At the front door, one car left as another car pulled in.
"Alyssa! Where have you been? You're due at the fashion show in 45 minutes!" said a exasperated man running into their borrowed house.
"Phoebe, this one's for you!" cried out Piper.
"Ah, yessss?" asked Phoebe sounding a bit comically snobbish.
"ALyssa. I'm Carl. The San Bernardino Lost Animal Society Fashion Show that you are MC'ing is in 45 minutes. I did not realize you weren't at home. We do need to go as soon as you're ready," explained a nervous Carl.
"I think I need to change. HOL-LY? Can I check out your closet? I can't wear these old rags!" asked Phoebe pointing to her 'Phoebe' costume.
"That's what you do best! Go try out Holly's closet!" said Piper looking at Prue with a "Is she nuts?" expression.
Prue nodded and shrugged. "We do have to keep up appearances!"
"I'm more interested in our disappearance!" shoot back a peeved Piper.
Twenty minutes later Phoebe showed up with her hair up wearing a low cut sequined
dress that probably should have been worn to the Academy Awards.
"Isn't that outfit awful fancy?" asked Prue who knew something about this is type of event.
"MY PUBLIC EXPECTS IT!" said Pheebs. "Ta, Prue..er HOL-LY and SHAN-NEN!" said Pheebs waving to them.
"Hey, don't forget about our little exiting problem! I want to get home, you know!" cried out Piper pointing to her little sister.
"You are home. Piper. Sort of!" said Prue leafing through some magazines. "You know this place is very much like our own world. Just some of the television shows, movies and culture type icons are different. I never knew that Warner Brothers even had a network. We're on Thursday nights at nine. Too bad it's Monday. I hope we're out of here by then," sighed Prue.
"I REALLY hope little Miss Starlet has it figured out by the time she gets home!" said Piper exasperated. "Want to whip up...something? Cookies? Anything!"
Phoebe was driven in a LARGE limo to the San Bernardino Convention Center. The sign out front announced "Alyssa Milano Presenting the Lost Animal Society Fashion Show."
"No wonder they needed me! It looks like I'm the show and the main attraction. I thought I just had to walk down the runway. Jeez!" thought Phoebe.
The car pulled up to a red carpet lined with ropes holding back scores of fans. Another assistant came up to the car.
"Alyssa. Since we're running late, we dispensed with the pre-show activities and we'll go directly into the fashion show. All of your copy will be on the teleprompter. Everything should be the same as when you did last year. I'll escort you to the stage," he said.
"Last time. What did we do last time?" asked a very confused Phoebe. Her arm was taken as she stepped out of the car. Flashbulbs went off left and right. Phoebe waved a bit, but she had a very worried look on her face.
"Alyssa, Alyssa!" the crowd was calling out to her.
"I love you!" cried one young man.
"Hey, Phoebe over here." cried another.
"Phoebe?" asked Phoebe. "They don't even know her right name!"
"Often fans identify more with the character than the actor. Alyssa," said her escort.
"Well, I sure can identify with that name," replied Phoebe.
She was led through the lobby to the stagedoor. Three people came up to help her to adjust her hair and dress and give her last minute instructions that Phoebe was too star struck to hear.
"My aren't we dressy, this evening. The idea is not to outshine the fashion models. Oh well, it will have to do," said the hairdresser.
Behind the curtain, Phoebe was breathing heavy enough to almost hyperventilate
The announcer spoke to the audience, "Ladies and gentlemen, that charming young witch, Miss Alyssa Milano!"
Phoebe froze.
"Miss Milano. Miss Milano. That's your cue." said the stage manager.
"It's NOT my CUE!" said Pheebs as she was pushed through the curtain.
Phoebe looked behind and then walked across the stage forcing a smile and waving as the audience applauded wildly. She stepped up to the podium. She could easily see the teleprompter in front of her. She tried to speak and nothing came out. A man underneath and in front of her started pointing at his watch. Phoebe spoke.
"Hi!" she said giggling.
The audience laughed with her.
"Please forgive me. I'm newer at this than you know. Even though I've been around it awhile you never really get used to all the attention. So if it seems like it's my first time please bear with me. Welcome to the 2000 San Bernardino Fashion Show for the benefit of the Lost Animal Society. I'm AL-LYS-SA MI-LAN-O. Thank you all for coming. The Lost Animal Society handles over 1300 lost and abandoned animals every year. Throughout its four facilities..." continued Phoebe.
She read and read. The longer she was up there the easier it became. And with the audience wanting to see her and seeming to love her whether she goofed or not, it made the evening go much smoother. And she was helping out all those poor stray animals.
Afterwards, all of the participates of the fashion show got thunderous applause. But when Phoebe came out as her counterpart's name was announced everyone rose to his or her feet giving her a standing ovation. Phoebe just stood there beaming.
Backstage she finally had a sigh ofrelief."Boy, that wasn't so bad. I'm so glad it's over." said Pheebs. "Where my driver?"
"Alyssa. We still have the autograph session. Those people in line paid a hundred dollars apiece to meet you. It's all for the Society," said one of the show's escorts.
"Ah, meet the public. Whoa. OK, let's go do it. All in the day's work for a star. I guess," sighed Pheebs as her arm was taken and four men surrounded her. They went into large meeting room at the Convention Center. The air was charged with anticipation. As she walked in everyone applauded. Phoebe smiled and sat down. The table was covered with various photographs and other memorabilia. Though the picture had her face, she was made up completely different. A show assistant sat on either side of her to help her out. They handed her the pictures. Alyssa's first fan approached Phoebe.
"Alyssa. I am about to die. We kind of like grew up together. I loved everything you ever did. Jeez. This is sooo great," said a blonde woman about Pheebs age.
"Thank you." said Pheebs.
A picture was shoved in front her.
"My name is Darleen. That's with two E's," Darleen said.
"Here you are. Thanks for watching," Pheebs smiled.
"TO DARLEEN. FROM PHOEBE HALLIWELL. Oh my God. I'm going to die. She signed it Phoebe. AHHHH!" Darleen shrieked as the next fan approached Phoebe.
"Oh Phoebe. It's so good to meet you," said Jessi.
"Well, it' so nice to meet you to. What's your name?" asked Phoebe.
"Jessi! With an I," she said quietly.
This time Phoebe wrote carefully, "To Jessi, from Alyssa."
"There you go. Thanks for watching!" said Pheebs.
The next fan said, "You were so great in Poison Ivy II. You were the first person I really had a crush on. Uh, my name is Andrew," said Andy.
"Well, that's sweet. Thanks for watching." replied Pheebs.
Pheebs thought, "I don't remember her playing the villain in Batman and Robin."
"Wow. This is really groovy. You are much prettier in person," gushed a young fan.
"Thank you," Pheebs said.
"And you're shorter, too," he added.
"Ah, OK. What your name?" asked Pheebs.
"Michael Metcalfe," he replied.
"To Michael. From Alyssa," she wrote.
She had the name down fine now, but she wondered whether Alyssa and her had the same handwriting.
"Could you sign it to Melanie from Jennifer Campbell?" Melanie asked.
"A friend of yours?" asked Phoebe.
"No, you know Melrose Place!" she replied.
"Isn't that in the Mission District?" asked Pheebs as they both laughed. "And thanks for watching!"
"Hi, I'm Amy. I love you on Charmed. I have my own website. Could you sign it "To all my fans at Alyssa's Greatest Site? Please?" asked Amy.
"Sure. I love to surf the web too. I'll look for it," said Phoebe.
"Hello there. Could you make one out for Mark. I never miss Charmed. Your demon
fighting is so cool," explained Mark.
"Well, thanks. My sisters are the only ones who ever thank me. I appreciate
that," said Pheebs.
"Your sisters?" he asked confused.
"Well, Shannen and Holly are like sisters, you know. Thanks for watching!" said Pheebs.
"I'm thinking of becoming an actor," said young Yana. "How do you prepare
yourself for your role of Phoebe?"
"Oh, it just comes naturally. TO YANA, FROM ALYSSA A.K.A. PHOEBE. There you go. Thanks for watching," called out Phoebe.
"I really love Holly. What's she like?" asked Jackie.
"Very quiet unless she's pissed. Here you go. Thanks for watching," said Pheebs.
"Oh, Tony Danza's so hot. I love you in the reruns of "Who's the Boss," said Andrea a high school junior.
"What?" asked Pheebs.
"Who's the Boss! Who the Boss!" she repeated.
"Why PRUE, of course! Here you go. Thank's for watching!" said Phoebe as the crowd laugh at her, or with her.
"You are sooo pretty. Could you make it out to, Doug? I really love you on Charmed. It's the greatest thrill to meet you," said Doug.
"I'm glad I met you too. Here you go. And thanks for watching!" said Pheebs.
And on and on it went. Phoebe got many complements for movies and shows she had never heard of before. Most people were very nice, though some were a little too
inquisitive about Alyssa's personal life. The amazing thing Phoebe thought was that so many of them reacted the same way she did around the rich and famous. She found this constant line of people become more and more unreal. After ninety minutes, the session was over and she found herself being whisked back to Holly's house and to her waiting sisters.
Phoebe dragged herself into their borrowed home.
"I am beat. I never knew being famous was so tiring. You have to be "on" twenty-four hours a day!" said Pheebs as she dropped on the dead tired on the couch.
"And how was the limelight, A-LY-SSA?" asked Prue smiling.
"Oh the fans, the flashbulbs, the applause. It seemed like everything I thought it was, but it's really not for me. I just want to be plain old Phoebe, the little witch," explained Phoebe.
"You know. There's something of a distinction in that. Even if few people really know. Those stars do have a certain magic about them. They do casts spells over some people. YOU know that YOU really can!" Piper reminded Pheebs.
"Yea. I am lucky. Demon Busters starring Phoebe Halliwell. That has it's own nice ring to it," said Phoebe. "So what have you two been up to?"
"Oh, we went horseback riding. Holly has the most darling horses!" said Piper.
"What do you know about horses?" asked Phoebe cutely.
"I did know which end to face when I got on the horse!" said Piper.
"And I did ride a bit when I was at summer camp," said Prue.
"When? Twenty years ago?" asked Phoebe.
"SO we went out and pretended to be cowgirls for one evening. At least we weren't pretending to be Madonna!" Piper told Phoebe.
"Yea, well. I've had my own fifteen minutes of fame. When I was autographing all those pictures using someone else's name, the whole thing just became more and more unreal. This whole place, the house, the cars, the fans are just so unreal. We're just not ourselves here. We can't be since everyone thinks were someone else. And the most important thing is to be ourselves. That is what we were born to be and that is what we should be," explained Phoebe.
"Well said, Pheebs." said Prue.
"You wanted to know more by casting the spell. And you did get a look at a bigger picture. But it was a look from within yourself, a better look at yourself!
That's great. Ummmm. OK. Changing subjects, how about getting us home?" asked Piper.
"That's just it. We got here looking for a more real world that isn't real to us. Our world is back there with all the wonders and dangers of the Charmed Ones. It couldn't be more real to US. SO we just cast the spell again to return to our own REAL WORLD! IS that logical?" asked Pheebs.
"So logical it's scary coming from you Pheebs. I'm surprised I didn't think of it. But then you're our resident spell caster. Ready to go home Dorothy?" asked Prue.
"I think I left my ruby red slippers back at the Manor. So the spell will have to do," said Piper with a cute expression.
"Hey, let me change first!" cried Phoebe. "I'll never have any place to wear this dress!"
Several minutes later Phoebe had changed looking like just plain Phoebe.
"Ready?" asked Pheebs.
"Ready!" replied Piper.
"Definitely ready," said Prue.
"By the way? What ever happened to Shannen, Holly and Alyssa?" asked Piper.
"I don't know? Nothing I hope. They were just a creation of my crazy spell anyway. Ready for take-off! Good-bye glitz and glamour! It was a nice place to visit!" said Pheebs to the ceiling.
Phoebe:
"Problems that come and problems that go,"
Prue:
"Prepare us for them and let us know,"
Piper:
"What the real world will bring,"
Phoebe:
"Grand us wisdom, to know everything."
Poof. Poof. Poof. And the Charmed Ones
headed home.
THE END