"What did you see?" Jill asked.
"A snake. It was eating its own tail," Phoebe said. "And it exploded."
"It sounds like an Ouroboros," Prue said.
"A what?" Paige asked.
"Ouroboros," Prue repeated. "It's an ancient symbol, and it usually represents cycles, or infinity."
"What are we supposed to do with that?" Wyatt asked.
"Maybe it's a suicidal snake that we're supposed to protect," Kevin said.
"Right..." Prue said. "Any other ideas?"
"What do you usually do when you get a premonition like this?" Jill asked.
"Usually my premonitions are about people getting attacked by demons," Phoebe said. "Exploding snakes aren't really my specialty."
"Leo, do you know anything about this Ouro-whatever?" Paige asked.
"I'm not sure what it means," Leo said. "I can ask the other Elders, but I doubt they'll be able to tell us anything. That premonition was meant for you, not us."
"You're leaving already?" Prue asked.
"No, I'll just jingle them," Leo said. He then lowered his head and began to speak silently to the other surviving Elders.
"That must come in handy," Prue said, watching him.
"Sure, as long as you don't mind never seeing the person you're talking to," Piper said.
Leo then raised his head.
"Anything?" Wyatt asked.
"No, nothing," Leo said.
"Too bad, we could have really used some help this time," Phoebe said. "It seems like none of my premonitions have made any sense since I got here."
"Could the premonitions be connected somehow?" Piper asked.
"Maybe," Phoebe said. "But I'm not sure how."
"What premonitions have you had?" Kevin asked.
"Well, the first one was about the Anubite," Phoebe said. "I saw Piper closing its page in the Book of Shadows. And I saw Cole here, trying to talk us out of casting a spell."
"You had a prem about Cole?" Paige said. "That guy just doesn't know when to give up."
"What kind of spell was it?" Piper asked.
"That's what worries me," Phoebe said. "We were trying to resurrect Prue."
Wyatt looked at Prue with concern. "She's still technically undead. Maybe you thought bringing her completely back to life would bring her memories back."
"Maybe," Prue said. She seemed to be deep in thought.
"And then there was the Ouroboros," Phoebe said. "I don't get it."
"The never ending cycle..." Prue said.
"What?" Phoebe said.
"Time travel," Prue said. "Everything started going wrong when the three of you disappeared. We always thought you were killed by the shadow demon, but if all this happened because we called you out of the past? What if we created this future?"
"Am I the only one who has no idea what she's talking about?" Paige asked.
"I've got no clue," Piper said.
"I think I understand," Leo said. "It's a paradox. They called you to change what went wrong, but the only reason any of it happened was because you weren't around in the past to prevent it."
"Look at Phoebe's premonitions," Prue said. "She saw Piper in the past with Wyatt while he was growing up, and she saw herself casting a spell to bring me back from the dead. That had to be an alternate reality."
"What are you suggesting?" Wyatt asked.
"Maybe we should reverse the spell that brought them here?" Prue said. "We might be able to change history after all."
"But what if it doesn't work?" Wyatt asked. "We could be sending them to die."
"We take the same risk every time we fight a demon," Phoebe said. "If there is a chance to make things right, we have to try it."
"I'm worried." Wyatt paused. "We have no idea what kind of future we'll create if we try to change history. The smart thing to do would be to stay here and find a way to keep fighting."
"Wyatt, you've been fighting all your life, and look at what's happened," Leo said. "It's time for you to trust something other than power."
"What is there to trust?" Wyatt asked. "We can't be sure that reversing the spell will change anything."
"We have to have faith: Faith that the universe was meant to turn out better than this." Leo put his arm around Piper. "I don't know what the world will be like after we change history, but I do know that we'll be there together, the way we were meant to be. That's all I need to know."
"What difference does that make? This is bigger than any of us," Wyatt said.
"You'd be surprised," Piper said. She looked at Leo, then at Wyatt. "It's our bond as a family that makes us strong."
"All right," Wyatt said. He looked at Prue. "You were willing to take a chance following me, and I'm willing to follow you now."
"Don't worry," Prue said. "They'll be fine. They've handled plenty of things that were a lot worse than the shadow demon."
Phoebe walked over to Prue. "Prue..."
"I wish you didn't have to go," Prue said. "But this wasn't meant to be."
"How can I go back?" Phoebe asked. "I don't want to lose you again."
"You'll cope. You always have," Prue said. "Once the spell is reversed, you'll forget about this future, and everything that happened here."
"I don't want to forget!" Phoebe said.
"I don't want to forget either," Piper said. "When you died, I died with you. But I feel whole again when I'm here."
"This isn't goodbye," Prue said. "The Anubite is still going to be around after you go back, and he'll resurrect me again."
"You can't be sure," Phoebe said. "What if he doesn't?"
"Then we'll still see each other again, someday" Prue said. "Nothing can change that."
Piper let go of Leo to embrace Prue, and Phoebe joined them. Paige hesitated, then she put her arms around them. The four sisters held each other and wept, knowing that they would be parting again all too soon. Eventually, they released each other, and the three younger sisters stepped back.
"Prue," Paige said. "I'm glad I got to see you. I just wish we could've hung out some more while I was here."
"Yeah," Prue smiled. "I can't wait to meet you again. We'll hang out some time, I promise."
Wyatt moved to stand next to Prue. "I guess this is it. Everyone, good luck in the new timeline."
"Hey, it's gotta be better than this," Kevin said. "But I'll still miss all of you."
"No, you won't," Jill said. "But maybe we'll see each other again. I definitely couldn't have asked for a better coven."
"Neither could I," Wyatt said. He smiled warmly, and for a moment, they all caught a glimpse of the man that Wyatt might have been; the man he might still become.
"Don't worry about us," Maggie said. "I know we'll be just fine."
Leo and Maggie glanced at each other, and a silent communication seemed to pass between them, but they didn't say anything to the others.
Then, Wyatt took Prue's hand, and Prue wiped attempted to wipe the wetness from her eyes. Together, they began to chant a spell.
"A time for everything, and everything in its place.
Return what has been moved, through time and space."
But the future refused to change.
"What happened?" Wyatt asked.
"Nothing," Prue said. "Why didn't it work?"
"I think I know why," Phoebe said. She swallowed, struggling to get the words out.
"What?" Prue asked.
"The premonition I had about Cole and the spell to bring you back. This is what it was warning us about," Phoebe said.
"I don't understand," Prue said.
"In that other future, we cast a spell to bring you back, and now here you are," Phoebe said. "The ultimate personal gain... and this was the consequence."
"Then what do we do?" Paige asked.
"We," Phoebe shut her eyes for a moment, and tears began to slide down her cheeks. "We have to reverse the resurrection spell."
"But... doesn't that mean...?" Piper began.
"It must mean that Prue was never brought back to life in the other timeline," Leo said. "I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Piper looked at him. She was vehement. "Is that all you can say?"
"What can I say?" Leo asked. "This is the way it has to be. You know that."
Phoebe broke down, and she began to cry. Piper's anger evaporated as she put her arms around her sister, and Phoebe cried on her shoulder.
"I know," Piper said. "But it just isn't fair. Why does it have to be Prue?"
"Everyone wishes that they could bring back a lost loved one," Leo said gently. "But that isn't our decision to make. You have to trust that there was a reason for this."
"If they can go back and change the present, why can't they go back further?" Wyatt asked. "What if they can stop Prue from being killed in the first place?"
"That's probably how it started, with someone asking 'Why not'." Leo said. "And look at what happened. We all wish she hadn't died, but she did, and we have to accept it."
"You can't fight death," Prue said. "We've all tried, but that isn't how things work."
"I can't... I can't," Phoebe said.
Prue put her arms around Phoebe. "You have to undo the spell."
"You're asking me to kill you," Phoebe said. "I can't do that."
"But I already died," Prue said. "This was only a dream, and now you have to go back. You can't dream forever."
Phoebe fought to hold back her tears. "I know, but I can't do it."
"I'll be right here beside you, and I always will be," Prue said. "What's the spell to undo the resurrection spell?"
"I don't know," Phoebe said, shaking her head.
"There's a muse here," Leo said. "Let your instincts guide you."
Slowly, reluctantly, the four Charmed Ones began to cast the spell as it came to them.
"Blood for blood and life for life.
We defied the grave, and paid the price.
For our love we called the dead,
But in her place, still more blood was shed.
To protect their lives, we now revoke,
The selfish words that once we spoke."
Wyatt averted his eyes as the spell finished. Jill and Kevin clung to each other, unsure of what fate had in store for them. Maggie and Leo watched silently, unmoving.
Then, it was gone.
Halliwell Manor. January 4, 2006. 9:03 PM.
"Keep going!" Paige shouted, pointing at the demon. It was back on its feet, and preparing to attack.
Again, the three witches read the spell. "Your shadows fall, and hear no call. You lived by night, but die in light."
There was another bright flash of light, and the demon fell again.
The shadow grew, and began to fill the room. The demon growled. "I won't be defeated."
"Oh yeah?" Paige said. "Third time's the charm."
"Your shadows fall, and hear no call. You lived by night, but die in light."
There was another flash as the shadow rose up around them. Then, the shadow melted away like a curl of smoke in the wind. Without protection from the light, the demon screamed in agony, and exploded.
"Now that was a well deserved vanquish," Paige said.
"I'll say," Phoebe said. "I bet the next demon is going to think twice before messing with my nephew."
"Speaking of Wyatt," Piper said. "Paige, where is my son?"
"I don't know," Paige said.
"What?" Piper said, glaring.
"Relax, I left him with Leo," Paige said.
"Oh," Piper said. "Leo!"
Leo orbed in immediately, holding Wyatt in his arms. He had been expecting her call.
"I saw the vanquish," Leo said. "Well done."
"Yeah yeah yeah," Piper said. "Gimme."
Leo gave Wyatt a kiss on the cheek, then handed him over. Wyatt was getting heavy now, but Piper was glad to hold him after the ordeal.
"Where was he?" Paige asked.
"He was in the one place evil could never reach him," Leo said.
At that moment, Chris orbed into the room.
"So that's where you were hiding him," Chris said, smiling at Wyatt. "Lucky kid. I never had a chance to go in there."
Phoebe looked at Chris and gasped. She stepped back, as though she had seen a snake.
"Phoebe, what's wrong?" Chris asked.
"Did you have a premonition?" Piper asked.
"No," Phoebe said. "More like... a memory."