"Cole!" Phoebe called out. "Cole!" She said more sternly.

He shimmered in just like he'd done so many times before. He looked around, vaguely nervous looking, staring at faces that were both familiar and new.

"What did you want?" He asked, without much humor or emotion.

Piper raised her hand to blow him up – mostly for effect, but she was serious. "You can bring back Prue?"

"Well, um, no – I mean, to me she's not dead..." Cole cleared his throat.

Piper frowned. "I don't understand, so you're not going to do it?"

Nervously Phoebe tried to explain. "Well, think about it. If Prue comes here, it'd just mean that she wasn't there – with us. Would you want to do that?"

Piper backed up, saddened. "I think you should go." She muttered to Cole.

Confused Cole questioned her. "What?"

"Go!" Piper screamed, blowing the couch in the attic up without so much as a wave of her hand.

Leo grabbed the Mother of his sons and held her down as more things began to blow up. The girls kept screaming to grab her hands, but her hands weren't the problem. In fact, her hands were no longer motioning her powers. Piper's rage had influenced her powers to an awesome degree. She struggled to free herself; the more she fought the more things would burst into flames and turn to dust. Phoebe, Paige and Cole ran for their lives as Piper's powers went crazy. It was clear to Leo that right now Piper was not in control of her powers. He let her go, and touched her head with his hands. His hands began to glow with whitelighter power. The warmth of Leo's healing light, and his love, brought calm to Piper. Her breathing slowed, and she slunk to the floor.

This time it wasn't just a slight shake of her hands that bothered Leo. Piper's breath was completely erratic. She was shaking from head to toe, perspiration beaded on her forehead, this time, her powers had been clearly out of control. Maybe she'd been right to be more concerned. Perhaps her powers were escalating too fast, too soon.

"Piper, I have to go." Leo stood to leave.

She grabbed his leg, begging him to stay. "No, you can't – they might... you could be recycled back to earth – you'd die."

He tried to escape her grasp. "I don't care. This is more important. I think you're powers are becoming unsafe. I have to protect my family. You all are more important to me than my own life."

Piper just cried, as Leo orbed out.

-------------------------------------------------

"Mr. Barker?" A woman entered his office.

She was wearing black robes with red trimming. She was a follower of his cult. He was proud of himself, to say the least. The blood of Barbas was smeared all over her face, and she wore it proudly. None of them had any clue that they were just small little pieces of something so much larger.

"What can I do for you, Betty?" Daniel answered.

Betty sat down on the other side of his desk. "I'm feeling a little lost. What can I do to feel centered again?"

"Well, dear. There is only one thing any of us can do to find our center. We must pray to our idol. We must ask for forgiveness for straying from his ways, and we must ask to be enlightened." Daniel placed a warm, confident hand on her shoulder.

Betty smiled brightly, as she stood to leave. "Oh thank you! Thank you!"

"I'm always glad to Shepard lost souls to salvation, and remember, spread the word... salvation can only be achieved by helping others find themselves." He said happily, showing her the door.

Once he knew she was gone, Daniel turned to the darkest corner of his office. He stared at it, as if he saw something there other than shadows, and one very dead sunflower.

"Are you there, or is that just my imagination?" He asked the shadow.

Out of the darkness sprang a demon; he crossed his arms and stared the human in the eye. There was a strange connection they shared. It wasn't natural. Demons and humans weren't meant to see one another this way. Demons hunted humans, sure, but this was something else.

"He wishes to speak to you." The demon said blankly.

Daniel shifted uncomfortably. "Now?"

"Now."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"It'll be ok Piper." Phoebe tried to sooth her older sister.

Paige was rocking Chris to sleep, as she kept a watchful eye on Wyatt. "I'm sure Leo will get the answers we need."

She shook her head. "That's just it, I wish he'd stay here, forget the Elders."

Cole had watched this scene unfold for some time now. He'd said nothing, feeling that his presence would be better left unseen. They knew he was there, but he didn't wish to stir things up anymore than he'd probably do anyway. He felt badly for these charmed ones. They had a lot more to deal with then the girls he'd known. Prue dying must have cause a great ripple effect. For one, Piper had a set of boys – which was, well he hadn't said anything yet, but it was very weird. Not only that, but Phoebe had gained this empathy power, which his Phoebe didn't have. Not to mention whoever Paige was... some kind of cosmic replacement from the powers that be perhaps? So many things were not the same. So many things were wrong to him. Then again, who was he to judge?

Just as Cole was preparing to say something, Leo orbed in, looking worse for wear. He was panting, as if he'd been a fight of some kind.

"I spoke to an oracle." He said, worried.

Piper's gaze heightened. "And?"

Leo frowned. "And she's coming here, she refused to tell me whatever it is."

Paige handed Chris off to his Mother. "That's good right?"

"I don't know. Oracles are tricky. They're like walking, talking riddles." He shrugged. "They're clear only in the presence of those they are meant to speak to."

Finally Cole cleared his throat, ready to say something. "Ora-"

A crash of lightening, followed quickly by thunder and smoke filled the room. A set of three Oracles stood before them. Their skin was gold; their eyes were ice-blue. They all wore Greek-styled robes, with silver trim. They looked like living statues.

"You question." The middle Oracle looked directly to Piper.

The witch was stunned. "What's happening with my powers?"

"You are transforming." The middle one said.

"Transcending" The left one added.

"Rising above others." The right finished.

Piper was confused. "What does that mean? Why can I freeze witches?"

"Greater power has greater effects. Normal laws of balance do not apply." They began to speak in one voice.

Trying to grasp at what they were telling her. "But I'm still a witch, right?"

"You are what you were born as, however you will not be the same forever."

Paige and Phoebe looked at one another. What did that mean? They worried now, more than they had worried before. These answers were only making it more confusing.

"So if I won't be a witch, what will I be?" The eldest sister asked.

"You will become wisdom, power, love, guidance, and warmth of heart. You will become the barer of Magic."

"Barer of Magic, you mean my children?" She inquired.

They answered. "They will be magic's last defenders as the world ascends into the new era."

Distraught now more then ever. "Last defenders?"

"What started must in turn end. Nothing can last forever." With that the Oracles left as they had come, in a cloud of noise and smoke.