"Some things never change" Phoebe murmured as the front door opened and Prue hurried in, dressed in a black jacket with a matching skirt and a white blouse underneath.
"There you guys are! I think something's happening to me� -" she started but stopped, her mouth opened widely as she stared at her sisters.
"Phoebe, your hair! And Piper� oh my god! You're pregnant?" she asked in shock and approached her sisters.
"What�s going on with the three of you?" Leo asked as Prue approached Piper.
"Piper and Leo are married!" Phoebe blurred out as the smile returned to her face.
Prue smiled in disbelief while looking at both her sisters.
"I think I better go and check with the elders" Leo said and orbed out.
"Look at you!" Phoebe said as the sisters walked from the parlor and into the living room.
"Piper, you must be about eight months pregnant!" Prue said as Piper sat down on the sofa.
Phoebe sat next to her and Prue on the coffee table in front of them.
"It's like we're in a parallel universe. Your think it's possible?"
"Wouldn't come as a great shock but it seems unreal. We haven't done anything or have been projected to anything demonic, have we?" Prue asked as the phone rang.
Phoebe stood up and answered it, "hello?"
"Phoebe! It's almost ten O'clock, where are you?" A woman's voice sounded from the other end.
"What? Who� who is this?" Phoebe asked.
"It's Elise! What do you mean who is this! Now get down here! You have a press conference in an hour!" the woman said and hung up.
"Phoebes? Who was that? Prue asked.
"A� I don't know� she said her name was Elise and told me that I had a press conference to get to." Phoebe mumbled, showing clear signs of having absolutely no clue who she, herself, was.
"A� Phoebes, you might wanna take a look at this" Piper said, handing Phoebe the paper, lying on the coffee table next to Prue.
"Ask Phoebe" Phoebe read out and looked up from the paper as her eyes lit.
"Oh my god" she whispered as she read her own advice column.
"Wait, if this is right then this isn't an illusion. This is us three years from now� I mean then.
But what are we doing here?" Prue asked.
"Maybe we're getting a taste of our future" Piper suggested.
"Why? This all seems just too strange. Too good" Prue said.
"Hey! I passed my Psyche exam and got my degree! Heck, I am happy with this, whatever it is! Which reminds me, I have to go. A press conference awaits me!" Phoebe said and with that hurried out of the house.
Prue turned to Piper and smiled, looking at her stomach.
"Finally, you're here!" Elise stormed into Phoebe's office.
"Elise?" Phoebe assumed by her voice and looked up from her desk, which was stacked with letters and a laptop stood open, ready for her to work.
"Well let's go! What are you waiting for? Elise rushed her and turned away, stepping out of the office.
Phoebe looked around, feeling incredibly curious about everything.
She decided to absorb as much as she could from this experience and take care of the rest later.
This was her time to shine.
Leo orbed in with news, which might have been received better if it wasn't for the shock that came with them.
"What do you mean; they don't know what going on?" Piper raged.
"They confirmed your story, that in fact you were in the past just now but they only told me that you're here now and you should know how to proceed from here yourselves".
"You're kidding right? We're here now? That's the best they've got! I could have come to that conclusion myself!" Piper angered.
"Piper, calm down" Prue said and turned to Leo, "But we don't remember the past three years, how so?" she asked.
"I don't know. You should remember".
"Well we don't. This must be affecting just the three of us. I bet it's a demon. I am almost certain of it" Prue said and headed upstairs.
"Prue! Wait for me" Piper said and reached her hands to Leo, who helped her to her feet.
"We were here this morning, remember?" Prue asked, while flipping the pages of The Book.
"Yeah, I was reading about the... Velkero Demon" Piper recalled and looked down at the turning pages.
"There's nothing in the book about him so far," Prue said as suddenly the pages turned and opened precisely on Velkero.
"That is the second time it's done that� Today!" Piper said and read, 'The Velkero Demon, known for preying his victims to the bones when sucking the life out of them�' yeah well I read all this already today. It didn't give me much to go on!"
"There's no vanquishing spell in here." Prue said after scanning the entire page.
"Well if this is the future, then we must have vanquished him already" Piper said, her eyes focused on the page.
"How did we get here though? There are so many unanswered questions and we can't remember anything from these past three years," Prue said.
"Wait a second," Prue said, turning the page, "Look, it's a spell".
"But it's not a vanquishing one".
"Well maybe it's a tracking spell. Whatever it is, we have to try it. And we have to get Phoebe cause you're pregnant and I don't wanna see you in any danger," Prue said, all on one breathe and continued quickly before Piper could get a word in edgewise.
"So, we need two purple candles, one white candle and the spell. Piper would you go fetch the candles, Please?" Prue asked and walked towards the table, spreading a white tablecloth on top of it.
"Well, at least we still keep all our ritual stuff in the same place" Piper said, breathing heavily as she stood up and walked towards Prue.
"Okay, I wrote it down. Ready?" Prue asked and handed Piper a note.
"Yep".
"Alright, here goes: Three spirits, lost and found.
Stay together each round.
When time will pass, we set it right.
To find the truth, the light.
Both Prue and Piper scanned the attic to see a change of any sort but no such luck. Everything remained the same. Exactly as was before they'd read the spell and before they'd arrived here.
"We haven't checked our powers. Maybe we've lost them? Is it possible?" Piper asked.
"Anything is" Prue replied and stood up. She aimed her had at a vase that stood in the left corner, not far away from them.
The vase shattered in two dozen pieces, being flung to the other side of the room and nearly hitting them. Along with that, a strong noise surpassed their ears and with a loud BANG, the entire wall blew up in tiny pieces.
"Piper, look out!" Prue yelled and ran towards her sister but she didn't make it, the strength of the explosion flung her all the way to the other side, hitting the opposite wall and nearly crashing the window.
Several minutes had passed, Piper rose to her feet, slightly coughing and looked down at herself. I could have sworn I felt the impact; she thought to herself and immediately spotted Prue, lying on the floor.
"Prue!" She called and ran towards her. She knelt down beside her and took Prue's head into her arms, "Prue! Come on, wake up".
When Prue seemed not to respond to any of Piper's attempts, she called for Leo.
"What happened?" Leo asked, seconds after orbing in.
"Hurry, she's hurt" Piper said and stepped backwards.
Leo placed his hands above her heart and began the healing.
Soon, Prue had opened her eyes, very relieved to see Piper.
"Oh! Are you okay?" she asked as Leo helped her up and hugged Piper.
"Yeah�" Piper replied and turned to Leo.
"What happened here?" he asked, looking around the ruined attic.
"Well, I was just testing my powers" Prue said and couldn't help but think it was rather funny.
"Wow, quite a progress" piper said, glancing around the room.
"So how come the spell didn't work?" Prue wondered.
"Maybe it did" Leo said and looked at the sisters. He walked out of the attic and downstairs and they followed.
"Leo, what are you talking about?" Piper asked as they entered the living room.
He pointed them to the large clock that ones stood by the fireplace.
The clock was still standing, however, its hands were gone and instead it was counting backwards.
"A countdown? To what?" Prue asked and approached the clock.
"The elders called me when you were upstairs" Leo said and continued quickly to satisfy the sisters' curious faces, "The spell you've cast has created a portal of some sort, meaning that you've till the time hits zero".
"To do what?" Piper asked.
"Figure out why you're here".
Piper turned to Prue, "Maybe we just have to vanquish the demon".
"For all we know, he might already be dead! We may have killed him Back then".
"We should get to Phoebe" Piper said and glanced at Leo.
"I'll go get her".
Phoebe sat down at the table, looking at all the cameras and reporters standing in front of her, all eager to ask a question.
A bottle of mineral water stood in front of her, and she immediately took a sip of it. The excitement in her grew by the moment.
Oh, how she wished to see the look on her professors' face now. She wanted him to see the success she is. And she owed it all to herself.
"Miss Halliwell, how does it feel to have an impact such as you do on all the people who read your column each day?" asked a brown haired reporter.
"Oh well it's a wonderful feeling when I know that my advice helps other people with their problems." She answered, and after a moment felt proud of her answer. Not having a clue of where she was or when for that matter, the response was quite accurate in her opinion.
"Miss Halliwell, you have encouraged so many women to get their pride back and to demand justice in their own relationship. Has the change you have made in your readers' lives occurred to you?" asked a woman, about 5'6 standing in front of a cameraman, who worked very hard in trying to get a close up on Phoebe.
"Again, I feel incredible blessed to be able to help my readers and bring peace to their lives" she replied, looking around the room.
Flashed was going on and off each second, taking hundreds of photographs of her.
"It was noticeable lately, that you have drawn a lot of your personal experience and emotions into your writing. Your failed marriage� -" started a reporter, overpowering the rest with his question. Silence fell over them as they all waited to hear her answer.
"My what?" Phoebe asked in shock.
"Your failed marriage� your divorce" the reporter said, looking at Phoebe as if expecting her to get her memory back any minute now.
Phoebe took a moment to try to grasp what had just been said. Her divorce? She wasn't even married! Oh! She was so hasty in everything that has been going on that she has forgotten to look for Cole. He has to be here somewhere. In this reality anyway.
"M � my divorce?" she asked, and that was all she managed to say.
"Are you okay, Phoebe?" asked her editor, Elise, who leaned towards her.
"A� yes�" Phoebe mumbled, "I� I have to go" she said in bewilderment and stood up.
A dozen of questions fired towards her but she didn't reply, she ran off the stage and out of the room where she found Leo.
"Time is running out" Prue said as she and Piper sat at the living room with The Book opened on The Velkero page.
"What will happen then?" Piper asked.
"When the clock stops?" Prue asked.
Piper nodded without saying a word.
"I don't know. But we can't let it happen. We will not exceed the deadline" Prue replied firmly and turned back to The Book. The anxiety wrapped her as well but she couldn't give in to it.
"The spell has created this for a reason. We have to find the Demon, no matter what. He might be our only way out of here".
"Prue. I think I remember" Piper suddenly said, as her hands lay comfortable on her stomach.
"What do you remember?"
"I remember getting pregnant, and P3 was booked last night! You, I think you're the vice president of your magazine!"
"My magazine?" Prue asked in shock.
"Yes, yes that's right! And Phoebe� oh no!" Piper stopped as she remembered the worst.
"What about Phoebe?" Prue asked.
"Hey you guys" Phoebe called and hurried to her sisters, "I was at the conference and suddenly a reporter asked me about my marriage!"
"Wait, you're married?" Prue asked.
"Divorced apparently!" Phoebe replied, still in shock. "I have to find Cole".
Leo glanced at Phoebe and then at Prue and Piper.
"What?" Phoebe asked, picking up the looks.
"Ah, nothing. We should focus on this demon for now" Piper said, hastily changing the subject.
"But Piper Cole can help us g -"
"No! Phoebe, please".
Prue looked at Piper; wondering what is was she remembered about Cole.
Time had passed quickly, there was only an hour left. They've searched everywhere; The attic, their bedrooms, the entire manor, for a slight sign that might help them.
"Nothing" Phoebe said and sat down on the sofa, defeated.
"We can't just give up! There has to be something" Prue said, keeping her eyes focused on the clock. Suddenly, a shudder went through the entire house.
Everything shook and a sudden quiver went through all three of them.
"What's happening?" Phoebe asked.
"I think I got it!" Prue said suddenly, "this is a test. There's a reason why we're here.
It's not the elders' doings, it's us".
"Very, very clever!"
The three turned sharply to face The Demon who had brought them here.
His red-blooded face reflected perfectly from his drawing in The Book.
"The witches finally figured it out. Certainly took you long enough!" he laughed and paced around the living room.
Prue looked at him in caution, watching his every move, Phoebe and Piper stood behind her. They were prepared to strike.
"So, do you like the way your lives turned out?" he asked.
"What do you want?" Prue asked.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Not quite".
"I want the glory. The Charmed Ones" he replied and a smile appeared on his face, "Since you've killed The Source, the underworld has been a mess".
"We have?" Piper asked quietly so no one but Phoebe, who glanced at her, could hear her.
"Time's running out ladies" he said in a whisper, "Derronemo!" he yelled and suddenly Prue flew to the other end of the living room, crashing into the wall.
"Prue!" Piper called as he yelled once more and with the wave of his hand, two arrows in fire flew in Phoebe and Piper's direction.
Piper swiftly pushed Phoebe out of the way and was hit with both arrows, which immediately bounced off her stomach and fell on the floor and the fire extinguished.
"Piper, are you okay?" Phoebe asked, standing up.
"Yeah, I forgot that I was indestructible" she said grimly and turned to Velkero.
"Prue!" Phoebe called and ran towards her sister, helping her up.
"It's time to say goodnight" Piper said firmly and concentrated all her powers, sending them into him. He blew up in thousands of pieces when they suddenly began reconvening and reformed into his original form.
"Nice try" he said and stroked Piper with a blow that flung her down onto the floor.
Prue rose to her feet and aimed her hands at him. He flew backwards and landed next to the stairs. They hurried towards him, ready to fight.
The hits came in stronger and stronger each time. They were hurt but kept struggling.
Everything happened so quickly. Prue suggested they read out the spell that brought him here in the first place.
They read it quickly but it didn't affect. The battle went on and on and the time was running out.
They had only ten minutes left. What will happen when the clock runs out, they did not know. However, they had no time to think of it now. They had to act and fast.
The Velkero Demon rose to his feet quickly, prepared to strike back.
They had to act quickly and efficiently.
Prue joined hands with both her sisters, standing on each side of her. "Ready?" Prue asked.
They nodded in agreement.
Prue and Piper focused all their strength in him. The blow was sleek and clean and was enough to vanquish him.
Phoebe looked over Prue's back at the smoke, coming out of the extinguished fire which consumed Velkero.
"Is it really over?" She asked, looking at her sisters.
"If it is, then why are we still here?" Prue asked, "He must have been controlling everything. Phoebe's premonition, The truck in the middle of the highway".
"Piper, what are you keeping from us? Where's Cole?" Phoebe asked.
Piper lowered her look and walked slowly back into the living room.
"Piper?" Prue asked. She joined hands with Phoebe, who marched into the living room.
"A� Phoebe, I don't quite know how to tell you this." Piper started.
"Piper you're scaring me! Where is Cole?" Phoebe demanded.
"Phoebe, you and Cole married� -"
"I divorced Cole? No. I would never do that. I love him!" Phoebe said, cutting Piper off.
"Phoebe, Listen to me," Piper said in seriousness, "He became The Source and he drew you away from us," she said with difficulty.
"What?" Phoebe asked in disbelief. "No!" she whispered and holding her right hand over her chest.
"No, Piper! He would never turn evil again. He wouldn't" Phoebe said in a shaky voice, trying to convince herself. The tears welled up in her throat and both her sisters' eyes were wet.
"Phoebe, I am so sorry. He� He drew you away from us and he was going to kill us but you� you saved us Phoebe" Piper said, looking at Phoebe, who stumbled on her feet, barely keeping her balance. She sat down onto the coffee table with Prue's help and closed her eyes as the tears ran down.
Prue put her arm around Phoebe and held her tightly. It all seemed unreal even to her but she remembered. She now remembered everything that had happened these past three years.
Phoebe's heart beat strongly in her chest. It was unbelievable. The man she loved so, she now had no feeling for, whatsoever.
"I remember too" she said quietly after several seconds. "The pain. It's not gone yet but it's more of a shock to hear it. Again. Prue, Piper." She turned to her sisters, who eyed her with compassion.
"It hurt so badly but he turned evil. He betrayed me, us, and there's no turning from that.
Oh, all the horrible things he'd done�"
Prue ran her hand through her sister's hair and said, "It's like we've never left, isn�t it? We're here to say. This is our life now".
Piper nodded and a sudden smile appeared on her face, "I felt a kick again".
Prue smiled and Phoebe wiped the tears off her face. They all felt it now.