Hey everybody! Astronomygirl85 back again with another chapter of Tis the Season. Sorry that it has been a few days. School, work...you know the drill. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 7
March's First Charges
The weeks passed. The Baytown girls spent most of their spare time at the Halliwell manor practicing and learning the Craft. The girls finished off another school year. March passed all of her classes and was looking forward to college life as a junior. April graduated high school without making too much of a bang. May managed to give her report on the Salem Witch Trials without turning herself invisible. All three were looking forward to a very interesting summer.
March sat in the sunroom reading a science fiction novel. April and May were in the basement with Phoebe studying martial arts. Paige was out with one of her charges-probably the witch in Portugal. Prue was up there with the Elders talking about March's training. As for Piper and Leo, they were out at the park with the boys.
March froze when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned, but saw no one. The footsteps continued. March understood what was going on. She opened her senses and discovered not just one, but both her sisters trying to sneak up on her.
March opened her eyes and kept reading, pretending not to notice anything.
She sensed them getting right up in front of her...
She orbed out on them.
"How'd she know it was us?" May exclaimed as she and April turned visible again.
April shook her head as March materialized behind them and sent conjured snowballs at their heads.
"You were too noisy. I heard your footsteps," March explained. "Don't wear boots next time April."
April used her power to dry herself and May off. "She's getting too good with her powers."
"Well, I've been praticing a lot."
"So have they," Phoebe said from the archway. "May has a hard drop kick. And April can knock a target a foot back with a punch."
There was a swirl of orbs and Paige formed.
"March, do you mind?" she asked holding her hand over a wound in her shoulder. "I had to orb my charge out of the line of fire after we vanquished the warlock, but he got me with his power."
"I've never healed anyone before," March said reluctantly.
"You can do it. Just channel your love through you. That's where your healing power comes from."
March held her hands over the wound and channeled her powers. Her hands started to glow and slowly, the wound healed.
"You did it."
"Uh huh," March said. "I'm exhausted. That took a lot out of me."
"It was your first time Sweetie. It's bound to be tiring for the first couple of tries," Paige said with a reassuring smile. "Take a nap."
"Recharge your batteries," April said with a sly smile.
"Quiet Lightning Rod," March laughed.
Prue orbed in. "The Elders want to see you March."
"I'll take that rest idea later," March said orbing out.
Prue watched her go. "Why is she so exhausted?"
"She exercised her healing powers today," Paige answered. "She healed a shoulder injury I got from a warlock attack in Portugal."
"That girl get in over her head again?"
"Yeah and nearly got herself killed for it."
"So, what did the Elders want March for?" April asked.
"I'm not allowed to tell. You'll find out soon enough."
"I hate secrecy!" May exclaimed.
"Me too," Phoebe agreed "Though I am bad about keeping secrets. Except the big secret that we all share."
"Necessity Pheebs," Prue and Paige answered.
Prue continued, "Besides it is March's news to tell. Not mine. Shouldn't you two get back to your training?"
May and April sighed. "Yeah," May said. "I haven't managed to hold my invisible state for more than ten minutes yet."
"I still need help channeling my powers."
"Let's get cracking shall we?" Prue said looking at her sisters.
March stood before Erron. "You asked to see me?"
"Yes, March. Prue has informed us that your are making excellent progress in your training. I feel that you are ready for your first charges. I believe that you should know who they are already," Erron said with a smile.
March concentrated. "My cousins. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige."
"Correct. As you progress, you will receive more charges to guide. Now, you may return and give your family the news that they are anxious to hear."
March smiled and orbed out to her family in San Fransisco.
"So March, what's the news that Prue can't tell us about?" Phoebe asked as Piper and Leo entered through the front door.
"We're back you guys," Piper announced coming through the living room to meet them in the sunroom. She had Chris in her arms. Leo was leading Wyatt in behind them.
"We see that Piper. March has some news for us," Paige said as they took seats.
"Well?" Piper inquired.
"The Elders believe that I am ready for charges so they assigned me to three."
"Who?" Phoebe asked.
"Well, they are from San Fransisco and very powerful witches from what I hear."
"We might know them," Paige chimed in.
"You know them very well. All of us do," March toned risking a glance at Prue.
She had a small grin on her face. She was trying hard to keep from laughing.
"Who are they then?" Piper asked.
March saw Leo's face change from curiousity to recognition.
"I think I know who you're talking about," he added playing along.
"Yeah, they are strong witches," Prue egged on.
"Who?" All five girls chimed in unison.
March and Prue finally cracked and started laughing.
"You guys!" March blurted out.
"What?" April exclaimed.
"Yes, the three P's over there staring dumbfoundedly are my charges!" March exclaimed bent over in laughter.
"You guys were completely clueless!" Prue laughed. "It was funny!"
"They are going to pay for that," Piper muttered to Phoebe and Paige.
"Can we get in on it too?" April asked indicating herself and May as the Whitelighters continued chuckling.
"Prue, I think it's time for us to ske-daddle outta here!" March said as April got a menacing grin on her face.
"Oh no you don't!" March exclaimed, realizing what her younger sister was up to.
"Oh yes, I am!" April said pouncing on her big sister.
"No!" March shrieked as April tackled her and started tickling her.
May willingly joined in.
"Stop..it..guys!" March laughed. "Uncle! Uncle!"
"We have something different in mind for our Whitelighter sister," Paige said looking at her older sisters.
"Uh oh!" Prue exclaimed running out of the sunroom.
The seven girls enjoyed the rest of the day chasing each other around the manor.
The next couple of days were rather peaceful. No nasty vanquishes or innocents to save. It was quiet in the magical world. Too quiet according to Piper. She was getty a little antsy around the house. So, she busied herself in the kitchen working on dinner for that night hoping that her favorite past time would calm her fried nerves.
She finished mixing the dough for her dinner rolls then checked on the pasta that was cooking on the oven. She stirred it quickly and went back to work on her dinner rolls.
"Hey! Something smells good in here," May's voice drifted suddenly from behind her.
Piper jumped throwing her hands up to freeze position.
"May! You scared the heck out of me!" Piper calmed herself.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to. Just wanted to get some water to drink."
"It's okay. I'm just a little nervous. The lack of demonic activity is bothering me a bit. That usually means that the Underworld is up to something big. And it usually has something to do with us."
"What fun," May said sarcastically.
Just then the door burst open. May and Piper could hear April screaming bloody murder at her older sister.
"You should have let me electrocute that stupid excuse for a human being!"
"April, you know we can't use our powers for revenge. It will turn us evil, into warlocks," March responded calmly.
"You could have at least let me karate chop his lights out," April grumbled furiously.
"And what would that have solved? You would have just gotten into more trouble."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Pacifist March, always running from a fight."
Piper couldn't hear March's answer, if she had even given one. She just heard April stump off in a huff to the solarium. She was muttering something about her "stupid Whitelighter sister."
Moments later, March entered the kitchen,her face quite calm, but her eyes held the stormy emotions she was undoubtly feeling.
"What was that about?" May asked as Piper put her pots and pans in the sink and pulled up a chair to listen as well.
"April's temper getting the best of her. We were walking through Golden Gate Park when we bumped into some stranger. He dropped his wallet when he bumped into us. April picked it up and went to give it to him. The man automatically assumed that we had picked his pocket and that we had beliberately bumped into him. April nearly throttled the guy for insinuating such a horrendous thing. Luckily some bystanders saw the whole thing and smoothed things over. I managed to orb April away before she electrocuted that idiot."
"Oh, so that's why she was yelling. How did you manage to get away without being seen?" Piper asked.
"I dragged April into a grove of trees that was nearby and orbed. She'll get over it. She just needs to fume and throw things for a while."
"Yeah, it'll be a good idea to stay away from her for an hour or too. Especially you March."
"Yeah May. I know." She eyes grew distant for a moment. "Paige is calling me. I'll be back." March orbed out.
"Like some help? I'm not as good as March in the kitchen, but I need to keep my hands busy right now."
"Sure."
That's all for now amigos. Catch you in a day or so for the next chapter. Auf wiedersehen!