FIVE
"That's quite a story," said Leo, after they had finished their
explanation.
Piper, Phoebe, and Paige had told them everything about
themselves. Starting with when they had first become the Charmed Ones
and ending with the sudden change that morning.
"This is certainly a unique experience," said Piper. "Usually,
we're the ones putting our lives on the line to protect others. Now,
we're the ones in danger and someone else is saving our butts."
"So, you're really the Charmed Ones?" asked Patty. "And Matilda
here is your White Lighter? And you're married to Leo and expecting
your first child? And someone has somehow changed everything so that
we are now the Charmed Ones? Is that about the size of it?"
"Almost," said Piper. "Actually, Leo was our White Lighter. We
never even met Matilda until all of this happened."
"That's a little hard to accept," said Leo. "The . . . it's
frowned upon for a White Lighter to become involved with one of his
charges."
"You mean the Elders disapprove," corrected Piper. "How well I
know that. When we started seeing each other, it caused a lot of
problems. But we were able to get through them."
"Leo," said Matilda, "I know you don't remember me. But you
know I am a White Lighter. You saw me orb."
"That's true," said Leo. "Only White Lighters can orb. But how
come you weren't affected by these changes? When every other human,
demon, and White Lighter was?"
"I was away on retreat," said Matilda. "I can only surmise that
it shielded me from the changes somehow."
"And we think we were shielded because we were the Charmed
Ones," said Paige. "Our power must have protected our memories, even
if it didn't protect us completely."
"I don't know," said Patrice. "It all sounds so fantastic to
me. Vanquishing Belthazor, the Source, AND the Seer. A White Lighter
and his charge actually getting married. A Charmed One dying only to
have the Power of Three restored by an unknown sister who suddenly
pops up almost at the instant the oldest one dies. That's a little
hard to accept."
"Then how do you explain it?" asked Piper. "You saw Belthazor
try to kill us. And how could we know so much about you? The Book of
Shadows, your powers, who Belthazor really is, all of it? Do you have
another explanation?"
"No," said Paula, "but that doesn't mean there isn't one. I
clearly remember everything that's happened to us since we became the
Charmed Ones. I find it impossible to believe that it's all been a
dream."
"Not a dream," said Matilda. "Call it an altered state of
reality."
"That's even harder to believe," said Leo. "The only power I
know of that can accomplish something like that is psycho kinesis."
"That's what Matilda said," said Phoebe.
"But no one has ever had psycho kinetic ability to affect
something like this," said Leo. "Not on such a grand scale. I mean,
to so completely alter all of reality. Even affecting the Elders and
the Source. If someone had that kind of power, why alter things like
this? Why not just make themselves ruler of the world or whatever it
is they want?"
"Well," said Phoebe, "originally, we believed that Patrice or
one of her sisters had done it. To make themselves the Charmed Ones."
"That's crazy," said Patrice. "If we were going to do that, we
would have made sure that you didn't remember any of it."
"I know," said Piper. "That's what I've been thinking about.
If it were one of you, you would have given yourselves greater powers.
Not the same powers we had. In this altered time line, no one would
have noticed the changes."
"Right," said Paula. "And if you think about it, we would
actually be making ourselves less powerful. I mean, going from this
psychokinetic ability to what the three of us can do. It would sure
be helpful if we could just change things as we needed them."
"She's right," said Matilda. "The psycho kinetic ability would
be far more powerful. And useful. Not to mention it would protect
them better than your powers. And why not just do away with the
demons altogether? Why leave things so that the danger still exists?"
"Unless whomever did this couldn't affect that much," said
Phoebe. "Maybe this was all they could do. Because they didn't fully
understand what was going on."
"All they could do?" asked Leo. "Considering what they've done,
it's more than anyone would have thought possible."
"Yes," said Phoebe, "but if it's not Patrice or one of her
sisters, who is it?"
"That's the sixty four thousand dollar question," said Patrice.
"Assuming everything you've told us is true, it would seem that
someone altered things for our benefit. It stands to reason that it
would be someone who's close to us."
"What about one of your relatives?" asked Matilda. "Or perhaps
a friend. Someone who would want to help you. Maybe repay you for
something you did for them."
"I don't know," said Paula. "None of us have any children. And
we don't have that many friends. Fighting demons and warlocks doesn't
leave much time for a social life."
"Don't we know it," said Paige, sarcastically.
"Children?" questioned Phoebe. "What about a child who lives
near you? Or someone you helped once? I mean, the changes weren't
subtle. And these." She held up the necklace that she, Piper, and
Paige had. "These just suddenly appeared. After Piper mentioned to
you about an heirloom we used to have similar to the triquetra.
It's like a child who is trying to help, but hasn't learned the
subtlety of tact."
"Phoebe's right," said Patty. "While these changes are
certainly powerful, they are a bit obvious. But there aren't any
children that live near us. And while we have helped some children,
most of them were innocents. Possessing no powers at all."
"Patty's correct," said Leo. "If any children they may have
helped had this kind of power, they wouldn't have needed the Charmed
Ones help."
"That makes sense," said Matilda. "So, we seem to be back where
we started. Without a clue of who or what is doing this."
"It's obviously not someone evil," said Piper. "If it was, they
would have simply done away with the Charmed Ones. Instead of
changing who they were."
"Okay," said Patrice. "Obviously, you three are not a danger to
us. And I'm willing to bet you aren't going to give our secret away.
Knowing how important it is that it not be revealed. I suggest we go
home and consult the Book of Shadows.
"Leo, why don't you check with the Elders? See if they have any
idea about what's going on here. If they don't they might have an
idea how to find out."
"Good idea," said Leo. "I suggest that Matilda go with me.
They can help verify that she is, in fact, a White Lighter."
"What's the matter?" asked Paige. "Don't you believe her?"
"No, he's right," said Matilda. "It's important that he and the
others be convinced of my identity. The Elders will be able to tell
that I'm really a White Lighter. What they will do after that, I
don't know. But it's important that there be no questions about it."
"Okay," said Patrice. "But we can't leave the three of you here
alone. Belthazor may come back to finish what he started. Without
any powers, they would be helpless. Especially Phoebe. Whether this
story is true or not, you're still in great danger from demon
attacks."
"I'll stay with them," offered Patty. "I doubt he'll try to
attack while I'm around. But we have to come up with something more
permanent. We can't spend the rest of our lives hanging around here."
"I'll be right back," said Paige.
She left the kitchen and went into the living room. When she
returned, she was holding the fireplace poker she had wounded
Belthazor with. On the tip of the poker were blood and a small amount
of skin.
"Will this be of any use?" she asked.
"Some of Belthazor's flesh," said Patrice, taking the poker.
"This will be very useful. I can make a vanquishing potion from this.
Then, if he should attack again, we'll be ready."
"Good thinking, Paige," said Patty. "I had all but forgotten
about that porker."
"Well," said Paige, looking over at Piper, "the last time I made
a potion, there were some unexpected results. Piper said the best way
to learn was by experience. Believe me, I've never forgotten what
happened when I put the demon flesh into the mixture."
"I see," said Patrice, smiling, "that Piper didn't warn you
about the reaction putting the flesh in would have on the potion.
Patrice did the same thing to me the first time I made a potion. With
very similar results."
"Okay," said Leo. "We'd better get going. We need to find out
what's going on as quickly as possible. I'll take Patrice and Paula
back to the house. Then, Matilda and I will go to the Elders. As
soon as the vanquishing potion is ready, we'll bring it back here. So
you can have it on hand when and if Belthazor returns."
"Get back as quickly as you can," said Patty. "I don't relish
going up against Belthazor on my own."
"We'll be back as soon as we can," said Leo.
He, Matilda, Patrice, and Paula orbed out of the manor leaving
Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Patty alone in the kitchen.
"That's quite a story," said Leo, after they had finished their
explanation.
Piper, Phoebe, and Paige had told them everything about
themselves. Starting with when they had first become the Charmed Ones
and ending with the sudden change that morning.
"This is certainly a unique experience," said Piper. "Usually,
we're the ones putting our lives on the line to protect others. Now,
we're the ones in danger and someone else is saving our butts."
"So, you're really the Charmed Ones?" asked Patty. "And Matilda
here is your White Lighter? And you're married to Leo and expecting
your first child? And someone has somehow changed everything so that
we are now the Charmed Ones? Is that about the size of it?"
"Almost," said Piper. "Actually, Leo was our White Lighter. We
never even met Matilda until all of this happened."
"That's a little hard to accept," said Leo. "The . . . it's
frowned upon for a White Lighter to become involved with one of his
charges."
"You mean the Elders disapprove," corrected Piper. "How well I
know that. When we started seeing each other, it caused a lot of
problems. But we were able to get through them."
"Leo," said Matilda, "I know you don't remember me. But you
know I am a White Lighter. You saw me orb."
"That's true," said Leo. "Only White Lighters can orb. But how
come you weren't affected by these changes? When every other human,
demon, and White Lighter was?"
"I was away on retreat," said Matilda. "I can only surmise that
it shielded me from the changes somehow."
"And we think we were shielded because we were the Charmed
Ones," said Paige. "Our power must have protected our memories, even
if it didn't protect us completely."
"I don't know," said Patrice. "It all sounds so fantastic to
me. Vanquishing Belthazor, the Source, AND the Seer. A White Lighter
and his charge actually getting married. A Charmed One dying only to
have the Power of Three restored by an unknown sister who suddenly
pops up almost at the instant the oldest one dies. That's a little
hard to accept."
"Then how do you explain it?" asked Piper. "You saw Belthazor
try to kill us. And how could we know so much about you? The Book of
Shadows, your powers, who Belthazor really is, all of it? Do you have
another explanation?"
"No," said Paula, "but that doesn't mean there isn't one. I
clearly remember everything that's happened to us since we became the
Charmed Ones. I find it impossible to believe that it's all been a
dream."
"Not a dream," said Matilda. "Call it an altered state of
reality."
"That's even harder to believe," said Leo. "The only power I
know of that can accomplish something like that is psycho kinesis."
"That's what Matilda said," said Phoebe.
"But no one has ever had psycho kinetic ability to affect
something like this," said Leo. "Not on such a grand scale. I mean,
to so completely alter all of reality. Even affecting the Elders and
the Source. If someone had that kind of power, why alter things like
this? Why not just make themselves ruler of the world or whatever it
is they want?"
"Well," said Phoebe, "originally, we believed that Patrice or
one of her sisters had done it. To make themselves the Charmed Ones."
"That's crazy," said Patrice. "If we were going to do that, we
would have made sure that you didn't remember any of it."
"I know," said Piper. "That's what I've been thinking about.
If it were one of you, you would have given yourselves greater powers.
Not the same powers we had. In this altered time line, no one would
have noticed the changes."
"Right," said Paula. "And if you think about it, we would
actually be making ourselves less powerful. I mean, going from this
psychokinetic ability to what the three of us can do. It would sure
be helpful if we could just change things as we needed them."
"She's right," said Matilda. "The psycho kinetic ability would
be far more powerful. And useful. Not to mention it would protect
them better than your powers. And why not just do away with the
demons altogether? Why leave things so that the danger still exists?"
"Unless whomever did this couldn't affect that much," said
Phoebe. "Maybe this was all they could do. Because they didn't fully
understand what was going on."
"All they could do?" asked Leo. "Considering what they've done,
it's more than anyone would have thought possible."
"Yes," said Phoebe, "but if it's not Patrice or one of her
sisters, who is it?"
"That's the sixty four thousand dollar question," said Patrice.
"Assuming everything you've told us is true, it would seem that
someone altered things for our benefit. It stands to reason that it
would be someone who's close to us."
"What about one of your relatives?" asked Matilda. "Or perhaps
a friend. Someone who would want to help you. Maybe repay you for
something you did for them."
"I don't know," said Paula. "None of us have any children. And
we don't have that many friends. Fighting demons and warlocks doesn't
leave much time for a social life."
"Don't we know it," said Paige, sarcastically.
"Children?" questioned Phoebe. "What about a child who lives
near you? Or someone you helped once? I mean, the changes weren't
subtle. And these." She held up the necklace that she, Piper, and
Paige had. "These just suddenly appeared. After Piper mentioned to
you about an heirloom we used to have similar to the triquetra.
It's like a child who is trying to help, but hasn't learned the
subtlety of tact."
"Phoebe's right," said Patty. "While these changes are
certainly powerful, they are a bit obvious. But there aren't any
children that live near us. And while we have helped some children,
most of them were innocents. Possessing no powers at all."
"Patty's correct," said Leo. "If any children they may have
helped had this kind of power, they wouldn't have needed the Charmed
Ones help."
"That makes sense," said Matilda. "So, we seem to be back where
we started. Without a clue of who or what is doing this."
"It's obviously not someone evil," said Piper. "If it was, they
would have simply done away with the Charmed Ones. Instead of
changing who they were."
"Okay," said Patrice. "Obviously, you three are not a danger to
us. And I'm willing to bet you aren't going to give our secret away.
Knowing how important it is that it not be revealed. I suggest we go
home and consult the Book of Shadows.
"Leo, why don't you check with the Elders? See if they have any
idea about what's going on here. If they don't they might have an
idea how to find out."
"Good idea," said Leo. "I suggest that Matilda go with me.
They can help verify that she is, in fact, a White Lighter."
"What's the matter?" asked Paige. "Don't you believe her?"
"No, he's right," said Matilda. "It's important that he and the
others be convinced of my identity. The Elders will be able to tell
that I'm really a White Lighter. What they will do after that, I
don't know. But it's important that there be no questions about it."
"Okay," said Patrice. "But we can't leave the three of you here
alone. Belthazor may come back to finish what he started. Without
any powers, they would be helpless. Especially Phoebe. Whether this
story is true or not, you're still in great danger from demon
attacks."
"I'll stay with them," offered Patty. "I doubt he'll try to
attack while I'm around. But we have to come up with something more
permanent. We can't spend the rest of our lives hanging around here."
"I'll be right back," said Paige.
She left the kitchen and went into the living room. When she
returned, she was holding the fireplace poker she had wounded
Belthazor with. On the tip of the poker were blood and a small amount
of skin.
"Will this be of any use?" she asked.
"Some of Belthazor's flesh," said Patrice, taking the poker.
"This will be very useful. I can make a vanquishing potion from this.
Then, if he should attack again, we'll be ready."
"Good thinking, Paige," said Patty. "I had all but forgotten
about that porker."
"Well," said Paige, looking over at Piper, "the last time I made
a potion, there were some unexpected results. Piper said the best way
to learn was by experience. Believe me, I've never forgotten what
happened when I put the demon flesh into the mixture."
"I see," said Patrice, smiling, "that Piper didn't warn you
about the reaction putting the flesh in would have on the potion.
Patrice did the same thing to me the first time I made a potion. With
very similar results."
"Okay," said Leo. "We'd better get going. We need to find out
what's going on as quickly as possible. I'll take Patrice and Paula
back to the house. Then, Matilda and I will go to the Elders. As
soon as the vanquishing potion is ready, we'll bring it back here. So
you can have it on hand when and if Belthazor returns."
"Get back as quickly as you can," said Patty. "I don't relish
going up against Belthazor on my own."
"We'll be back as soon as we can," said Leo.
He, Matilda, Patrice, and Paula orbed out of the manor leaving
Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Patty alone in the kitchen.