Chapter 9: Scry Hard Part 3
March 29, 1997 – Saturday
Halliwell Manor
"I can't believe we've been miniature for two hours," Piper said, her voice laced with frustration as she, Buffy, and Leo carefully descended the steep, narrow stairs of the dollhouse. Each step felt like a mountain, the wooden steps creaking ominously under their tiny weight. The dim light cast elongated shadows, making their surroundings feel even more surreal. "And demons take over the house. If Zankou taps into The Nexus –"
"We're not going to let that happen," Leo interrupted with a determined edge, his eyes scanning their miniature surroundings as they entered the dollhouse's living room.
"Oh, yeah? How?" Piper asked skeptically, crossing her arms. "We're three inches tall."
"Well, we're going to get to the Book and we're going to contact Phoebe and Paige," Leo replied, his voice steady with conviction.
Piper pointed towards the window, her arm trembling slightly. "Uh..." She gestured at the sight outside: the enormous Book of Shadows perched on its towering bookstand, looking like a colossal monument. "That Book? 'Cause A—we're trapped. And B—even if we weren't, those demons could squash us with one foot."
"Stay calm," Leo urged, glancing around the intricately detailed dollhouse. Each piece of furniture and every decor element was a perfect replica of their real home but scaled down to doll-size. "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," he said thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on the delicate porcelain figurines and miniature paintings. "Blasting doesn't work.
"Yeah. I noticed," Piper muttered, her brow furrowing as she remembered her earlier futile attempts. The energy of her blast had rebounded off the shimmering force field Wyatt had placed over the house, trapping them inside like birds in a cage.
Leo moved to examine the tiny windows, all sealed tight, their small frames unyielding. "All the doors, the windows are sealed. How did you play with the dollhouse when you were little?" he asked, turning back to Piper.
"What do you mean?" Piper wondered, a frown creasing her forehead.
Buffy, who had been quietly observing the exchange, smiled as she began to understand her father's line of questioning. "It has to open, right?" she said, her voice filled with a newfound excitement. "It's a toy; either the roof opens, or it's hinged somewhere on the side and swings open." Her eyes sparkled with hope as she looked around, searching for the hidden mechanism that would unlock their prison.
Piper shrugged, her face a mixture of frustration and concentration. "I don't know. That was a lot of years ago."
"It might be our only shot. You need to think," Leo argued, his tone more urgent now, eyes locked on Piper.
Piper frowned, her mind racing through distant childhood memories. "I think it swung open," she finally said, scanning the room as if trying to summon a long-forgotten detail.
"Where?" Leo asked, his voice eager and hopeful.
Piper led the way into the conservatory, her steps quick and determined. Leo and Buffy trailed behind her, their eyes darting around the room, taking in the miniature plants and tiny furniture, all perfectly crafted to scale. Every detail seemed to mock their current predicament.
"Here," she said, stopping in front of a wall that seemed unremarkable at first glance.
Leo, wasting no time, picked up a small chair. With a grunt, he broke it apart, selecting the longest piece to use as a lever. He positioned it against the wall, but despite his best efforts, he couldn't get the leverage needed to pry it open. His face flushed with exertion and frustration.
"Let me try," Buffy said, her voice calm but firm. She took the piece from Leo's hands, her eyes glinting with determination. "I may be three inches tall, but I'm still a Slayer, which means I should still be physically stronger than either of you." With practiced precision, she wedged the piece into the slight gap. Summoning every ounce of her Slayer strength, she strained against the wall. Muscles rippled beneath her tiny frame as she forced the wall apart, creating a narrow opening just wide enough for them to slip through.
"You know, Leo," Piper said as they wriggled out through the crack, their breaths coming in short, excited bursts. "I'm glad you cast that spell. Because if you hadn't, they," she said, indicating the Elders with a nod of her head, "might have found out and taken Buffy away from Joyce, and we might still be trapped inside the dollhouse."
Leo laughed, a sound filled with relief and triumph. He nodded in agreement. "I am, too."
Buffy looked at her father, her eyes softening with affection. She wrapped an arm around him, the gesture both protective and grateful. "Thanks, Dad," she whispered, giving him a gentle hug, feeling his warmth and reassurance in return.
Bay Mirror Newspaper Offices
Phoebe stood behind her desk in her office, surrounded by neatly stacked papers and glowing computer screens, as she meticulously edited an article. The room was filled with the faint hum of electronics and the smell of freshly printed paper. Just at that moment, a soft shimmer of lights heralded Paige orbing in with Joyce, their faces marked with anxiety.
"Oh, you got to give me one second," Phoebe said, not looking up immediately as she finished the sentence she was working on. "Any luck with Piper or Buffy?"
"No," Paige replied, her voice edged with frustration. "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?" Paige's eyes were pleading, her usual calm demeanor cracking under the weight of worry.
"Give me just two minutes," Phoebe said, her fingers still flying over the keyboard, eyes fixed on the screen.
Joyce frowned, her face paling slightly. "My daughter is missing," she said, her voice tight with fear and impatience.
"And our sister," Paige added, her tone sharp with urgency.
"And there are fifty jobs on the line if the paper does not come out," Phoebe argued, a hint of desperation in her voice as she gestured to the bustling newsroom beyond her office door.
Paige shook her head, her frustration boiling over. "Well, you can cancel the subscription to our house if the demons don't get out," she retorted, her voice rising slightly.
"Just give me one minute," Phoebe repeated, her tone firm, though her eyes softened as she glanced at Paige and Joyce, recognizing their distress.
"Fine," Joyce replied, glancing at her watch with an exasperated sigh. "One minute, go."
Phoebe looked at Joyce as if to say, "You're kidding, right?" before Paige firmly nudged her towards the door. She sighed, her frustration evident, and then let out a loud, piercing whistle as she strode over to Bauer. "Okay. Check this out," she said, handing him the edited article with a determined flourish.
"You think I'm going to let 'Ask Phoebe' rewrite me?" Bauer asked, his tone dripping with skepticism and wounded pride.
"Read now, bitch later," Phoebe snapped, her mind already racing back to Joyce and the ticking clock. She could practically feel Joyce's anxiety and impatience, understanding it all too well. The memory of losing Prue still stung, making her all the more desperate to find Buffy and Piper as quickly as possible. "Okay?" She turned to a man from advertising who was hovering nearby. "So, you oversold a space. Let me see the ads."
The man nodded, pulling out two mock-ups and showing them to her. "Shrink them and print them both," Phoebe instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"We can't do that," he protested. "The advertisers were promised a certain size."
Phoebe rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Well, then make the font bigger. And if they complain, send them a bottle of Cristal on my tab. Actually, on Elise's tab." Satisfied with her quick solution, she turned and walked away, focusing back on Bauer. "What do you think?"
Bauer nodded reluctantly. "It works."
"That's what I like to hear. Who's next?" Phoebe said, her voice carrying a note of weary determination as Jordan stepped up to her. She let out another sigh, feeling the weight of the day's stress pressing down on her.
"First my teacup, now he's on my computer," Jordan grumbled, his annoyance clear.
"You know what? Isn't this kind of obvious?" Phoebe asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Jordan asked, confusion wrinkling his brow.
"He likes you," Phoebe said with a knowing shake of her head.
Jordan looked towards the film critic, who was smiling at him sheepishly. Realization dawned on his face, and with a mix of embarrassment and amusement, he turned and walked away.
"Any other questions?" Phoebe asked quietly, her eyes sweeping the room. The newsroom had fallen into a rare silence, everyone seeming to understand the gravity of the moment. But no one answered. "No? Okay. I will be in my office in a meeting." With that, she turned on her heel and walked back into her office, the door clicking shut behind her.
Inside, the office was a sanctuary of controlled chaos, with piles of papers, sticky notes, and the comforting hum of her computer. Joyce and Paige was waiting for her, looking both anxious and relieved.
"Now you understand what I have to go through," Joyce said, her voice tinged with empathy and a touch of amusement.
Phoebe laughed, the sound a brief reprieve from the tension. "I guess so," she replied, shaking her head slightly. "Let's go."
With a shared look of determination, Phoebe and Joyce moved closer to Paige, who was standing ready. Phoebe reached out, taking one of Paige's hands, while Joyce did the same on the other side. The trio stood in a small circle, their faces set with resolve.
In an instant, they were surrounded by the shimmering lights of orbing, their forms dissolving into the magical energy.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy was the first to make it to the top of the towering bookstand, her agile form swiftly navigating the giant structure. She reached down, offering a steady hand to Leo and then to Piper, helping them up before the three of them ducked behind the massive cover of the Book of Shadows.
"You both okay?" Leo asked, his voice low but filled with concern as he glanced at his daughter and wife.
"I'm fine, Dad," Buffy replied, her breath steady. "Slayer, remember?" She flashed him a brief, reassuring smile.
"My arms are a little sore, but I'm not the one with a hole in my back," Piper said, flexing her fingers and wincing slightly.
"I'll keep an eye on those two," Buffy said, nodding towards the door where the demons lurked. Her senses were heightened, every muscle tensed and ready for action. "Get to work on that spell so Paige, Phoebe, and my mom can find us."
"Don't you think they scryed already?" Piper asked, her brow furrowing with worry. "Or Paige would have sensed you, Buffy?"
"Well, if Paige, Phoebe, and Joyce did scry, it wouldn't have worked," Leo explained, his eyes darting to the Book as he thought. "Wyatt's shield on the dollhouse would've protected us. It would have likely kept Paige from sensing Buffy as well. But based on the last time you were shrunk…"
"She dropped to the tiniest blip on Paige's radar," Piper recalled, her mind flashing back to the harrowing encounter with Gammil, who had shrunk her, Phoebe, and Paige.
"It also must be the same reason Zankou didn't know where we are," Leo added, his expression grim but focused.
"And now that we're out?" Buffy asked, her voice tense with anticipation.
"We have to hurry," Leo said urgently. "All right, Piper, help me flip these pages."
"Wait. I have a better idea," Piper said suddenly, her eyes lighting up with inspiration.
"What?" Leo asked, pausing in his efforts, his expression a mix of curiosity and hope.
Piper motioned for Leo to step aside, her focus sharpening. She took a deep breath, channeling her explosive power with precision. With a controlled gesture, she used her ability to flip the massive page of the Book of Shadows, the air crackling with energy as the page turned over smoothly.
"Hold off a second," Buffy whispered urgently, her eyes darting towards the door as the demons' heads turned in their direction, drawn by the sudden movement. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her composure, her sharp mind quickly assessing their surroundings. She glanced around and then smiled, a plan forming. "They're looking this way. Hopefully they will think the wind did it; there is a scarf by the window fluttering in the breeze."
The demons peered suspiciously towards the book, but their gazes shifted to the window where the scarf danced lightly in the breeze. The soft fluttering provided a plausible distraction, and after a tense moment, the demons seemed to relax, their attention drifting back to their previous activities.
Buffy let out a silent breath of relief, her sharp eyes still on high alert. Piper and Leo exchanged a quick, relieved glance before returning their focus to the Book. They moved with renewed urgency, aware of the fragile window of opportunity they had just created. The pages of the Book of Shadows continued to turn, each one bringing them closer to the spell they needed.
Magic School
Paige was methodically grinding rosemary in a mortar and pestle, the rhythmic motion punctuating the room with a soft, crunching sound. The fragrant herb released its earthy scent, filling the air with a calming aroma. "Okay, this whole calling a lost witch stuff is much harder without the book," she muttered, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Maybe we didn't scry hard enough," Phoebe suggested, her voice tinged with a mixture of hope and frustration. "Shall we try again?"
"It won't work," Joyce interjected with a sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Paige and I both scryed for Piper and Buffy and we both came up with nothing."
Paige put down the pestle, picking up the finely ground rosemary. "I even tried sensing Buffy, and she's dropped to the tiniest of blips," she explained, her tone conveying a blend of puzzlement and concern.
"Tiniest of blips?" Phoebe repeated, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Yes," Paige confirmed. When she looked at her sister, she noticed a spark of realization dawning in Phoebe's eyes. "What?" Paige asked, intrigued.
"Remember Gammil?" Phoebe asked, leaning forward slightly. "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 rising with a mix of disbelief and hope.
"I'd say it's a possibility," Phoebe replied, nodding slowly. "They may even 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 he did the same thing he did with the dragon?"
"You're saying that Wyatt shrunk his parents and his big sister," Paige said, her eyes widening as the idea took root. "But why?"
"Didn't Piper tell you that Leo had gotten hurt?" Phoebe asked, her voice growing more animated as she pieced the clues together.
"Of course," Paige said, her expression softening with understanding. "And Wyatt would have seen the injury. He might have thought he was protecting them from getting hurt and put them someplace where they couldn't be hurt. But where?"
"I don't know," Phoebe admitted with a heavy sigh, her frustration palpable. The weight of their predicament seemed to press down on her as she looked around the room, hoping for some spark of inspiration.
Just then, the scrying crystal suddenly rose into the air, shimmering with a faint, mystical light, and began to move erratically around the map laid out before them. Its path traced a seemingly random pattern, but there was an underlying purpose to its movements. "Oh my god. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Paige exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mix of astonishment and hope.
"Yeah. And I don't believe it," Phoebe said, her eyes wide with surprise as she watched the crystal's dance.
"I do," Joyce said, her voice carrying a note of recognition and nostalgia. "There is a spell in your book that your mom and I wrote. We would cast it if we were in trouble and knew the other was looking for us. The spell would have done exactly this."
The crystal's movement grew more deliberate, finally coming to a halt and dropping onto the map with a soft thud. It landed precisely on the location of the Manor.
"It looks like you are right, Phoebe," Paige said, leaning closer to verify the spot. "They're at the Manor."
"Or it's a trap," Phoebe cautioned, her brows knitting together in concern. The possibility loomed over them like a dark cloud, casting a shadow on their moment of hope.
"It's possible," Joyce agreed, her face serious. "The demons could have found Buffy and Piper and forced them to cast the spell. But I think it's a trap we are going to have to stumble into."
Paige nodded resolutely, the determination in her eyes mirroring that of Phoebe and Joyce. Without another word, they moved into position, joining hands. The familiar sensation of orbing enveloped them, the room around them dissolving into a swirl of shimmering lights.
Halliwell Manor
On the second floor outside the bathroom, a demon patrolled the hallway, his footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floor. The bathroom door creaked open just a fraction, and Phoebe peeked out cautiously. She quickly withdrew, closing the door quietly behind her before turning to face Paige and Joyce. "We got to get past the guard."
"Fine, but we can't use any more magic otherwise Zankou will sense us," Paige whispered, her eyes wide with urgency.
"Can't use magic?" Phoebe asked incredulously. "What do you call orbing?"
"She's right, he already knows we're here," Joyce said, her voice calm but determined.
Paige's face lit up with a sudden idea, and she smiled. "Do you remember how I told you about my first face-to-face meeting with Buffy?"
"The handstand," Phoebe recalled, her eyes darting towards the door as she nodded in understanding. While she couldn't perform a handstand herself, she could use the doorframe for leverage. Moving silently, she opened the door just enough to slip through, then positioned herself, gripping the doorframe firmly. As the demon passed by, Phoebe swung out with all her might, her legs snapping forward and connecting with the demon's face. He staggered backward, crashing into the wall with a heavy thud. Before he could recover, Phoebe kneed him in the head, knocking him out cold.
"Okay. That was a really great plan," Paige said, her smile broadening with relief.
"And it was all your idea," Phoebe replied, grinning at her sister. "Where do we begin?"
"The Book," Joyce said, her voice resolute. Without another word, they moved swiftly up the stairs toward the attic. As they approached the door, they saw another demon standing guard. Phoebe took him out quickly and efficiently, her movements precise and powerful. Meanwhile, Paige and Joyce maneuvered around to reach the Book of Shadows.
"Piper, where are you?" Phoebe called out, her voice tinged with urgency.
"Buffy?" Joyce echoed, her heart pounding as she scanned the room.
The attic door creaked closed with a long, drawn-out groan as Zankou stepped out from behind it, his presence suddenly filling the room with a palpable sense of menace. His eyes glinted with a malevolent gleam as he held a box in his hands. Phoebe spun around with a sharp gasp, her eyes widening in horror as she saw what was inside. Zankou's smirk was taunting, his satisfaction evident as he slowly opened the box to reveal its contents.
Inside the box, Piper, Leo, and Buffy were huddled together. Piper struggled to maintain her balance, her tiny form swaying slightly as she tried to stay upright. Leo and Buffy, equally miniature, peered out through the small opening of the box, their expressions a mix of concern and determination.
"What do you two see?" Piper asked, her voice tiny but laced with urgency.
"Demons," Leo replied, his eyes scanning their surroundings with a wary alertness.
"But now that the moment is here, it's almost... anticlimactic," Zankou said with a hint of disdain, his tone dripping with mockery as he glanced at the diminutive figures.
"Maybe for you it is," Paige retorted, her voice sharp with defiance.
A crackling energy ball began to form in Zankou's hand, its glowing light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The energy pulsed ominously, a stark reminder of the danger they were facing. "Perhaps you'd like to go first," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Hold on. You need us. To open The Nexus," Phoebe interjected quickly, her voice steady despite the tension. She stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Zankou's with a mix of desperation and resolve.
Zankou's lips curled into a malevolent smile. "Nice try. Shall I start with you instead?" His gaze lingered with a cold, calculated menace as he shifted his focus to Phoebe and her companions.
"No," Joyce interjected, her voice steady despite the looming threat. "Because you need them to get the Shadow."
The energy ball in Zankou's hand vanished in a flash, its menacing glow dissipating into nothingness. His demeanor shifted to one of intrigue, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded Joyce with renewed interest. "I'm listening," he said, his voice low and expectant.
"What are they doing?" Piper whispered urgently to Leo and Buffy, her tiny voice filled with concern as she peered through the box's opening.
"They're stalling," Craven replied, his voice carrying an edge of impatience. His words were unintentionally revealing, providing insight into their adversaries' tactics. "Just kill them and evil will control The Nexus this time."
"This time?" Paige asked, her curiosity piqued. "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 said, her voice reflecting a mix of realization and defiance.
"So, have I," Joyce added, her expression a blend of resolve and memory. "With the Shadow—or as their Grams called it when she told it to them as a bedtime story, the Woogie."
"They're lying," Craven asserted, his tone dismissive and skeptical.
Zankou shook his head, a slow, deliberate motion that conveyed both disappointment and amusement. "No. I read Piper's diary," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I guess I'll need to make her big again for you to do this?"
"Zankou, they just want you to restore the Power of Three," Craven argued, his voice tinged with frustration and desperation. The weight of their predicament seemed to press down on him as he tried to reason with the demon.
"What's that, compared to the power of the Shadow?" Joyce shot back, her voice sharp and resolute. Her determination to protect her family was evident as she stood her ground, the stakes of their situation growing clearer by the second.
"So, what is in it for you?" Zankou asked, his tone laced with curiosity and suspicion as he looked between Joyce and Paige, assessing their motivations.
"We live to fight another day," Paige responded with a fierce determination. "And if we do die, we go down kicking and screaming." Her words were a testament to her unyielding spirit, reflecting a readiness to face whatever came next with bravery and defiance.
"I'm not leaving you two," Piper declared, her voice firm and resolute as she looked at Leo and Buffy, her concern for them palpable.
"You have to," Leo said, his voice steady but tinged with concern. He understood the gravity of the situation and the necessity of making difficult choices to ensure their survival.
"If Zankou gets the Shadow, then we'll never be able to stop him," Piper insisted, her voice filled with urgency and fear. The implications of their failure were clear, and she knew that the consequences of Zankou's victory would be dire.
"Trust my mom," Buffy said, her voice carrying a note of confidence and hope. "I bet you they have a plan that will not only rid you of Zankou but this Shadow demon as well." Her faith in her mother's abilities was unwavering, and she hoped to instill a sense of hope in her father and step-mother.
"I think Buffy is right," Leo agreed, his voice calm and reassuring. "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." His words were a blend of experience and trust, urging them to follow through with their plan despite the risks.
As the conversation concluded, Zankou reached into the box with a swift, deliberate motion and extracted Piper. "Hey!" Piper shouted, her voice filled with anger and panic as she flailed against his grasp. "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 warned, his voice menacing and cold. His threat was clear, and the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. With a final, dismissive glance, he closed the box lid, cutting off Buffy and Leo's view of what was happening.
The room fell into an unsettling silence as Zankou restored Piper to her full size. The atmosphere grew tense as they made their way down into the basement. The air was thick with anticipation and foreboding as they approached a hole in the floor.
"Any idea how we're going to get out of this one?" Phoebe asked, her voice tinged with frustration and concern. The gravity of their situation was palpable, and her eyes darted around, searching for any sign of a solution.
"No," Piper admitted, her expression reflecting her own sense of helplessness. She turned to Joyce, her gaze filled with hope and apprehension. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yes, one I hope will get both Buffy and Leo back to full size," Joyce said, her tone carrying a mixture of determination and hope. She clutched a piece of parchment tightly, the weight of their predicament pressing down on her.
Zankou, with a cold and calculated demeanor, handed Paige a spell. The parchment crackled slightly as he passed it over, its ancient runes glowing faintly. "Proceed," he commanded, his voice carrying an edge of impatience.
With synchronized precision, Phoebe, Piper, Paige, and Joyce began to chant the incantation. Their voices melded together in a rhythmic, harmonious cadence: "Natum adai necral dana intan lanok." The words echoed through the room, their combined power filling the space with an electric tension.
As they chanted, the Shadow began to rise out of the hole in the floor. Its form was a swirling mass of dark energy, shifting and writhing as it ascended. Zankou stepped forward, his arms outstretched as if to embrace the chaos. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the Shadow was drawn to him, its dark tendrils reaching out. But then, in a sudden, disorienting shift, the Shadow veered away and hurtled toward Joyce, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige.
"What's happening?" Zankou demanded, his voice sharp with alarm. His eyes widened in disbelief as the Shadow, now a roiling mass of blackness, zoomed directly into the box he still held.
"Leo? Buffy?" Piper's voice broke through the chaos, filled with fear and urgency as she watched the unfolding disaster. The box erupted in a blinding explosion, sending debris flying through the air.
Black smoke poured out of the box in thick, choking clouds, swirling around the room before being drawn back into Leo and Buffy. As the smoke dissipated, the two figures emerged, now restored to their full size. Their eyes, however, were a stark, unsettling black, reflecting the influence of the Shadow.
Zankou turned abruptly, his gaze locking onto Leo and Buffy with a mixture of rage and disbelief. "What have you done?!" he demanded, his voice a blend of fury and incredulity.
The Shadow inside Leo and Buffy convulsed with dark energy before releasing a devastating blast from their right hands. The force of the smoke-laden attack surged through the air, slamming into Zankou with an almost tangible weight. The impact sent him hurtling upwards, crashing violently into the basement wall. The powerful force left a mark on the wall where Zankou collided, a testament to the sheer strength of the Shadow's assault.
Zankou's growl of frustration echoed through the basement as he tried to recover. Meanwhile, the other demons, armed with their menacing boomerangs, advanced with aggressive intent. However, their weapons passed through Leo and Buffy as if they were mere phantoms. The Shadow's influence had rendered the duo nearly invulnerable to their attacks.
With a decisive move, Leo and Buffy seized Zankou, lifting him effortlessly before hurling him to the ground with a forceful throw. They then turned their attention to the remaining demons, unleashing blasts of energy from their hands. The raw power of their attacks obliterated the demons, reducing them to mere wisps of smoke and ash.
Zankou, barely managing to get to his feet, retaliated by sending a concentrated blast of energy toward Leo and Buffy. The attack collided with them but failed to make any noticeable impact. Their newfound strength seemed impervious to his efforts. In response, Leo and Buffy unleashed a counterblast, propelling Zankou backward. The force of their combined power pushed him up the stairs and into the kitchen, his form skidding across the floor with a forceful thud.
Buffy and Leo ascended the stairs with determined strides, following Zankou's path. They reached the kitchen, only to find it eerily empty. The silence was heavy, and the air was thick with tension as they scanned the room.
"Leo, Buffy, you two don't want this," Piper's voice called out, cutting through the stillness. Her tone was both pleading and resolute, a desperate attempt to guide them back from the brink of destruction.
"Say the spell," Leo instructed, his voice firm despite the strain of their battle.
"I am light. I am one too strong to fight," Piper began, her voice steady as she chanted the spell. Her words were soon joined by the voices of Joyce, Paige, and Phoebe, creating a powerful, unified incantation. "So go away and leave my sight and take with you this endless night."
As the final words of the spell reverberated through the air, the Shadow began to rise from within Leo and Buffy. It twisted and coiled as it made its way back toward the basement, its dark form retreating reluctantly from its hosts. Leo and Buffy, their strength waning, collapsed to the floor in exhaustion, their bodies visibly spent from the ordeal.
Piper and Joyce rushed to their side, their concern evident in their hurried movements. "Are you both okay?" Piper asked, her voice filled with genuine worry as she inspected her husband and step-daughter.
"Yeah," Leo responded with a reassuring look at his daughter. "We're all right."
"What happened?" Phoebe asked, her voice laced with concern and curiosity as she looked at the others, trying to piece together the chaotic events.
"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, his gaze steady as he recounted their ordeal. His face bore the traces of exhaustion and relief, his tone reflecting the gravity of their struggle.
"Buffy wouldn't be neutral though," Paige interjected, her brow furrowed in thought. "If she hadn't chosen, she wouldn't have been assigned as my charge."
"You are correct," Leo acknowledged, nodding thoughtfully. "And you are wrong. Buffy's witch side is indeed good, you're right about that. But the Slayer aspect of her—well, it's different. The Slayer was created to maintain the balance between good and evil. It stands as a force of neutrality."
"So," Joyce interjected, piecing together the complex situation, "when the Shadow entered Buffy, it inhabited only the Slayer half of her. It did not completely take her over as it did with Leo, who was entirely neutral. It's almost like a multiple personality situation. While the Shadow was within her, the Buffy/witch personality was suppressed, overshadowed by the Slayer/Shadow persona."
P3
Buffy and Dawn settled into their seats alongside their mother, Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Leo. The two teenage girls had been enchanted with glamours, a subtle magic that made them appear older. This precaution was necessary to ensure Piper's establishment didn't face the risk of losing its liquor license for allowing underage patrons. The shimmering aura of their disguises blended seamlessly with the elegant atmosphere of the venue, providing an air of sophistication.
"So, all that power surging through your veins didn't make you miss the old days?" Piper asked Leo, her tone laced with curiosity and a touch of nostalgia. She glanced at him with a knowing smile, recalling the weight of his previous responsibilities.
Leo shook his head firmly, his expression serene and resolute. "No. I chose the girl, remember?" His words were imbued with the finality of a decision made long ago, his gaze steady and unwavering as he spoke of the life he had embraced.
"It would be a shame not to put all that magical knowledge to good use," Phoebe chimed in, her voice carrying a hint of wistful longing. The idea of untapped magical potential resonated with her, a testament to the magical legacy they all shared.
Leo's gaze drifted toward Joyce, who sat beside him with a warm, supportive smile. Her presence offered a grounding comfort, reinforcing the bond that had formed between them. He then looked back at the sisters, his shoulders rising in a casual shrug that spoke volumes about his contentment with the path he had chosen.
"Oh, my god! Isn't that your boss Elise?" Paige suddenly exclaimed, her eyes widening as she pointed towards the dance floor. Her voice was tinged with surprise and a hint of amusement.
Phoebe's jaw dropped in disbelief as she followed Paige's gaze. Sure enough, Elise, her boss, and her date, Richard Dillard, were elegantly dancing together. The sight was unexpected and out of context, creating a moment of comic relief amidst their otherwise serious conversation. "Oh, my god, it is!" Phoebe echoed, her voice a blend of astonishment and humor.
"So much for her family emergency," Paige remarked, her tone laden with a mix of incredulity and playful sarcasm. The revelation of Elise's unexpected appearance on the dance floor was a stark contrast to the professional facade she usually maintained.
"Everyone deserves a normal life away from the pressures of their daily lives," Joyce offered with a thoughtful nod. Her words conveyed a deep understanding of the need for balance and the right to a personal escape from the rigors of their respective worlds.
"I couldn't agree more, Mom," Buffy said, wrapping her arms around Joyce in a heartfelt hug.
"You know what?" Phoebe said, a smile tugging at her lips as she considered Elise's situation. "Good for her."
"You're not going to call her on it?" Dawn wondered aloud, her curiosity piqued by Phoebe's apparent change in attitude.
Phoebe laughed slightly, a sound that held a mixture of resignation and amusement. "Well, I'm not going to buy her a new Blackberry, but all the times I've bailed on her, who can blame her?" The lightness in her tone underscored a rare moment of letting go of old grievances, recognizing the humanity in others despite past conflicts.
"Wow," Piper remarked, a touch of admiration in her voice. "Enlightened." Her words carried a sense of appreciation for Phoebe's newfound perspective, acknowledging the growth and understanding it represented.
"Well, you learn a lot from walking in someone else's shoes," Phoebe reflected, her gaze thoughtful as she considered the journey of empathy and personal growth. The metaphor evoked the trials and tribulations of navigating through others' experiences, enriching her understanding of the world.
"Yeah," Paige said, her expression shifting to one of concern. "That's what I'm afraid of—what Zankou has found out about us." Her worry was palpable, reflecting the fear of the unknown and the potential threats that loomed over them.
"I have my doubts," Joyce said, her voice carrying a tone of cautious foresight. "That you 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." Her words hinted at an unsettling sense of anticipation, a recognition that their troubles with Zankou might not yet be fully resolved.
At that moment, Leo rose to his feet, a look of determination etched on his face. "Well, on that unhappy note, I've got to get back to the manor and clean up the mess after the demons." His tone was resolute, aware of the extensive task ahead. "It's probably going to take a while to sort it all out." His commitment to restoring order conveyed the weight of responsibility that lay ahead.
"Well, here we go again, huh?" Piper asked, her voice tinged with a mix of resignation and resolve. Her question acknowledged the cyclical nature of their struggles and the continuous challenges they faced.
Leo nodded, a gesture of acknowledgment and understanding. "Yeah," he said simply, as he left.
Paige stood up with a deep sigh, her shoulders drooping slightly under the weight of her responsibilities. "As much as I would love to find a little cutie to dance with," she said, her voice carrying a tinge of wistfulness, "I should be getting back to Magic School to finish those schedules. Whoo-hoo!" Her enthusiasm was clearly forced, a thin veneer over her genuine desire to unwind and enjoy the evening. She glanced over at Joyce, Buffy, and Dawn, her expression a mix of resolve and reluctant cheerfulness. "Call me when you're ready to orb home." With that, she turned on her heel and walked off, her steps brisk as she headed toward the door.
Buffy, watching Paige's departure, furrowed her brow in thought. "I think I have a solution," she said, her tone suddenly filled with a spark of inspiration. "To at least Paige's problem."
"What?" Piper asked, her curiosity piqued as she turned her attention fully to Buffy.
"Dad spent fifty years as first a Whitelighter and then an Elder," Buffy explained, her face brightening with excitement as she considered the potential. "He could use his extensive knowledge and experience to pass on what he's learned to others like me and Dawn, who are just coming into our powers." Her suggestion was clear and earnest, envisioning a way to alleviate Paige's burden by utilizing Leo's vast expertise.
"Have him teach at Magic School," Joyce interjected, her eyes lighting up with the realization of the plan. A smile spread across her face as she looked at her eldest daughter, her pride evident. "Paige would then be freed for her Whitelighter duties, her Charmed responsibilities, and her job in Sunnydale." The solution not only addressed Paige's scheduling conflicts but also offered a chance to enhance the magical education of the younger generation, ensuring that both practical and mystical knowledge was passed down effectively.
March 30, 1997 – Sunday
Magic School
The next day, Piper guided Leo through the grand, ancient corridors of Magic School, her hands gently but firmly covering his eyes. They navigated the labyrinthine hallways until they reached the Great Hall. The moment they crossed the threshold, Piper removed her hands and stepped back, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Surprise!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Leo blinked in confusion as he took in the surroundings. The vast hall, lined with towering bookshelves and adorned with magical artifacts, was bustling with a lively but expectant crowd. He looked around, his brow furrowing in perplexity. "What, you want me to clean Magic School?" he asked, his voice tinged with bemusement.
"No," came a voice from behind him, smooth and reassuring. Leo turned to see Phoebe, Paige, Joyce, Dawn, and Buffy emerging from behind a cluster of enchanted bookshelves and floating candles. They were all beaming with anticipation.
"We want you to run it," Phoebe said, her tone filled with warmth and a hint of pride.
"Huh?" Paige's voice was laced with surprise as she stepped forward. Her eyes widened at the unexpected turn of events. "What's going on here?"
"Well," Joyce began, her gaze soft yet determined, "we know how you've been struggling to juggle your Whitelighter duties, your job here, and your responsibilities in Sunnydale. This will allow you to devote yourself fully to your Whitelighter duties and, of course, your responsibilities as a Charmed One."
"And Leo being the perfect man for the job," Piper said with an affectionate look at her husband. Her admiration was evident as she continued, "Considering your immense magical know-how, you're practically a walking Book of Shadows."
Dawn, her face brightening with understanding, added, "You can teach kids like me and Buffy everything we need to know about our powers." Her enthusiasm was palpable, reflecting her eagerness to learn and grow under Leo's guidance.
"Well, that would definitely free me up," Paige said with a thoughtful nod. Her voice carried a note of relief, knowing that this arrangement would allow her to focus on her various duties without the added stress of managing the magical school.
"And with Leo, the school is still in good hands," Joyce said with a reassuring nod, her voice imbued with confidence. The vast Great Hall seemed to echo her sentiment, the ancient walls holding a promise of continuity and stability.
Leo, his expression a mix of gratitude and astonishment, turned his gaze toward Paige. "I don't know what to say. Paige?"
"I'm good," Paige replied with a light-hearted tone. With a flash of shimmering light, she orbed out, leaving behind a brief, lingering glow that danced in the air.
"Well, that was easy. Leo?" Phoebe's voice carried a tone of expectation, her eyes fixed on Leo with an encouraging gleam.
Leo's face broke into a warm, genuine smile. "I'd be honored." His voice was steady and full of appreciation, the weight of the moment settling comfortably upon him.
"Good choice," Piper and Joyce said in unison, their voices harmonizing with approval and satisfaction. Their smiles mirrored each other, reflecting the shared joy of the decision.
Leo's smile widened as he leaned in and kissed Piper tenderly. The kiss was a simple, loving gesture, but it spoke volumes about their shared history and future. When he pulled away, his gaze fell upon Wyatt, who was standing in the doorway, his small figure framed by the soft morning light streaming through the arched windows.
"Hi," Leo greeted warmly as he walked over to his son, his steps light and purposeful. He knelt beside Wyatt, his face softening into a look of pure affection. "Guess what? You don't have to worry about Daddy anymore, because I am going to be okay! Okay?"
Wyatt's eyes widened with curiosity and trust as he listened to his father, his small hand reaching out to touch Leo's face. The bond between them was palpable, a silent understanding passing between father and son.
"Before we call Paige back," Buffy interjected, her voice filled with determination and a hint of excitement, "I just thought I'd let you know, Dad, that 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 eyes shimmering with pride and love. As he stood up, he lifted Wyatt into his arms, holding him close. With his other arm, he pulled Buffy into a warm, encompassing embrace. The three of them—father and children—formed a tight-knit group, the embrace symbolizing the unity and support that bound them together.
In that moment, the Great Hall, with its towering shelves and ancient artifacts, seemed to hold its breath, witnessing the profound connection and shared commitment of a family ready to embrace their new roles and responsibilities. The echoes of their laughter and affection lingered, filling the space with an enduring sense of hope and togetherness.