Chapter 9: Scry Hard Part 3
March 22, 1997 – Saturday
Halliwell Manor
"I can't believe we've been miniature for two hours..." Piper exclaimed as she, Buffy, and Leo descended the stairs of the dollhouse. "...and demons have taken over the house. If Zankou taps into The Nexus–"
"We're not going to let that happen," Leo interrupted, determination in his voice, as they entered the living room.
"Oh, yeah? How? We're three inches tall," Piper skeptically questioned.
"Well, we're going to get to the Book and we're going to contact Phoebe and Paige," Leo replied confidently.
"Uh..." Piper pointed towards the window, where the towering Book of Shadows stood on its tall bookstand. "That Book? Because A—we're trapped. And B—even if we weren't, those demons could squash us with one foot."
"Stay calm. Wyatt didn't put us in here to get hurt. He put us in here to protect us. There has to be something we're overlooking," Leo reasoned, scanning the dollhouse surroundings. "Blasting doesn't work."
"Yeah, I noticed," Piper replied, recalling her failed attempt at blasting her way out, only to be repelled by Wyatt's force field that enveloped the dollhouse.
"All the doors, the windows are sealed. How did you play with the dollhouse when you were little?" Leo inquired.
"What do you mean?" Piper wondered.
Buffy grinned, understanding where her father was headed with his line of questioning. "It has to open, right? It's a toy. Either the roof opens, or its hinged somewhere on the side and swings open."
Piper shrugged. "I don't know. That was many years ago."
"It might be our only shot. You need to think," Leo urged.
"I think it swung open," Piper said, scanning the surroundings.
"Where?"
Piper led the way into the conservatory, with Leo and Buffy following closely behind. They searched the area, trying to find where the dollhouse swung open. "Here," she exclaimed.
Leo grabbed a chair and broke it apart, using the longest piece to try and wedge the wall apart. But no matter how hard he tried; he couldn't get enough leverage.
"Let me try," Buffy offered, taking the chair piece from Leo. "I may be three inches tall, but I'm still a Slayer, which means I should be physically stronger than either of you." With focused determination, she wedged the piece in and, using every ounce of her Slayer strength, managed to force the wall apart wide enough for them to squeeze through.
"You know, Leo," Piper said as they squeezed out through the crack, "I'm glad you cast that spell. Because if you hadn't, they might have discovered Buffy and taken her away from Joyce, and we might still be trapped inside the dollhouse."
Leo chuckled and nodded. "I am, too."
Buffy looked at her father, a warm smile on her face, and wrapped an arm around him, gently hugging him.
Bay Mirror Newspaper Offices
Phoebe stood behind her desk in her office, engrossed in editing an article. Just then, Paige orbed in with Joyce. "Oh, you've got to give me a second," Phoebe said, glancing up from her work. "Any luck finding Piper or Buffy?"
"No," Paige replied. "I tried sensing Buffy and though unlike earlier I do seem to get a ping now. It's small, like the tiniest of blips. And both Joyce and I have scryed for both Piper and Buffy and we've come up empty. Will you please just come back to Magic School with us now?"
"Just give me two minutes," Phoebe requested.
Joyce frowned. "My daughter is missing."
"And our sister," Paige added.
"And there are fifty jobs on the line if the paper doesn't come out," Phoebe argued.
Paige shook her head. "Well, you can cancel the subscription to our house if the demons don't get dealt with."
"Fine," Joyce agreed, glancing at her watch. "One minute, go."
Phoebe looked at Joyce, as if questioning the seriousness of the time limit, before Paige nudged her towards the door. Sighing, Phoebe made her way to Bauer. "Okay, check this out," she said, handing him Bauer's edited article.
"You think I'm going to let 'Ask Phoebe' rewrite me?" Bauer retorted.
"Read now, bitch later," Phoebe replied, remembering Joyce's concern. She understood the anguish of a mother with missing loved ones. After all, it was how she had felt when she and Piper had lost Prue. Finding Buffy and Piper as soon as possible was crucial. "Okay?" She then turned to a man from advertising. "So, you oversold a space. Let me see the ads." The man nodded, presenting her with both ads. "Shrink them and print them both."
Phoebe stood behind her desk in her office, engrossed in editing an article. Just then, Paige orbed in with Joyce.
"Oh, you've got to give me a second," Phoebe said, glancing up from her work. "Any luck with Piper or Buffy?"
"No," Paige replied. "I tried sensing Buffy, and while I do get a faint signal now, it's incredibly weak. Both Joyce and I have scryed for Piper and Buffy, but we've come up empty. Can we please go back to Magic School now?"
"Just give me two minutes," Phoebe requested.
Joyce frowned. "My daughter is missing."
"And our sister," Paige added.
"And there are fifty jobs on the line if the paper doesn't come out," Phoebe argued.
Paige shook her head. "Well, you can cancel the subscription to our house if the demons don't get dealt with."
"Fine," Joyce agreed, glancing at her watch. "One minute, go."
Phoebe looked at Joyce, as if questioning the seriousness of the time limit, before Paige nudged her towards the door. Sighing, Phoebe made her way to Bauer. "Okay, check this out," she said, handing him Bauer's edited article.
"You think I'm going to let 'Ask Phoebe' rewrite me?" Bauer retorted.
"Read it now, complain later," Phoebe replied, remembering Joyce's concern. She understood the anguish of a mother with missing loved ones. After all, it was how she had felt when she and Piper had lost Prue. Finding Buffy and Piper as soon as possible was crucial. "Okay?" She then turned to a man from advertising. "So, you oversold a space. Let me see the ads." The man nodded, presenting her with both ads. "Shrink them and print them both."
"We can't do that," he objected. "The advertisers were promised a certain size."
"Well, then make the font bigger," Phoebe insisted. "And if they complain, send them a bottle of Cristal on my tab. Actually, on Elise's tab." Satisfied, she watched him walk away. She then turned back to Bauer. "What do you think?"
Bauer nodded. "It works."
"That's what I like to hear. Who's next?" Phoebe asked as Jordan approached her. She let out another sigh.
"First my teacup, now he's on my computer," he told her.
"You know what? Isn't this kind of obvious?" Phoebe inquired.
"What?" Jordan replied, following Phoebe's gaze to the film critic, who smiled sheepishly. Jordan then turned and walked away.
"Any other questions?" Phoebe asked, but received no response. "No? Okay, I'll be in my office for a meeting." She returned to her office and closed the door behind her.
"Now you understand what I have to go through," Joyce remarked.
Phoebe chuckled. "I guess so. Let's go," she said, extending her hand to Joyce. They joined hands with Paige, and in a shimmer of orbs, they vanished from the office.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy was the first to swiftly reach the top of the bookstand, followed by Leo and Piper. The three of them huddled behind the Book, seeking cover.
"You both okay?" Leo asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, Dad," Buffy reassured him. "Remember, I'm the Slayer."
"My arms are a little sore, but I'm not the one with a hole in my back," Piper replied.
"I'll keep an eye on those two," Buffy said, motioning towards the demons who stood guard at the door. "You two focus on working on that spell so Paige, Phoebe, and my mom can find us."
"Don't you think they've already tried scrying?" Piper questioned. "Or Paige would have sensed you, Buffy?"
"Well, if Paige, Phoebe, and Joyce did attempt scrying, it wouldn't have worked," Leo explained. "Wyatt's shield on the dollhouse would have protected us. It probably prevented Paige from sensing Buffy as well. But based on the last time you were shrunk..."
"She would drop to the tiniest of blips on Paige's radar," Piper recalled, reminiscing about the incident with Gammil when she, Phoebe, and Paige had been shrunk. "Which means Paige would have trouble sensing her location."
"That's likely the same reason Zankou couldn't locate us," Leo added.
"And now that we're out?" Buffy inquired.
"Now we need to hurry," Leo urged. "Alright, Piper, help me flip these pages."
"Wait, I have a better idea," Piper interjected.
"What is it?" Leo inquired.
Piper signaled for Leo to move aside, and then, utilizing her explosive power, she flipped the page with a burst of energy.
"Hold on a second," Buffy whispered as the demons turned their attention towards the book. She glanced around and smiled as she looked at the window. "They're looking this way. Hopefully, they'll assume the wind caused it. There's a scarf by the window fluttering in the breeze."
Magic School
Paige gripped the mortar and pestle, grinding up rosemary with frustration evident on her face. "Okay, this whole calling a lost witch stuff is much harder without the book."
"Maybe we didn't scry hard enough," Phoebe suggested. "Should we give it another try?"
"It won't work," Joyce interjected with a weary sigh. "Both Paige and I scryed for Piper and Buffy, and we came up empty-handed."
Paige set down the pestle and picked up the rosemary, contemplating their predicament. "I even attempted to sense Buffy, and she's dropped to the tiniest of blips."
"The tiniest of blips?" Phoebe echoed, a realization dawning on her.
"Yes," Paige said as she glanced at her sister. "What is it?"
"Remember Gammil?" Phoebe asked as Paige nodded. "When he shrunk us. Leo told Piper when he tried to sense me that I had dropped to the tiniest of blips."
"You think they've been shrunk?" Joyce asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"It's a possibility," Phoebe confirmed. "They might still be inside the manor. Paige, you said you found Wyatt and Chris alone at the manor, with Piper, Leo, and Buffy missing. What if Wyatt did something similar to what he did with the dragon?"
"Are you suggesting that Wyatt shrunk his parents and his older sister?" Paige pondered. "But why?"
"Remember, Piper mentioned that Leo had been injured," Phoebe reminded her.
"And Wyatt might have witnessed that," Paige said jumping on Phoebe's train of thought. "If he did, he might have thought he was protecting them from further harm by placing them somewhere they couldn't be hurt. But where?"
"I don't know," Phoebe admitted with a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation.
Just then, the scrying crystal levitated into the air, moving around the map. "Oh my God. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Paige exclaimed.
"Yeah, and I can't believe it," Phoebe replied, astonishment evident in her voice.
"I believe it," Joyce interjected. "There's a spell in your book, one your mom and I wrote. We would cast it if we were in trouble and knew the other was searching for us. The spell would have done exactly this, kind of a reverse scrying."
The crystal descended, landing on the map, directly atop the location of the manor.
"It seems you were right, Phoebe," Paige acknowledged. "They're there."
"Or it could be a trap," Phoebe cautioned.
"That's possible," Joyce agreed. "They might have found Buffy and Piper and forced them to cast the spell. But I think it's a trap we'll have to stumble into."
Paige nodded in agreement as Phoebe and Joyce clasped her hands tightly, and with a burst of orbs, they vanished, ready to face whatever awaited them at the manor.
Halliwell Manor
On the second floor, a demon patrolled the hallway outside the bathroom. Phoebe cautiously peered out, swiftly closing the door upon spotting the demon. She turned to Paige and Joyce, urgency in her eyes. "We have to find a way past the guard."
"Fine, but we can't rely on using more magic. Zankou will sense us," Paige cautioned.
"No magic? What about orbing?" Phoebe retorted.
"She's right. He already knows we're here," Joyce interjected, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Paige's face lit up with a mischievous smile. "I have an idea. Remember when I told you about my first encounter with Buffy face-to-face?"
Phoebe's eyes widened in realization. "The handstand!" She positioned herself by the door, gripping the frame for leverage. Even though she couldn't perform a handstand, she could use the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to the demon. Silently, she opened the door, readying herself. As the demon passed by, she swung out and struck him in the face, sending him crashing into the wall with a resounding thud. Swiftly, she followed up with a knee strike, rendering him unconscious.
"That was a brilliant plan," Paige praised with a smile.
"And it was all your idea," Phoebe replied, beaming at her sister.
"Technically it was Buffy's," Paige corrected with a small chuckle.
"Anyway, where do we begin?" Phoebe asked getting them back on task to find Piper and Buffy.
"The Book," Joyce suggested as they turned and ascended the stairs toward the attic. As they approached the door, they encountered another demon, whom Phoebe swiftly.
"Piper, where are you?" Phoebe called out.
"Buffy?" Joyce added.
As they made their way into the attic, the door squeaked shut behind them, revealing Zankou stepping out from behind it. Phoebe gasped, turning to face him. In his arms, he held a box. "Looking for these?" he taunted, opening the box to reveal Piper, Leo, and Buffy trapped inside. "The mighty Charmed Ones... the most famous witches of all time. So many demons have tried to kill you."
Inside the box, Piper knelt down, struggling to maintain her balance, while Leo and Buffy peered out through the opening. "What do you two see?" Piper asked.
"Demons," Leo responded.
"But now that the moment is here, it's almost… anticlimactic," Zankou mused.
"Maybe for you it is," Paige retorted defiantly.
An energy ball formed in Zankou's hand as he prepared to attack. "Perhaps you'd like to go first."
"Hold on. You need us… to open the Nexus," Phoebe interjected.
A smile curled on Zankou's lips. "Nice try. Shall I start with you instead?"
"No," Joyce interjected. "Because you need them to obtain the Shadow."
The energy ball in Zankou's hand dissipated. "I'm listening," he conceded.
Piper whispered to Leo and Buffy, wondering what was going on. "Leo? Buffy?"
"They're stalling," Craven, unknowingly answering Piper's question, remarked. "Just kill them, and evil will control the Nexus this time."
"This time?" Paige questioned. "What do you mean, you've tried before?"
"I bet they lost some demons, too. Yeah, we've had some experience with the Nexus," Phoebe added, implying their knowledge of its workings.
"So, have I," Joyce chimed in. "With the Shadow, or as their Grams called it in her bedtime story, the Woogie."
"They're lying," Craven insisted.
Zankou shook his head. "No, I read Piper's diary. I guess I'll need to restore her to full size for you to do this?"
"Zankou, they just want you to restore the Power of Three," Craven argued.
"What's that compared to the power of the Shadow?" Joyce challenged.
"So, what's in it for you?" Zankou inquired.
"We live to fight another day," Paige replied. "And if we do die, we go down kicking and screaming."
"I'm not leaving you two," Piper declared, refusing to abandon Leo and Buffy.
"You have to," Leo urged.
"If Zankou gets the Shadow, then we'll never be able to stop him," Piper reasoned.
"Trust my mom," Buffy reassured them. "I bet she has a plan that will not only rid you of Zankou but also this Shadow demon."
"I think Buffy is right," Leo added. "The Shadow won't know where to go. Look, I might have lost my powers, but I didn't lose what I know about magic. Trust me. Do what he wants."
Zankou reached into the box, extracting Piper from her confined space. "Hey!" Piper exclaimed. "Put me down! Dammit, I say, put me down!"
"You try anything... and you will lose the love of your life and your newfound step-daughter," Zankou threatened Piper, closing the box lid once again, leaving Buffy and Leo in the dark. Together, they descended into the basement, stopping near a hole in the floor.
"Any idea how we're going to get out of this one?" Phoebe asked, concern etched on her face.
"No," Piper admitted, her gaze shifting to Joyce. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yes, one that I hope will restore Buffy and Leo to full size," Joyce replied confidently.
Zankou handed Paige a spell. "Proceed."
"Natum adai necral dana intan lanok," Phoebe, Piper, Paige, and Joyce chanted as the Shadow emerged from the hole, drawn toward Zankou, who stepped forward with open arms. But unexpectedly, the Shadow changed direction, heading straight for Joyce, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige.
"What's happening?" Zankou questioned, confusion etched on his face as the Shadow bypassed him and entered the box he still held.
"Leo? Buffy?" Piper called out.
Black smoke billowed out of the box, receding back into Leo and Buffy, who had now regained their full size, their eyes tinged with darkness.
Zankou turned to Leo and Buffy, his voice filled with rage. "What have you done?!"
The Shadow within Leo and Buffy shifted, raising their right hands and unleashing a powerful blast of smoke, propelling Zankou high against the basement wall.
Zankou growled as the other demons in the basement turned their attention to Leo and Buffy, attacking them with their boomerangs. However, the weapons passed harmlessly through them. With swift retaliation, Leo and Buffy threw Zankou to the ground and unleashed their powers, vanquishing the demons in a blaze of light.
Zankou struggled to his feet, launching an energy ball at Leo and Buffy, but it had no effect. Unyielding, they retaliated, pushing Zankou up the stairs and into the kitchen.
Buffy and Leo ascended the stairs, pursuing Zankou, only to find the kitchen deserted.
"Leo, Buffy, you two don't want this," Piper pleaded.
"Say the spell," Leo instructed.
"I am light. I am one too strong to fight," Piper began, her voice filled with determination, soon joined by Joyce, Paige, and Phoebe. "So, go away and leave my sight, and take with you this endless night."
The Shadow emerged from within Leo and Buffy, retreating back into the basement, leaving father and daughter collapsed on the floor, weakened but alive.
Piper and Joyce rushed to their sides. "Are you both okay?" Piper asked, her concern evident.
"Yeah," Leo confirmed, glancing at his daughter. "We're all right."
"What happened?" Phoebe inquired, seeking clarification.
"The Shadow couldn't choose between Zankou's evil or the Power of Three and Joyce, so it went to the only neutral territory... me and Buffy," Leo explained.
"Buffy wouldn't be neutral, though," Paige interjected. "If she hadn't chosen, she wouldn't have been assigned as my charge."
"You are correct," Leo acknowledged. "And you are wrong. Buffy's witch side is undoubtedly good. But the Slayer, the Slayer was created to maintain the balance between good and evil. It is neutral."
"So, when the Shadow entered Buffy, it inhabited only the Slayer half of her. It did not take her over completely, like it did to Leo, who was entirely neutral. It was kind of like a multiple personality situation. While the Shadow was within her, the Buffy/witch personality was suppressed, making room for the Slayer/Shadow personality," Joyce clarified, shedding light on the complex situation.
P3
Buffy and Dawn joined their mother, Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Leo, gathered around the table in the owner's alcove. The two teenage girls had been magically aged to appear older, ensuring Piper's liquor license wouldn't be at risk for allowing underage girls in.
Piper turned to Leo, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "So, all that power surging through your veins didn't make you miss the old days?"
Leo shook his head, recalling his choice. "No, I chose the girl, remember?"
Phoebe chimed in, recognizing Leo's expertise. "It would be a shame not to put all that magical knowledge to good use."
Leo glanced at Joyce, who offered him a supportive smile. He then turned back to the sisters and simply shrugged.
Paige's attention was drawn to the dance floor. "Oh, my god! Isn't that your boss Elise?" she exclaimed, spotting Elise and her date, Richard Dillard, dancing.
Phoebe's jaw dropped as she confirmed the sighting. "Oh, my god, it is!"
Paige commented wryly, "So much for her family emergency."
Joyce interjected with a compassionate perspective. "Everyone deserves a normal life away from the pressures of their daily lives."
Buffy hugged her mother, agreeing wholeheartedly. "I couldn't agree more, Mom."
Phoebe spoke up, acknowledging the situation. "You know what? Good for her."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to call her on it?"
Phoebe chuckled lightly. "Well, I'm not going to buy her a new BlackBerry, but considering all the times I've bailed, who can blame her?"
Piper chimed in, surprised by the response. "Wow, enlightened."
Phoebe explained, drawing from her experiences. "Well, you learn a lot from walking in someone else's shoes."
Paige expressed her concerns, linking them to their current predicament. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of—what Zankou has found out about us."
Joyce shared her apprehensions. "I have my doubts that we have seen the last of him. In fact, it would not surprise me if Dawn, Buffy, and I have not seen the last of him either."
Leo stood up, signaling his departure. "Well, on that unhappy note, I got to get back to the manor and clean up the mess after the demons. It's probably going to take a while to sort it all out."
Piper acknowledged the familiar cycle. "Well, here we go again, huh?"
Leo nodded, acknowledging the ongoing challenges. "Yeah," he said before leaving.
Paige also got up, sighing. "As for me, as much as I would like to find a little cutie to dance with, I should be getting back to Magic School to finish those schedules. Whoo-hoo!" She turned to Joyce, Buffy, and Dawn. "Call me when you're ready to orb home." With that, she walked away.
Buffy proposed a solution to Paige's workload. "I think I have a solution, at least for Paige's problem."
Piper was curious. "What is it?"
Buffy's idea started to take shape. "Dad spent fifty years as a Whitelighter and then an Elder. He could use his knowledge to pass on what he has learned to others like me and Dawn, who are just coming into our powers."
Joyce's face lit up with approval. "Have him teach at Magic School. That way, Paige would be freed for her Whitelighter duties, her Charmed responsibilities, and her job in Sunnydale."
March 23, 1997 – Sunday
Magic School
Piper led Leo into the Great Hall at Magic School, guiding him with her hands covering his eyes. Once they reached their destination, she removed her hands with a cheerful exclamation. "Surprise!"
Leo looked around, a hint of confusion in his voice. "What, you want me to clean Magic School?"
Piper shook her head, a smile on her face. "No," she replied as Phoebe, Paige, Joyce, Dawn, and Buffy joined them.
Phoebe explained their plan. "We want you to run it."
Paige interjected, surprised by the unexpected turn of events. "Huh? What's going on here?"
Joyce stepped forward, offering an explanation. "Well, we know how you've been trying to juggle your Whitelighter duties, your job here, and your responsibilities in Sunnydale. This will allow you to devote yourself solely to your duties in Sunnydale and, of course, your responsibilities as a Charmed One."
Piper chimed in, emphasizing Leo's suitability for the role. "And Leo, being the perfect man for the job," she said as she looked at her husband, "considering your vast magical knowledge, you're practically a walking Book of Shadows."
Dawn joined in, highlighting the benefits. "You can teach kids like me and Buffy everything we need to know about our powers."
Paige considered the proposition and realized the advantages it offered. "Well, that would definitely free me up."
Joyce added, expressing her confidence in Leo's capabilities. "And with Leo, the school will still be in good hands."
Leo smiled, turning to Paige. "I don't know what to say. Paige?"
Paige nodded, accepting the decision. "I'm good." With that, she orbed out.
Phoebe remarked, finding the situation surprisingly easy. "Well, that was easy. Leo?"
Leo's smile widened. "I'd be honored."
Piper and Joyce voiced their approval, affirming their choice. "Good choice," they told him in unison.
Leo leaned in to kiss Piper, expressing his gratitude. As they pulled away, they noticed Wyatt standing in the doorway. Leo approached his son, kneeling down to his level. "Hi," he greeted Wyatt warmly. "Guess what? You don't have to worry about daddy anymore because I'm going to be okay. Okay?"
Before they could continue, Buffy interjected with a plan of her own. "Before we call Paige back, I just thought I'd let you know, Dad. Dawn and I will be here after school for an hour or two. Not only so I can spend time with you, but so you can teach us about our powers."
Leo looked up at his daughter, his heart filled with joy. As he stood up, holding Wyatt in his arms, he pulled Buffy into a heartfelt embrace, cherishing the closeness with both his son and his daughter.