This Charmed fan fiction is an alternate reality fiction for the past lives of The Charmed Ones. Countered to what we've seen in the series, in this story The Charmed Ones exist as sisters in their past lives, not cousins. And they also live in an entirely different world. The story is intended to be a background story that happens before "Something Wicca This Way Comes". Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer:
The "Charmed" world and its characters belong to Spelling Television and created by Constance M. Burge.
The Witches KingdomIn a great long hall inside a very beautiful and large palace, quick footsteps could be heard, indicating the owner was in a rush. It appeared to be a maid with a concerned look on her face, calling a name out loud, again and again although she received no answer.
"Princess Phoebe! Where are you? It's lunch time! The Great Witch is waiting for you!" she shouted desperately. Her attempt to search the princess seemed to be futile. Looking defeated, she was about to turn around and return to the main hall to report her failure when she spotted a black-haired woman walking toward her from the other direction. "Ah! Princess Prudence! Have you seen your sister?"
Prue—or Prudence—turned to face her in surprise and quickly shook her head. A dismay look crossed the maid's face, and finally she whirled around, heading back to the main hall, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. As soon as the echo vanished, Prue dashed to Phoebe's room.
"It's safe, Phoebs! Get in!" she called out, and from the window Phoebe's head popped up. She quickly climbed into the room. "Did you meet him?" Prue asked with excitement.
"Yeah, he's sooo cool today! Then again, Cole is always cool!" Phoebe smiled, her face literally beaming with happiness.
"Now quick and get dressed properly! It's past lunch time! The maid has been looking for you everywhere!" Prue quickly pushed Phoebe to her closet and picked a new dress for her.
"Oh, no! I have to sit with The Great Witch again?" Phoebe complained, plopping onto her soft bed and put her hands on her cheeks that were still warm.
"Whether you like it or not," Prue closed the room's door and prodded her sister to change. "That old woman makes me lose my appetite as well, but you've got to deal with it."
"But she's more than that! She hates me with a passion! She wouldn't stop criticizing me, everything I do is wrong in her eyes!" her sister protested.
"Then act like a good princess! Like Piper does," Prue persisted as she helped Phoebe comb her beautiful honey blonde hair.
"Like Piper?" Phoebe repeated and frowned. "No way, she's too obedient. I can't possibly live a life like hers! Although she's indeed The Great Witch's favorite princess."
"And the one who never got herself into a problem, too," Prue pulled her sister up after everything was finished. "Come on now! We're late!"
Both sisters then emerged from Phoebe's room and quickened their steps toward the palace's dining room, where The Great Witch, the most powerful reigning witch in the kingdom had sat on the end of the table. Piper had sat right beside her, looking all tidy as usual.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness, sorry we're late," Prue greeted politely.
"Sit down, Prudence," The Great Witch answered coldly, looking straight at Phoebe, who was still standing on her spot like a statue. "And you, Phoebe, do you have something to say?"
"Good afternoon!" Phoebe said unwillingly, avoiding her stare. She finally sat down beside Prue, still not wanting to look at The Great Witch at all.
"Phoebe, how is your lesson today?" The Great Witch asked her again.
Why is it that she always picks on me? Why doesn't she annoy Prue instead sometimes, Phoebe wondered. "Eh? Oh… hm… the lesson. Of course. Um… it's good, amusing as usual," she answered nervously. The only thing she had learned that day was how to sneak out of the study room to go to the Demonic Kingdom and meet Cole. Other than that… how to make him want to kiss her so badly.
"What do you learn today?" The Great Witch asked again, clearly not satisfied.
"I'm still learning about my premonitions," Phoebe shrugged. "How to control it so that every time I want to get it I could, and not just getting it randomly and at certain times only."
"Well, that sounds great. Would you demonstrate it to me?"
"In the middle of lunch time?" Phoebe protested. "Besides, this isn't an active power, how exactly am I supposed to demonstrate?"
"Just tell me what do you see when you touch… this perhaps?" The Great Witch pushed a plate full of grapes toward Phoebe. "Tell me where did our cook get it from."
"But…" Phoebe faltered. She glared at Piper, pleading for help knowing that her middle sister was not only the closest person to The Great Witch, but also the one she trusted the most and the one she always listened to.
"Your Highness, she's hungry, we're all hungry, and we all just want to have lunch, so can you ask her to do this later? Can we just eat first?" Piper finally spoke up to help. "Lunch better not be filled with tension, and it would be good as well if we have no power play at least a few times on a day filled with power lessons."
"Yea, she's right. Besides, Phoebe hasn't been feeling too well either today. Her condition isn't too good, so maybe if she could just eat she'll feel better. Let her eat first," Prue added.
"Oh, really? If she's sick, then I'll ask the maid to give her the Magic Pill. She'll get well instantly, because that pill could heal any sickness. What do you say?" The Great Witch smiled.
Phoebe now glared at Prue, whose face had turned pale. Although it was called the Magic Pill, the medicine tasted very bitter. It indeed could heal anything instantly, but it was also the most bitter pill in the world. If that was all, Phoebe wouldn't be as annoyed. Thing is, the pill also couldn't be swallowed quickly, thus why the bitter taste was a problem. Phoebe hated it everytime she had to drink it. But Piper kicked her below the table, signing that she should give in if she didn't want to get even more problems. Phoebe didn't have a choice.
"Um. Thank you, Your Highness, that'd be great," she answered politely. She mouthed 'Thanks a lot, Prue', to her eldest sister who quickly looked down guiltily.
Prue mumbled 'Sorry' under her breath, although she knew Phoebe would never forgive her for this.
Immediately after lunch was over, a maid delivered the Magic Pill to Phoebe's room. Because The Great Witch was also there to watch her, Phoebe had no other choice but to really drink it as fast as she could. Almost two glasses of water had been drunk but the bitter taste still wouldn't dissipate.
"Hope you'll feel better soon," The Great Witch turned around and exited the room followed by the maids. Prue quickly shut the door as they left.
"Thank you… witch," Phoebe muttered in annoyance. "And especially a big thank you for you too, Prue," she turned to Prue angrily.
"Sorry Phoebs, I really didn't expect her to do that," Prue replied regretfully.
"You shouldn't have said that Phoebe was ill. Lying only makes even more problem, isn't that right?" Piper added, her hands on her hips as she looked at her sisters disapprovingly.
"Prue shouldn't have added anything to what you said!" Phoebe agreed. "She isn't good with making up reasons. It's a pity I'm not you, Piper, the most obedient princess. Smart and could always get on the good side of The Great Witch! Your life must be so peaceful."
"Who says that? I'm always in trouble because I constantly try to help you two," Piper crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I don't know how many times I've saved you both from stupid problems that you just wouldn't stop creating."
"Yeah yeah… and we're sorry for that," Prue quickly answered before they all started a fight. "Hey, speaking of problems, Phoebe, how was your date with Cole? What did you two talk about today?"
"Oh, yea, I forgot to tell you two!" Phoebe jumped from her chair in enthusiasm. "Cole! Do you know what he did?" she beamed with excitement, paused a moment for a dramatic effect, then continued, "He asked me to be his wife! We're getting married!" she announced proudly.
"WHAT? You didn't say yes, did you?" Piper looked panic instead of happy.
Phoebe frowned. "Are you crazy? Of course I said yes," she rolled her eyes.
"But that's impossible! Witches are forbidden to fall in love with demons, let alone marry them! We've talked about this a few times, remember?" Piper protested.
"Even if he's a good demon?" Phoebe complained. "He's the best demon!"
"That's what you think. But The Great Witch wouldn't care whether he's good or not, as long as he's a demon, she'll punish you for the rest of your life if you do that," Piper stared at her cautiously. "This is serious, Phoebe."
"Yeah, I know the old woman never cared for love. She herself probably doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'love'. Because she doesn't have love, and she never loved anyone. Not that anyone would love someone who's old, vicious, and hates everyone like her."
"Phoebe, watch your words! You're talking too loud," Prue warned her.
"I don't care! Let everyone in the kingdom know that the old hag is really really annoying and doesn't deserve to be called The Great Witch, the most powerful reigning witch. How could someone like her who…"
Phoebe's sentence was cut off when her room's door was slammed open and The Great Witch entered with her maids following closely behind.
"Who what, Princess Phoebe?" The Great Witch asked coldly.
Prue and Piper quickly bowed upon seeing her presence. "Good afternoon, Your Highness. We hope you would forgive what Phoebe just said, she's not serious and that's not what she really meant…" Prue began.
"No one shall defend her, not today," The Great Witch cut her off. "Phoebe, I just passed by the punishment room and last time I saw, it's currently empty. Would you like to occupy it at least until tomorrow morning?"
"Why, thank you for the offer! I shall take it," Phoebe replied casually as she walked out of her room, holding her head high.
"Escort her to the punishment room," The Great Witch ordered the guards on the hall. Two of them stepped forward and grabbed Phoebe's arms.
"I can walk by myself, thank you very much. Get your hands off me!" she barked at them, and they quickly stepped back. Phoebe entered the punishment room, and The Great Witch herself locked it with an additional spell that restricted any magical usage on the door, both from the inside and the outside.
"Have a nice time in there, and think about your mistake!" she shouted to the door.
"Thank you! This place gets more and more comfortable every time I come back!" Phoebe replied just as loud from the inside. She grinned mischievously, knowing she already had a way out of her own. But when she glanced upwards to the hole on the ceiling, she groaned.
"Oh, I forgot something. I've covered the hole with magic proof bars so that you couldn't just levitate out and get back to your room, sleep there then return here on the morning. Sorry but I've known all your plans. I'm more experienced than you think, especially when it comes to stubborn princess witches like you! So never underestimate me again, Phoebe! Enjoy your night!"
Phoebe rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Great! Wonderful! Congratulations to you!" she yelled back, kicking the door with all her might. Of course, it didn't move an inch. Finally she sat down, anger boiling inside her blood.
The room only contained a table and a hard chair, with no windows. All walls were magic proof just like the door. And the only hole that made it possible for Phoebe to see the sun and moon was now also covered with bars.
"This kingdom is really stupid, ridiculous, nonsensical, and who knows what else. I'm sick of living here. This place is filled with rules, cannot do this, cannot do that. And as if that isn't enough, there's also a stupid old hag who just loves to punish people. Although I'm a princess, I feel more like a bird in a golden cage! I miss the outer world," Phoebe muttered to herself, watching the sun set from the hole.
"I want a free life. And I want Cole. Oh, he's very friendly, kind, caring, and loving to me. And he's also very romantic! Proven by this necklace he just gave to me…" she pulled out a beautiful necklace from beneath her dress and stared at it with a longing look. The locket could be opened and inside she found a picture of her and Cole, smiling happily. Cole drew it himself, he was very talented. He made the locket himself, too, and the necklace. Behind the picture, carved with golden letters were the words 'I love you'.
"Oh, I'm really depressed. See, I'm talking to myself. But it seems like I'm going to be really crazy if I do have to stay here forever. What shall I do? Should I run away with Cole? Elope? Yeah, that idea is crazy, although a bit romantic. But our love is forbidden… how could I be his wife? But I can't live without him either. I'm so deeply in love with him and I'll die without him. But… if we run away, where must we go? Our home is here. We have nowhere else to live… There's too much problem, I don't know anymore! What I know is, I can't keep living here. There's too much pressure within these walls. Why was I even born here?" she sighed.
"Oh yea, Cole once told me about the humans' world. It seems like there's where mortals live, and it seems like a beautiful place. They live a free life. Oh, how I want to live there so badly! If Cole and I could just go there…"
Phoebe kept wondering about so many stuffs, before she finally felt too tired and fell asleep on the table. Right the next morning, The Great Witch opened the locked door and entered. She shook her shoulder to wake her up.
"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty. You're free now. Go back to your room before you catch a cold," she called out.
"Ohh… it's morning already? Ugh… thanks," Phoebe stood up straight and quickly strolled to her room. Her muscles were aching because she slept on the hard table in a sitting position. The Great Witch escorted her to her room.
"Have you thought about your mistakes? Had a nice sleep?" she interrogated.
"Yes, yes. Thanks again and goodbye. I'm tired," Phoebe waved at her ignorantly then quickly entered her room. She curled up on her bed and waited until The Great Witch left. When her echoing footsteps could no longer be heard, Phoebe sat upright, sneaked back out of her room and dashed to the kingdom's library, the greatest library in the kingdom that had everything a witch could ever need. She walked past rows and rows of high shelves and stopped at the back room. Making a quick glance to make sure no one else was around, she then opened the door and entered the room soundlessly. No one other than The Great Witch was allowed to enter it.
The room held the Book of Shadows, the most complete witchcraft book. Only The Great Witch was supposed to use it. But Phoebe really liked the book, and she often sneaked in to read it when The Great Witch wasn't around. Just like those other times, this time she carefully opened it, and quickly searched for the information she needed about the mortals' world.
"Hmm… The Earth. Is this the mortals' world? Looks interesting." Phoebe read the long pages quickly, enjoying what she'd found. There was so much information about The Earth.
Before Phoebe realized it, it was already noon. She decided to return to her room quickly before she worried her sisters. They had to be looking for her by now. Once she arrived back on her room, she lay on the bed and relaxed her tense muscles. "Hh… such a tiring day!"
"Phoebe, Phoebe! Are you inside?" Prue's muffled voice came through the door.
"Yep, I'm right here. Come on in!" Phoebe replied, too lazy to stand up again now that she felt the comfortable bed. Prue and Piper went in, worry on their faces.
"Piper and I have been looking for you all day. Because the punishment room was already empty, we thought you were already out. But you weren't here. Where were you?" Prue asked curiously.
"I read the Book of Shadows again in the library," Phoebe replied.
"What? Again? Phoebe, one day The Great Witch would find out and you'll be punished! You've known that she's the only one allowed to read it!" Piper scolded. "I'm tired of trying to save you every single day. You yourself never try to stop looking for problems!"
"Piper, what is wrong with you? I've always read it and no one ever found out. Why are you always so tense? I'm sick of The Great Witch already, okay? And you really don't have to help me anymore if you don't want to. I have no problem even if I'm being punished every single day!" Phoebe finally lashed out at her sister as she couldn't keep the anger for any longer. That, and the fact that her whole body was still aching from the previous night.
"Enough! All you both do is fighting!" Prue cut them off. "Phoebe, I have good news. I met Cole this morning when we were looking for you in the garden. He asked me to tell you that he loved you, and he wanted to meet you tonight there at eight."
"COOL! We'll have fun tonight, I know we will! Ah, how wonderful it is to have such a great boyfriend like him. Oh, let me see first, where could we go tonight? Watch a theatre show, or have a candlelight dinner?" Phoebe looked excited already.
"Phoebe! Don't you remember we have a reunion party at seven?" Piper reminded.
"Oh, no! Piper, why would you remind me of that stupid party?" Phoebe groaned.
"Oh yea, this family reunion is really big. Everyone from the royal family would be there, and there will be a ball with a dinner to follow. I think you really have to attend, otherwise there would be a chaos," Prue agreed.
"But… but… what about Cole?" Phoebe sputtered.
"You can date any night. Just cancel this one," Piper suggested.
"I don't think she could do that, Piper. Cole said that this is the last time she could meet Phoebe, because his father already knew about them both and had given him one last chance to meet her and say goodbye," Prue explained.
"WHAT? To say GOODBYE! This is impossible! This can't be happening! Just can't!" Phoebe screamed in horror, and Prue quickly covered her mouth.
"Uh, somehow I knew this would happen sooner or later," Piper mumbled.
"If he wants to say goodbye, I have to meet him tonight!" Phoebe declared. "Whatever happens. Step over my dead body if you want to stop me!"
"But what about the party? It's an important one!" Piper countered.
"It's just a stupid boring family reunion party, that wouldn't be able to stop me at all. I have to fix this, I cannot leave him and he cannot leave me!"
"Yea, I think you really should go. We'll figure out a reason," Prue answered.
"You're always on her side! I cannot stand this anymore! She has to obey rules sometimes!" Piper protested.
"Piper, you must understand the feeling of a girl who's deeply in love and whose relationship is at stake," Prue said calmly.
"Their relationship is forbidden! Then what's the point of keeping it?"
"I would never leave him although it is forbidden. I will fight for it until the end!"
"You're crazy! That's impossible to do!" Piper looked at her younger sister in panic.
"Who cares? I need him like he's the air I use to breathe! What do you think I'm supposed to do?"
"You have to leave him because your relationship is forbidden."
"If you were me, would you do the same? Would you leave him?" Phoebe challenged. Piper's face softened and she looked hesitant.
"I think… yea… I will… perhaps…" she faltered.
"Perhaps! Okay, not a good answer. I'm going tonight!" Phoebe cut her off.
"Phoebe…" Worry crossed Piper's face as she heard what Phoebe just said.
"Enough! Piper, if you don't want to help me out with this, then let me! You just stay still beside The Great Witch like usual, and keep your hands clean!" Prue stated.
Piper sighed in defeat. "Fine, okay, I'll help look for a reason so she can bail," she gave in. "Now, does any of you have a good reason in mind as to why she cannot attend the party?"
"She's sick. Flu or something," Prue suggested.
"Prue, could you ever come up with something else other than sick?" Phoebe protested.
"Yeah, you always use that reason. What if she gets into an accident when practicing with her power?" Piper proposed.
"That'll surely ruin my name. How could I get hurt by my own power? Plus, that's no different than saying that I'm sick, and I don't like that," Phoebe shook her head.
"What if… what if you have to meet your friend because she needs you in her last moment? That isn't a very big lie," Piper continued.
"Her last moment? What are you saying, she's dying? Who will be my imaginary friend?" Phoebe frowned.
"Just say a name… Katie, Poppy, Sally, whoever," Piper shrugged.
"But The Great Witch knows everyone in the kingdom. She would want to know who's dying and if she decides to check it out herself, we're screwed," Prue scrunched up her nose.
"No… I actually think that's a good idea. Piper, either you're really brilliant, or you do have a good collection of convincing words especially when it comes to The Great Witch?" Phoebe smiled. "You're always so good at twisting words in front of her until she softens and gives whatever you want. That's awesome. I would never be able to do that."
"That's nothing, you shouldn't have exaggerated," Piper blushed.
"But what if she checks it in the statistics…" Prue was still unsure.
"We have to find someone who's really dying," Piper explained, "and admit her as Phoebe's friend. So she wouldn't find out."
"Great! You are indeed smart, Piper. How big is your brain anyway?" Phoebe grinned. "Is it bigger than the whole kingdom?" she teased.
"Phoebe, that's enough. This is the last time I help you, remember?" Piper warned. "And don't even think to try to talk me into doing it another time."
"Okay, my lovely sister. Now how to find someone who's really dying?"
"We use the Witches Kingdom Society Statistics," Piper answered.
"It's a secret book, and only The Great Witch is allowed to read it," Phoebe countered.
"So? What is the problem? Aren't you used to reading secret books?"
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"Like the Book of Shadows."
"Oh, you do have really good collection of words to beat me."
"Thank you."