Are you starting to see the fairy tale yet?  Well, hopefully by the end of this chapter you will.

*          *          *          *          *

            Amy and Ashley refused to talk to Piper.  Piper just retreated to the library everyday at lunch.  Grams watched as her middle grandchild pulled farther into her shell, as her youngest coming out.  Almost dying made Phoebe live life to the fullest, doing things that she probably shouldn't have been doing.  But Grams was more concerned with Piper.  She hadn't been eating much; she was definitely suffering from insomnia, not even her favorite TV shows made Piper show happiness.  Grams suspected that Piper was suffering from depression.  And when Grams went to get Piper's laundry once, she found a note claiming that Piper wanted to die.  But over Thanksgiving break, Piper seemed to be doing slightly better, and Grams didn't find another note, ignoring what she had seen.  But the insomnia and loss of interest continued.  Even Prue was getting worried at home, and she would frequently try to talk to her and cheer Piper up.

            "Piper, the winter dance is coming up." Prue prompted.

            "I know." Piper said, not looking up from her math book.

            "Do you think anyone will ask you?"  Prue said, with a teasing smile.

            "I don't know."

            "I heard that Jon Applegate wants to ask you."

            "He wants to ask me as a joke, I already heard it."  Piper said.

            "Ok, so you think no one will ask you, why don't you ask someone?"

            "You want to know why?" Piper exploded.  "You know why.  No guy will ask me because I'm not beautiful like you. No guy would say yes to me, because they're all drooling over you!"

            "You are beautiful."  The short little man had overheard the conversation from the other dimension, and appeared in the trash can to hide.

            "Ug, why do I always have to hide in the most disgusting places?"  He complained.

            "No, not like you.  I would give anything, anything to be as beautiful as you.  Now get out so I can finish my homework." Piper said.

            "And that's three."  The little man said.

            Silently, Prue shut the door behind her.  The little man disappeared from the trash can, and went to Piper's bed.

            "I can grant you those wishes." His voice cracked.

            Piper turned around, scared.  There wasn't anyone else in the room when Prue left.  "Who's there?"  Piper asked, missing the little man.

            "Sure, skip the short guy.  I'm on your bed."  He said.  

            Piper looked at her bed, where she saw him sitting.  "I've seen you before."  She said.

            "No you didn't." He quickly said.

            "You were at my school."

            "Nope."

            "Fine.  Now leave."     

            "But I have come to make your wishes true!"

            "What wishes?"

            "Um, popularity, attention, and beauty, sound right?"

            Piper was speechless.  "You've been following me!"

            "I may be young,"

            "You look old to me!"

            "In my years, which is why I'm so short. When you see me in 13 years, I'll look as normal as you."

            "Whatever.  My wishes can't come true."

            "You're wrong."

            "Please."  Piper said, she threw up her arms in disbelief.

            "I can make you're three wishes come true."

            "Are you like a genie?"

            "Something like it."

            "So you'll grant me my three wishes."

            "The already said ones."

            "Ok.  Do it."

            The little man cracked his knuckles, but then stopped.  "There is a catch."

            "A catch?"

            "You have to give me your powers."

            "Powers, I don't have any powers."     

            The little man shrugged.  "You still want me to do this?"

            "Yeah, it's a win lose situation.  I win, but lose nothing.  You lose, but when nothing."

            "Fine."  He cracked his knuckles, and muttered some Latin under his breath.  Piper leaned over to try to understand what he was saying, but couldn't.  He was just too small.  "Done.  But you won't really start to see results until after Christmas.  But you might see a few sooner."

            "Why so late?"

            "You need time to for your classmates to adjust."

            "Fine.  What is your name?  I mean I just sold my powers to a six inch man for three wishes and I don't know your name."

            "I don't tell people my name."

            "Fine, if it weren't feeling fairy-taleish."

            "Deal with it Witch."

            "I'm not a witch."

            "And I'm not six inches tall."  The little man rolled his eyes, and disappeared.

            "I need to get more sleep.  Because now I'm hallucinating."  Piper said.  She shut her math book, changed into her pajamas and went to bed.  She woke up the next morning believing that it was just a dream.