies get to her first?" asked Prue.
"They'll turn her into one of them," said Andy.
"And if she takes a life as a Fury," said the Elder, "she'll be
lost forever."
Prue watched the scene of a bedroom. She recognized the
bedroom. It was Phoebe's bedroom. She could see Phoebe in the bed
asleep. It was dark out. In one corner of the room stood a man.
"Who's that?" asked Prue, very concerned for her sister.
"Don't be alarmed," said the Elder. "The man is not there to do
harm to your sister. He is Fate. He is there to help her deal more
effectively with your death. While she has accepted your death, she
is also feeling as if she is less significant than she is."
"That's crazy," said Prue. "She was one-third of the Charmed
Ones. I know she and I often had our differences, but she had to have
known she was always important to Piper and me. Without her, we would
never have become the Charmed Ones."
"That is not the problem," said the Elder. "Her concerns stem
from her power. She feels that her precognitive power is somehow less
important than those of you or your sisters'. Each power has a
purpose. While one may be more powerful or more important in a
particular circumstance, all of the powers are a necessary part of the
Charmed Ones. Fate is simply there to give your sister a different
perspective on her role as a Charmed One."
"Good," said Prue. "I know I didn't tell her how important she
was to me enough when I was alive. I wish I could have the chance to
tell her just one last time."
"I'm afraid that's not allowed," said the Elder.
"So, how are Piper and Phoebe really doing?" asked Prue. "I
mean about dealing with my death?"
The scene changed again. It was still Phoebe's bedroom but this
time it was light out. Phoebe lay on her bed, wiping tears from her
eyes. Used tissues littered the bed and floor.
"Phoebe is still grieving, which is to be expected," said Patty.
"From her point of view, it's only been a few days since your death.
It will be a while before the sting of your passing goes away. But
she's coping quite well. She's stronger than I would have imagined."
"I'm glad she's okay," said Prue. "I was afraid she might not
be able to escape the underworld after I died. I'm glad to see she
made it out okay."
"She's fine, as you can see," said Andy.
"What about Piper?" asked Prue. "How is she doing?"
The scene in the mirror changed again. This time Prue watched
as Piper came into view. Piper was in the attic of the manor rapidly
flipping through the Book of Shadows.
"She looks fine," said Prue.
"Except that she isn't," said the Elder. "She is in great pain.
And greater danger."
"Prue," said Andy, "Piper hasn't accepted your death yet. Right
now, she's desperately looking for a way to bring you back."
"Can she do that?" asked Prue.
"No, she can't," said the Elder. "But she won't accept that.
The anger and hatred inside her won't let her accept that you're gone.
Nor will it allow her to realize that she can't bring you back."
"What danger is she in?" asked Prue.
Once again the mirror changed. Prue watched as three women
moved through a dark alley. The women were dressed in dark, flowing
robes. Their faces appeared to be painted with strange markings. The
looks on their faces were unmistakable. They were the looks of pure
anger, pure hatred.
"That is the danger," said the Elder.
"What are they?" asked Prue.
"They're called Furies," said Penny. "They're creatures
consumed by rage and hatred. They search out humans who are also
consumed by anger and hatred. They turn the anger of those people
into uncontrollable rage. In order to turn them into Furies, like
themselves."
"Why are they a threat to Piper?" asked Prue. "Can't she just
vanquish them?"
"Normally, yes," said the Elder. "But this is hardly a normal
circumstance."
"Prue," said Patty, "Piper's anger over your death is more than
just anger. It's almost an uncontrollable rage. That's what the
Furies center in on. It will cloud Pipers' judgment. It makes her
susceptible to their power."
"They've already sensed her rage," said the Elder. "They want
to make Piper like them."
"We have to stop them," said Prue. "We can't just stand here
and do nothing. Piper is danger."
"There's nothing we can do, honey," said Patty. ""In order for
Piper to move on, she has to let go of her rage. No one can force her
to do that. She has to choose to do it."
"What if those Furies get to her first?" asked Prue.
"They'll turn her into one of them," said Andy.
"And if she takes a life as a Fury," said the Elder, "she'll be
lost forever."