TEN
"So, you think the potions actually worked?" asked Paige. "It just took a few minutes for them to take affect."
"I don't see any other explanation," said Melissa. "We were all out. It had to be the potions."
"I've never known a potion to work like that," said Piper. "They usually work as soon as we use them."
"There was never a demon like Logash before," said Melissa. "I guess that explains why it worked differently."
"We have seen magic work in unpredictable ways before," said Phoebe. "Guess this is just another example of that."
"I thought you were dead," said Piper to Melissa. "That poker went all the way through."
"Well," began Melissa.
"She almost was dead," interrupted Michael. "But as long as a person is still alive, no matter how small that spark might be, a White Lighters' power will heal them. I guess it's a good thing I'm half White Lighter."
"Yes, it is," said Melissa, mystified.
"Well," said Michael, "Logash is defeated and everyone is okay. I guess Melissa and the Elders were right about being able to change the future even though it was their past."
"I don't think it will be possible to do it again," said Melissa. "Something like this isn't likely to happen again."
"I certainly hope not," said Leo. "One Logash is enough. I suppose you're returning to the future now."
"It's where I belong," said Melissa.
"I'm sure the Elders would like to thank you before you go," said Michael, holding out his hand. "Let's make a stop up there before you go."
"Okay," said Melissa.
"Thanks for everything, Melissa," said Piper. "I hope we get to meet you again."
"I'm sure we will," said Melissa. "When I get back, I'll be sure to look you all up."
Michael orbed them out of the manor.
"Melissa's not your real name, is it?" asked Michael when they had orbed to the domain of the White Lighters.
"No, it's not," said Melissa. "I felt it best if they didn't know who I really was."
"How much of what you told us is true?" asked Michael.
"All of it," said Melissa. "I just left out a couple of things, that's all. You know who I really am, don't you?"
"Yes, I think so," said Michael. "Even witches don't heal on their own the way you did. And the power you possess is far beyond anything I've ever heard of."
"Had," corrected Melissa. "Since you all survived, I won't get that power now. When I get back, I'll be what I was meant to be. There's one other thing. I didn't physically come back in time. Only my spirit did. I inhabited this body so that I could set things straight again. When I return to the future, you'll have to return 'Melissa' to her rightful place. I'll make sure she doesn't remember any of this."
"I still don't know how you were able to change your past," said Michael. "That's not supposed to be possible."
"I had the power of the underworld," said Melissa, "as well as your power and the full power of the Charmed Ones. Added to my own power, I guess you could say I was as close to ultimate power as a person could be. When I discovered I could move through time and even change history, I knew there was only one thing for me to do. I had to come back and save all of you."
"It's going to be quite a change," said Michael, "going from all-powerful to just an ordinary witch."
"I've gained much more than I've lost," said Melissa. "You, Leo, and the Charmed Ones are still alive. That's worth any price."
"I can imagine," said Michael, smiling.
"Don't tell them," said Melissa, "please. Not just yet. They deserve to live their lives without trying to figure out what things are going to be like from now on."
"I guess that's the least I can do," said Michael. "How far in the future is it?"
"About thirty years," said Melissa. "You can tell them then."
"Fair enough," said Michael. "I'll look forward to talking to you then."
"So will I," said Melissa. "
Michael watched as Melissa tapped into her magic. There wasn't a noticeable change in her but somehow Michael knew when the spirit had left the body. He took Melissa's hand and orbed them back to the mortal plane.
"So, you think the potions actually worked?" asked Paige. "It just took a few minutes for them to take affect."
"I don't see any other explanation," said Melissa. "We were all out. It had to be the potions."
"I've never known a potion to work like that," said Piper. "They usually work as soon as we use them."
"There was never a demon like Logash before," said Melissa. "I guess that explains why it worked differently."
"We have seen magic work in unpredictable ways before," said Phoebe. "Guess this is just another example of that."
"I thought you were dead," said Piper to Melissa. "That poker went all the way through."
"Well," began Melissa.
"She almost was dead," interrupted Michael. "But as long as a person is still alive, no matter how small that spark might be, a White Lighters' power will heal them. I guess it's a good thing I'm half White Lighter."
"Yes, it is," said Melissa, mystified.
"Well," said Michael, "Logash is defeated and everyone is okay. I guess Melissa and the Elders were right about being able to change the future even though it was their past."
"I don't think it will be possible to do it again," said Melissa. "Something like this isn't likely to happen again."
"I certainly hope not," said Leo. "One Logash is enough. I suppose you're returning to the future now."
"It's where I belong," said Melissa.
"I'm sure the Elders would like to thank you before you go," said Michael, holding out his hand. "Let's make a stop up there before you go."
"Okay," said Melissa.
"Thanks for everything, Melissa," said Piper. "I hope we get to meet you again."
"I'm sure we will," said Melissa. "When I get back, I'll be sure to look you all up."
Michael orbed them out of the manor.
"Melissa's not your real name, is it?" asked Michael when they had orbed to the domain of the White Lighters.
"No, it's not," said Melissa. "I felt it best if they didn't know who I really was."
"How much of what you told us is true?" asked Michael.
"All of it," said Melissa. "I just left out a couple of things, that's all. You know who I really am, don't you?"
"Yes, I think so," said Michael. "Even witches don't heal on their own the way you did. And the power you possess is far beyond anything I've ever heard of."
"Had," corrected Melissa. "Since you all survived, I won't get that power now. When I get back, I'll be what I was meant to be. There's one other thing. I didn't physically come back in time. Only my spirit did. I inhabited this body so that I could set things straight again. When I return to the future, you'll have to return 'Melissa' to her rightful place. I'll make sure she doesn't remember any of this."
"I still don't know how you were able to change your past," said Michael. "That's not supposed to be possible."
"I had the power of the underworld," said Melissa, "as well as your power and the full power of the Charmed Ones. Added to my own power, I guess you could say I was as close to ultimate power as a person could be. When I discovered I could move through time and even change history, I knew there was only one thing for me to do. I had to come back and save all of you."
"It's going to be quite a change," said Michael, "going from all-powerful to just an ordinary witch."
"I've gained much more than I've lost," said Melissa. "You, Leo, and the Charmed Ones are still alive. That's worth any price."
"I can imagine," said Michael, smiling.
"Don't tell them," said Melissa, "please. Not just yet. They deserve to live their lives without trying to figure out what things are going to be like from now on."
"I guess that's the least I can do," said Michael. "How far in the future is it?"
"About thirty years," said Melissa. "You can tell them then."
"Fair enough," said Michael. "I'll look forward to talking to you then."
"So will I," said Melissa. "
Michael watched as Melissa tapped into her magic. There wasn't a noticeable change in her but somehow Michael knew when the spirit had left the body. He took Melissa's hand and orbed them back to the mortal plane.