Materializing Piper found herself and her darling husband among the clan of Irish enchanters whom Paige had so frequented in the past. In the bright great meadow the little people were standing around an ancient blackened pot not yet realizing that Piper had invaded their territory.
"Ugh? What is that foul smell?" asked Piper holding her nose while the wee folks looked around quite annoyed.
"Tis our dinner, missy!" one of them cried out most impatiently while stirring the great iron pot.
"If that's Irish stew, then I'm never going to pick up another spatula!" replied Piper.
The cook of the clan looked up. "Nay. That be a disgusting concoction made by mortals who think they know the spirit of the Irish. This be our delicacy and our delight."
Piper shook her head. "Talk about disgusting concoctions. Now do any of you guys know where my sister is?" asked Piper.
The leprechaun nearest Piper turned around and look at Piper straight in the eye. "I assume you mean the wench Paige Matthews."
"Yep that's the one. Come on, short stuff. Spill the beans! Or whatever you can stomach," exclaimed Piper.
Leo whispered to her quietly, "A little more tact, sweetheart. They don't seem to want to be interrupted."
"A wise man, ye be whitelighter. Paige Matthews visited us several days ago with some message about ye good intentions. And by now methinks she should be have it delivered to the whole leprechaun world, witch," the little person said sounding quite bored.
Piper through out her hands. "That I know! She should have gotten back home by now."
"A wise thing knowing how impolite these witches can be. Especially for one who claim to be so charmed," he replied with a touch of sarcasm.
Piper was about to blow something up as Leo gently lowered her hands. "Hey, we've already been down this road. Now how do I get a hold of her?"
"Tis not my business, but ye might just follow her path, witch," he replied turning back to his pot.
Piper turned to Leo, "These guys aren't going to help at all. First we travel over the rainbow, and then they want me to follow the yellow brick road! All she was supposed to do was convince you of our good intentions!"
"Then let me give ye the same advise. I told Mistresses Matthews that her deeds must help her find her favor with the little people. And ye are not starting out well, Miss Pepper."
"Piper. It's Piper. Well if I can't get help from these guys than I really could use my scrying set! Piper called out to the wind. A strange tingling occurred within her as her scrying set from the Manor appeared in her hand.
Piper eyes bulged from her hands. "How did that happen? I want Paige and not what belongs to her!"
"Methinks that is a find trick, me daring. Please tell me how ye do it," asked the leprechaun.
"How? How I don't know how I did that!" cried out Piper almost hysterically.
Leo walked her away from the clan and talked to her gently to calm her down. "Paige's power must have been released and retuned to one of the Charmed Ones."
"Released? Like in dead?" asked Piper sounding desperate.
Leo shook his head. "I don't think so. She just may have lost her status as a witch. As long as she lives her powers do exist. If she we're dead it would have vanished until another Halliwell found it."
Piper laid the map of San Francisco on the ground and began to scry. "Let's hope she made it home. It's a big world out there. Come out come out wherever you are. Please Paige. We NEED to find you. We don't want to LOSE you!"
Boom. The rock marked a spot in a park far north of the city.
"There!" she said jubilantly. "She is alive!"
"Where is that?" asked Leo.
"Oh, no. Some early adventure comes to mind. And in fact the power shift seemed to make sense," said Piper thoughtfully. "And another trip with these darlin' little people!"
The little leprechaun agreed. "Aye. There do be some in those parts, mistress Halliwell."
"Wyatt! Piper Wyatt! Well, thanks for almost nothing. Leo! There! Now!" she said with her finger on the map.
Through a shower of white fireflies Leo and Piper departed.