Chapter nine: Evils of the future.
AN: I have added to the previous chapter as well so you might have to go back and read chapter 8 again to understand properly. ********Happy New Year**********
Disclaimer: If I did own charmed I would have already shot myself over what was happening with Cole and Phoebe. Sob.
Piper: where are we?
Leo: In the future, the source had Cyonique connected to this time so if she failed it would bring us forward in time.
Prue: If the source knows we are here he is probably looking for us.
Piper: Does anyone have any idea how to get out of here, this place is kind of creepy.
Cole: I don't know how but we need to get back as soon as possible
Leo: Or the course of the future could be drastically changed.
Cole: It's going to be extremely difficult if not impossible, if what I've heard about these parallel connection time loops is correct. We should get started.
Phoebe: Even if our being brought here was influenced by the source there is probably still some other reason we are here. Still something we are supposed to do. And Piper what do you mean this place is creepy it seems perfect.
Piper: That's exactly what I mean, it seems too perfect. I sense that there is something very wrong like this is all some big guise.
Leo: It's like a perfect guise for something that is deeply and perfectly wrong.
Marc: You two both sound warped. This place is beautiful.
Prue: Is anyone other than Piper and Leo getting this feeling?
Piper: It's more than a feeling, it's like a profound sense that reaches and calls to your soul. (Everyone else says they see nothing wrong with the place.)
Prue: Even if it is only Leo and Piper we should still find out why they are feeling this way and why it is only them feeling this.
Stranger: Maybe because it's their daughter who is the main cause of all this.
They all turn towards the being that has just appeared, it is completely concealed by a frayed green garment and has a mask covering its face.
Piper: Who are you?
Stranger: I have been sent to guide you.
Prue: Why should we believe you?
Stranger: Look, you guys are very powerful magickal beings. Its not like you couldn't defend yourselves if it was something fishy. Just follow me.
Reluctantly and warily they followed, after all they had no other way to find out anything about where they are. And it seemed they could trust her.
The streets were so different, and they seemed so…fresh. They gleamed in the bright sunlight, as did the long buildings in place of houses. The buildings were extremely long they went on and on and on and were quite narrow for their length. They didn't appear to stop just extend to another part of the building. The stranger told them it would be quicker to go through one so they entered through one of the many doors.
There were many long, wide brightly lit corridors the lights were balls of energy balanced on pillars. There were many chambers on the sides of the corridors though they entered none, after an hour or so they emerged on the other side.
Everyone had mostly been in silent awe the whole time.
Phoebe: That was so amazing, just when you have absorbed the beauty of one section you get to another and the style is completely different.
Stranger: That's mainly because SHE got tired of one style after a few yards and kept deciding to change it. I used to think it was so wonderful the way a style completely took over the space it had with the walls and ceilings and floors and sometimes ornaments or furniture in the actual corridor.
Leo: It definitely is very magical and magnificent.
Piper: What did you mean you used to think?
Stranger: I actually helped to design and paint a small section, everyone thought everything was perfect but it turned out it was all a dream masking the truth.
Cole: Just what do you mean by that?
Stranger: You'll know soon.
They carried on walking down the streets talking quietly amongst themselves. Commenting on their situation and surroundings, noticing the immaculate litter-free state of the roads.
They stopped at some huge gates beyond which was a palace gazing at it they saw a large variety of architectural and cultural styles and many intricate designs. A guard approached. He wore a dark purple robe with golden printing.
Guard: What do you want?
Stranger: We need to see the queen.
They were lead to a large chamber with beds.
Guard: You will stay in the waiting chambers until tomorrow morning then it will be decided whether you may see her. (He leaves)
Stranger: Listen carefully there are like a zillion things we have to do. (The being began unwrapping the many layers of tattered and torn green cloth she was covered in. They saw that she was a woman with raven black hair and a pale complexion. As we see her we find that it is- **Paige** I will from now on refer to her as Paige although they don't know that she is their sister)
Phoebe: So America has a queen now?
Paige: She isn't queen of America she is the queen of the world. I have to show you something, be quiet and don't let anyone see you.
They all creep out of the room and Paige carefully leads them to the back entrance of the throne room. The back door opens to a little passageway that is part of the throne room they peek around the wall to see the main part of the room.
They are all shocked as they see that the queen is…Melinda.
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Piper: Why are we sneaking around? (They all walk into the throne room, not seeing Paige slip away and out the door.)
Guards immediately take hold of them. Melinda looks up in surprise.
Melinda: Who are you and why are you impersonating my family?
Leo: The source linked a time loop onto Cyonique and we got moved forward in time.
Mel: I see. Let them go and set them places at the table they must be hungry.
Guard: Are you sure they are trustworthy?
Mel: If they were not, it is not as though they could cause any damage.
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Time lapse- Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Leo, Cole, Marc and Melinda are seated at a large dinning table.
Prue: So what happened to lead to all this?
Mel: Many colossal events took place in the past seventeen years that caused massive changes. As you've probably already realised the world of magick is now common knowledge. I cannot tell you much more though as your knowledge of these events could change the course of the future drastically and the source will have succeeded.
Phoebe: What can you tell us?
Mel: I'll tell you why the source did what he did in case he tries something like this again. You see the source is greatly weakened and so was trying to destroy me, and hence the destiny I bring to the world by trying to ensure I was never born.
Piper: Did he seriously believe he could break Leo and I up with some dreams?
Everyone Looks at Piper.
Piper: Okay, so for a while there things were bad but you know I wouldn't have actually gone through with a divorce.
Phoebe: I guess it shows how desperate he is.
Mel: It wasn't just dreams, it was also subliminal messages and I don't think the source thought you would break up permanently, just long enough. We were worried for a while. But everything is fine now as long as we get you all back in the past before next month and that isn't going to be any problem as this place is filled with greatly magickal beings. I'm sure we will find some beings capable of sending you back.
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After dinner they were shown to some guest quarters, the rooms were very high and the ceilings had paintings of spirits and fairies the rooms looked as though they were from an old church. But the windows weren't stain glass unlike some parts of the corridors they had been through earlier. Just as they noticed that the windows didn't match the rest of the rooms Prue spotted Paige's head bob outside one window waving at them to let her in. Phoebe opened the window and helped Paige in.
Piper: What's wrong with using the door?
Paige: No one can know I'm here, it's complicated. You have to come with me now.
Piper: I think it's best that we stay here.
Prue: If you are sneaking around you are obviously an enemy of Melinda, which means you are an enemy of ours.
Paige: Listen you just have to trust me. I'm not the enemy.
Phoebe: Why would she lead us straight to Melinda if she were the enemy?
Cole: I don't know but I don't think you should go with her.
Prue: I'll go alone, you all wait here.
After some more arguing it had been decided that just the charmed ones would go in case anything happened, the guys had agreed to this very reluctantly and were very unhappy about it.
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They were going along the back roads behind the palace. Paige was walking fast in front of Prue, Phoebe and Piper.
Phoebe: Does she seem familiar to anyone?
Prue: I don't think so I'm not sure.
Piper: There are similarities but I have no idea.
Paige: (Calling back) Hey guys, I found someone I think you've met.
They go to where Paige is and see Cassandra kicking a ball against a wall.
Phoebe: She and Melinda have very different taste in clothes.
Prue: She is very different to all of her surroundings. She doesn't quite blend in.
Piper who had been adoringly watching her future daughter play with the ball then spoke: She looks fine to me.
Cassandra was indeed very different; Melinda had been dressed very elegantly with her hair flowing perfectly whereas Cass was dressed in a loose t-shirt and jogging bottoms with her hair tied in a messy ponytail. As for her surroundings if it had been a painting it would be clear she did not belong in it. Magnificent buildings all clean and dream-like, there were guards wearing the rich purple and gold uniforms and even other people were dressed in robes and velvet and much jewellery that seemed ancient. It was like Cass was from a completely different era; actually she was from the time the charmed ones had just come from. And everyone else seemed do be dressed as the royalty of the Middle Ages would have.
Prue: But then everyone here dresses so odd.
Phoebe: I guess the saying wait long enough and it will come back into fashion does ring true.
Prue: Yeah, only had to wait a few of hundred years.
They approached Cassandra.
Piper: Hi Cassandra, it's nice to see you again.
Hi, Cass said monotonously.
Prue: So this is where you live, very grand.
Cass: I don't live here.
They continued trying to start a conversation but Cassandra was mostly dismissive, she eventually turned to Paige and said: Weren't you supposed to be taking them somewhere?
Paige: Yes, we should carry on now. (She again rushed ahead, as though she was keeping watch.)
Phoebe: I just noticed that our "guide's" clothes are closer to our time as well.
Piper: (Running up to Paige.) Where are you taking us?
Paige: There are things that need to be done.
Phoebe: So we were brought here for a reason.
Paige: Of course.
AN: This story is complete. But there will be a sequel, which is where the main plot takes place. Please review and say what you thought of the whole fic in general.