Chapter 30: Trapped in the Underworld? Again?

A/N: I have exams to study for, but instead, I'm writing this. I wrote it before, but my stupid little sister erased it, so I have to do it all over again. Thanks for the reviews, and enjoy!

Future Piper opened her eyes and groggily studied her surroundings. For one blissful moment, she forgot where she was and why she was there. In an instant it all came rushing back. She remembered the appearance of the ghost and then feeling a sharp pain in the back of her head. After that, everything was a blank. Gingerly moving her arms, she realized that they were chained to the wall. Doing the same with her legs, she knew that they too were chained. Future Piper could see nothing, but she knew enough to assume that she was in the underworld. She was neither afraid nor worried. Future Piper was pissed.

If that stupid demon had just stayed dead, she wouldn't be in this mess. She missed her family so much, the family from her own time. She just had to get home to see Leo and her boys to tell them about Patty. If she were to follow her heart she would have left the moment she vanquished that demon. Technically, with the demon dead, her family will never have to die. Unfortunately, her logical side insisted she stay to fix the mess she was in part responsible for creating. She refused to let this demon intimidate her. Future Piper was far past being afraid. She wanted revenge.

Being a prisoner of this stupid excuse for a demon wasn't much Piper's style. The demon didn't seem to coming to her, so she decided to give him a little incentive. Future Piper was ready to fight him head on. "I WILL NOT BE YOUR PRISONER YOU STUPID EXCUSE FOR A DEMON GHOST! COME HERE AND FACE ME, UNLESS YOU'RE AFRAID. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME! NOW!" she yelled into utter darkness. She didn't really expect the demon to answer her. However, the cave they were in became suddenly brightly illuminated and the ghost of the Jorgen King appeared. His form immediately grew to 20 feet tall as he towered over his prisoner.

Instead of shrinking back, or cowering in fear, she stared at the ghost defiantly. Future Piper was much too powerful to be afraid of a measly demon. She was the oldest of the Charmed Ones and she was pregnant with a pretty powerful witch/whitelighter. Much worse foes had been vanquished by her hand. She could tell that she had angered the demon a lot. She also knew that she would make him pay.

At the Halliwell Manor…

Somehow, the entire family managed to make it to the attic. They were all still shocked at the disappearance of Future Piper. Well they all knew that Future Piper could take care of herself, It didn't stop them from worrying. Chris was the most worried of them all. He had already lost his mother once, and he would never let her die again. He couldn't stop imagining all the terrible things that could be happening to her. "I'm going to look for her in the underworld", Chris said. He orbed out without another word.

Past Piper stood up. She hated feeling so useless. Her future self had been kidnapped and she wasn't doing anything about it. Mostly to make herself feel better, she had to do something. "I'm going to check the Book of Shadows", she said. She walked towards the podium which held the book. Immediately began flipping pages. She flipped so fast that the words on the pages seemed blurred. Phoebe too stood up, feeling equally useless. Phoebe walked over to the corner where they kept the crystals and maps. "I'll scry for her", Phoebe suggested. She spun the crystal over the map, waiting for it to land.

Paige, for one, couldn't share her sisters' fear for Future Piper. She knew that her older sister was tough, and she had defeated much worse. They had all gotten through much worse than this, and they would again. The more productive thing to do, in her opinion, was to prepare the killing potion. Someone had to banish the ghost. She headed downstairs to the kitchen without a word to get the necessary herbs. Her sisters were so engrossed in their respective tasks that they did not notice Paige leave. Unlike Paige, they weren't confident that they would succeed.

As Paige got the Jimson weed from the cupboard she couldn't help but smile. Even though she was brewing a potion designed to stop the heart, she felt like she was on top of the world. At the moment, there was no foe she couldn't face, and no demon she couldn't vanquish. For the first time in days, it looked like they were going to win. Despite her confidence, she couldn't help but wonder what was happening to future Piper at the very moment…

In the Underworld…

"YOU DARE INSULT ME WITCH!" The Jorgen Demon roared into Piper's face. She did not give them the satisfaction of flinching. That seemed to only make the ghost demon angrier. His eyes glowed red, and fangs appeared in the gaping hole that was his mouth. He seemed ready to eat her alive. Strangely, the demon's anger made her crave vengeance even more. It was future Piper's turn to become angry.

In her rage, she felt a strange heat near her wrists and ankles. The shackles that bound her suddenly burst into a million pieces. She tumbled from the wall, but landed on her feet. Future Piper stepped towards the ghost, unafraid. "I won't let you live for what you have done and what you will do", Future Piper said much more coldly then she had intended. It was like her inner need for vengeance for the deaths of her entire family lit a fire inside. She was filled with an unexpected confidence as she took a commanding step forward.

"You will not harm my family", she said in the same confident voice. Future Piper herself was shocked at how strong she sounded. She felt a slight twinge in her stomach and a bright light seemed to be emanating from her very senescence. The blinding golden light filled the cave. Future Piper had no idea what this light would accomplish, but she was mentally thanking her daughter. For the first time, Future Piper really thought they could win…

TBC…

Up next… Chapter 31: To Banish A Ghost … After a complicated battle, the Charmed Ones finally banish the ghost…or at least they think so.