Written by
Andrea V. Haag
and
Mary H. Hines

copyright
July 2001

For Piper, the hour was too early. She resented being up at dawn on a Saturday. As a newlywed, she felt entitled, especially on the weekends, to more Leo time. But, Phoebe had been persistent, which, in itself was odd. So, together they strode down Jackson Street towards Dr. Ma's shop, the store where Piper always got her exotic ingredients. As much as Piper loved walking through Chinatown, her old neighborhood, she felt an urgent desire for more sleep. Phoebe however, bounded along with way too much energy -- which annoyed Piper. Phoebe had the whole day planned for the two of them, traipsing through Chinatown.

Dr. Ma opened his shop every day at 7:00 a. m. He did Tai Chi Chuan practice in front of his store until the first customer arrived. He felt that by doing so, both he and the first customer of the day were blessed. As Phoebe and Piper approached, Dr. Ma was poised gracefully in ‘White Crane Spreads Its Wings.’

"Good Morning my best customers," Dr. Ma intoned with a bow, gesturing toward the interior of his shop.

                    "Good Morning Dr. Ma." Phoebe and Piper responded, bowing in return.

                    "More valerian root for tense older sister?" Dr. Ma asked Piper.

Phoebe looked toward Piper with a questioning face. Piper hadn’t told anyone that she’d recently started adding valerian root to Prue's morning coffee, hoping to reduce some of the stress in her older sister's life. Piper thought a little extra boost in Prue's health couldn't hurt.

"I'll tell you later." Piper told Phoebe, who looked puzzled by the information, and then Piper turned to Dr. Ma, "No, not this time. We need something a little more exotic. Dried lotus root."

"You must meet many demons." Dr. Ma laughed as he put several small roots in a brown paper bag.

Phoebe looked at Piper with wide eyes, plainly wondering how much Piper had told the old herbalist about them. Piper glared back at Phoebe with a 'I haven't told him anything!' look.

"Heh heh heh . . .not to worry. I know magic when I see it. Just be very careful. Chinatown full of very strange energy today. I feel it when doing 'White Snake Sticks Out Its Tongue' form in Tai Chi. 2001 is Year of Snake, you know. Sisters must watch backs."

Dr. Ma winked at Piper and headed toward the back of the store in search of lotus root. The rare root was safely stored in a dark jar with elaborate red Chinese markings on the label. He quickly returned to his waiting customers after measuring out an amount in a brown paper bag. As he did so, Phoebe was investigating the contents of a jar and grimaced as the potent smell reached her nose. Dr Ma laughed as he saw Phoebe wrinkling her nose and returning the jar back to the shelf.

"That powered beetle dung. Very good for bleeding stomach." Dr. Ma exclaimed.

                    "I'm glad I don't have to take that!" Phoebe said, quickly rejoining her sister.

Piper paid Dr. Ma for the lotus root and headed toward the door. Dr. Ma reminded the sisters about the bad omen before they left the store.

Jackson Street was now bustling with people. The sisters weaved through the crowd as made their way down to the shop Phoebe planned to visit next. The Yangze Clothes Traders was already open as Phoebe pulled the door to enter. Once inside, Piper and Phoebe were greeted by the sweet smell of jasmine. The young Asian girl behind the counter smiled and welcomed them enthusiastically. Phoebe bolted off in one direction of the store as Piper looked around. The store offered fashionable clothing with an oriental look. Piper picked up a deep blue silk bathrobe with silver cranes embroidered into the material. She looked at the other colors on the rack, but decided to purchase the blue one she first saw. 'Leo will love the way this feels,' Piper thought. As she continued looking at the robes, Piper noticed that Phoebe already had a few shirts and skirts slung carelessly over her shoulder.

                    "Are you going to get all of those?" Piper asked.

                    "Piper, I can't decide. I'll look great in all of them." Phoebe giggled.

"Ha ha ha . . . well, it's your paycheck. Prue will be happy that you won't raid her closet if you get clothes of your own." Piper said jokingly.

"I also have to get these," Phoebe said, revealing two pair of red sling-back shoes hidden behind her back.

Before Piper could remark on her sister’s shoe fetish, something caught Phoebe’s eye and pulled her away abruptly. Phoebe darted over to a glass case containing several pieces of beautiful jade jewelry that were on consignment. Piper followed, mildly annoyed.

                    “Oh, Piper! Look at that!” Phoebe said with awe.

The young girl who had greeted them was quick to notice Phoebe’s interest.

“That piece,” the girl said, “is ivory and jade. Do you see the little animal carved into the design? It is the weasel, a protective creature. My grandmother, against my wishes, insisted that I put it on display. She told me that it might give the family good luck to display it.”

                    “Can I hold it?” Phoebe asked?

                    “Sure.”

The girl carefully removed the piece from the case as Piper shook her head in dismay, wondering how much the gorgeous thing had to cost. As Phoebe touched the jade amulet, she gasped. At first Piper thought it was just Phoebe’s natural joy at playing with pretty things, but then she saw the glazed and distant look in Phoebe’s eyes and realized that she was having a premonition.

“Guess she just saw the price tag,” Piper said, trying to cover for her sister as she reached for her elbow to steady her.

“My,” Phoebe laughed nervously, trying to shake off whatever she had just seen. “I’d love to meet your grandmother and ask her about this piece.”

“Well, sure,” the girl said. “Her shop is just down the street. Her name is Lin Shu-Chin. She sells antiques and curios. The shop’s called ‘Hong Kong Esoterica. Just tell her that Jessica sent you, and she’ll know why.” She smiled at the sisters.

Phoebe handed the amulet back to the girl and pulled Piper aside. Her distress was patent - Phoebe had tossed her shoes aside without a thought.

“Piper,” Phoebe whispered. We’ve got to find that girl’s grandmother right away. I saw her lying on the floor dead, mauled by something. Maybe we should call Prue and have her meet us?”

“I don’t think Prue can get away. She had that photo shoot at City Hall this morning. I hope the Power of Two can handle it for now, until we know what we are dealing with. Anyway, Prue will be meeting us for lunch later on.” Prue whispered back.

“I’ll just leave her a cell phone message,” Phoebe said as she simultaneously grabbed her phone and sprinted for the door. “C’mon Piper let’s go.”

The sales girl, looking a little confused, waved goodbye to the sisters as they left the store. Phoebe stopped at the door, though, to thank Jessica for showing her the amulet and promised to return later to finish her shopping. Piper looked at Phoebe with a curious look.

                    “Well! I still want those shoes…but later.” She hurriedly said.

Piper knitted her brows in disbelief then chuckled as they made their way down the street to find Lin Shu-Chin’s shop. Phoebe was leaving a detailed message for Prue on the answering machine at home.

It didn’t take Phoebe and Piper long to find the antique store “Hong Kong Esoterica.” It was pressed between Ho Min Fruit and Vegetable Market and Temple Cleaners Laundry. The sisters would have completely missed the shop if it had not been for the statues of Buddha, pieces of furniture and a variety of decidedly occult paintings done on rice paper that were artistically displayed in the front window. The shop didn’t have a sign or awning advertising in English what it held within. Only bold Chinese letters, painted in red and gold on a wooden shingle, hung above the door. Piper and Phoebe glanced in the store window before entering, making sure they had the correct address.

“Well, let’s see if there is a demon lurking inside.” Piper said nervously.

“Piper!! Don’t jinx us already.” Phoebe said as she pushed Piper through the door.

Small chimes sounded as Piper stepped through the threshold. The strong scent of jasmine and cinnamon incense assailed Piper’s nose as she stepped further into the store. Phoebe sniffled when the smoke hit her nose. The little shop was jammed from wall to wall with curios and arts from the orient, though in an organized way. A spry old Asian woman appeared from behind a silk curtain, smiled and bowed to the young ladies that entered her shop. Piper, who had some experience with Chinese language, responded with a bow and the words: “Ni hao.”

The woman gave Piper a huge smile, overjoyed that non-Chinese greeted her in her own language. She responded, cheerfully: “Ni hao ma?”

Phoebe looked at Piper, amazed and impressed that her older sister knew Chinese.

“Since when do you speak Chinese?” She asked discretely, behind Piper’s back.

“Uh, remember Mark?” Piper said quickly and then turned her attention back to Lin Shu-Chin.

Phoebe, after thinking about what Piper said, remembered Mark. He was the cute ghost that Piper had helped and almost fell in love with in Chinatown last year. A gangster had killed Mark and used his body as a ploy to convince others that he, the gangster, was dead. Phoebe and her sisters had to save Mark from Yama, who wanted to capture his soul. Still, Phoebe was impressed Piper remembered the language lesson from that time.

“Hen hao, xiexe.” Piper said as she turned her attention back to the shopkeeper. “Ni hui shuo Yingwen” Piper added slowly and hesitantly, hoping she got the words right.

                    “What did you ask her?” Phoebe asked quickly.

“She asked me how I was, and I told her I was fine and then I asked her if she spoke English.” Piper turned slightly around to respond to Phoebe.

The old woman laughed and bowed before responding to Piper’s question.

“Yes, I do speak English, but thank you very much for trying to speak Chinese to this old woman. Not many American girls even try to learn another culture. I am Lin Shu-Chin. What is it that I can do for you today?” the woman asked, raising her eyebrows ever so slightly and ever so knowingly.

“Uh,” Phoebe said looking at Piper, trying to think of something plausible, “We just met your granddaughter, Jessica, at the clothes boutique down the street. She showed us a wonderful amulet.”

“What my sister, Phoebe, is trying to ask is, we were both wondering about the amulet’s history and more about the family that owns it.” She added quickly. “My name is Piper Halliwell and this is my sister Phoebe.”

“Ahh, the weasel and white snake pendant?” Lin Shu-Chin asked in a serious tone. “Did the pendant speak to you?”

“It was very pretty!” Piper quickly interjected. “We were looking for things…presents for people.”

Lin Shu-Chin smiled and signaled the girls to come into the back room with her. She could sense the power in these Halliwell sisters, so she invited Piper and Phoebe to the back of the store where she had a small living space - and a secret.

“Here,” she said, “Is where I keep special things for special people. I see that you have discriminating tastes. Perhaps you’d like an ancient mirror, one that shows you more than your pretty faces.”

“Huh?” Piper asked.

“Now is not the time to be coy. I, like you, am a nagina. Witch, as you say. But somehow I thought there would be three of you. You have another sister?”

“Ok,” Phoebe said as she started to back away from the old woman, tugging on Piper’s shirt, “How…how do you know who we are?”

“I left the amulet for you. Put special magic on it. Besides my granddaughter only a Charmed One could even see it. You are here not by accident; it was by fate. I am strong, but no longer do I have the ability to keep the portal hidden. You must help me!”

“We have no idea what you are talking about.” Piper said, still not sure whether to trust the woman.

“This,” Lin Shu-Chin said, knowing the sisters would help her, “is the Mirror of Prophecy, or as some call it, the portal of The White Snake. The White Snake conspires with Gong-gong to bring evil into our world. She will use it to --”

“Thanks,” another woman spoke up suddenly. “I’ll take that now.”

Piper and Phoebe turned around to see a tall, elegant, extremely pale Asian woman with short, spiky blonde hair, materialize from the air. She was dressed in a slinky, silvery suit and was leaning ever so casually against a large wooden desk. She clicked her lacquered nails together menacingly.

“What the Hell….” Piper gasped as she turned to see the mysterious woman behind them.

Lin Shu-Chin growled and raised her hands, but a burst of yellow-green lightning sizzled from the demonic woman’s fingertips, knocking Lin Shu-Chin down before she had a chance to strike. Phoebe grasped a hefty Buddha statue to throw at the woman, but then dropped it, feeling her strength suddenly sapped away.

“Piper…” Phoebe started to say hoping her sister was thinking the same thing she was.

Piper knew what she had to do even before Phoebe called out her name. She tried raising her hands in an attempt to freeze the mysterious woman, but she also lacked the energy to move. The woman laughed and picked up the mirror from the floor where Lin Shu-Chin had dropped it. It wasn’t broken. Not even the slightest nick or crack crossed the surface of the strange, black mirror. Piper and Phoebe stared helplessly at the woman and the mirror she held, which was shimmering with a strange light of its own.

“I should thank you,” the woman hissed. “I’ve been waiting for that old witch to reveal the portal. And now I have it!”

“Who…who are you? What is that?” Piper managed to whisper as she sank to her knees, grabbing a hold of Phoebe’s hand as she did so.

Piper knew that something had to be done soon or she and Phoebe would be doomed. In the back of her mind she was saying a little prayer that their older, more powerful sister, Prue, would save them. Phoebe was also saying a little prayer that Prue would come soon. She was happy that she left that message on the answering machine, telling Prue where they were.

                    “Who are you?!” Phoebe demanded in a strangled voice.

“They call me many names because I have many faces. I am the White Snake here. You will serve me, nagina.”

                    “Don’t count on it!” Piper growled.

Phoebe racked her brain, trying to think of a quick strategy or even an appropriate spell. Something should work. We are the Power of Two Charmed Ones, she thought to herself.

“You will wait for me, here, in your own futures,” the demon said as she tapped on the mirror. I will fetch you when I have captured your sister. Then, I will show you what havoc the Power of Three can wreak! Now in, in you go.”

Piper and Phoebe looked at each other quickly. Phoebe noticed that Piper was terrified. She herself was afraid not only for them but also for Prue, who would be walking into a trap.

As the woman tapped a lacquered nail against the surface of the mirror, an image of the Halliwell manor appeared. Seconds later, Phoebe and then Piper felt their world, their reality, shift. They were sucked, one after the other, into a temporal vortex, pulled through the mirror, and placed each in a parallel future world. Piper and Phoebe were “home”’ but in separate, alternate existences. And even though each could see and hear and feel in their world, they couldn’t interact with it. They were like ghosts trapped in separate versions of their possible futures. And, they were both alone. The woman tapped the mirror again, and the surface went dark. She smiled to herself and shimmered away.

“Wake up, please wake up,” Prue said as she patted Lin Shu-Chin’s bruised face.

Lin Shu-Chin slowly opened her eyes and looked up to see a beautiful lady, a lady who looked terribly worried but also familiar. She sensed the power of a Charmed One.

“Oh!” The old shopkeeper cried, “The White Snake has taken your sisters! We must hurry to save them! Oh! Any minute she will be back for you, too.”

“What? Hold on. Please slow down. Who took my sisters and where are they?” The tension in Prue’s voice was palpable.

Prue carefully lifted Lin Shu-Chin into a chair and seated herself across from the old shopkeeper to listen intently to the day’s happenings. Strain and worry showed on Prue’s face as Lin Shu-Chin began to relate the story of The White Snake, the demon minion of Gong-Gong, and the portal disguised as an ornate mirror. White Snake needed the mirror, or portal, to release evil into our world. She went on to explain to Prue that White Snake surprised Piper and Phoebe and trapped them into the mirror, into a reality that they would be familiar with. The only way that the mirror can be destroyed and the White Snake defeated, was the help of powerful witches, the Charmed Ones. This last statement caught Prue off guard. Lin Shu-Chin noticed the arched eyebrow and the tight lips and gave a little chuckle.

“Yes, I know that you and your sisters are The Charmed Ones. I myself come from an ancient line of naginas. I was hoping to lure you and your sisters here to help me, but White Snake was also waiting.” Lin Shu-Chin said sadly. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get them back, somehow.” Prue said with determination. “Do you know of a way to get my sisters out of the mirror?”

“We must cast a spell to release your sisters but,” Lin Shu-Chin hesitated.

“But?” Prue asked.

“You must risk yourself and be sent into the mirror to find your sisters. They will be in parallel realities, but still separated. You must somehow, cast the spell together for it to bring you back here so that we can destroy the mirror.”

“Do you have the spell to send me into the mirror?” Prue quickly asked.

“No. I do have an ancient scroll that once spoken by powerful naginas will destroy the mirror.” The elderly shopkeeper whispered.

“So, I guess I will have to find a way to get myself in and find my sisters and bring them out. Well, no one ever said being the oldest would be easy.” Prue said making light of the situation. “First things first, I think we both need to get out of here and back to my place. And we need to figure out how to defeat this White Snake.”

Prue and Lin Shu-Chin arrived back at the manor without incident. While Lin Shu-Chin made herself comfortable in the kitchen, Prue ran up to the attic and to the Book of Shadows. There, on the pedestal in the middle of the room, was the book that hopefully had the answers she was looking for. Prue quickly flipped the pages searching for a spell that might help her. ‘Now, what did Phoebe say to get the Book to flip to the right page? Oh yeah, I remember: I don’t know what I’m looking for!’ Prue stepped back, a little nervously, as the Book took on a life of its own. The pages flipped by for a few minutes and then stopped at a strange spell.

“Thanks, Grams. I needed that!” Prue said as she started to scan the page. “Now,” she added, “I could use some information and advice. Leo! LEO!”

Leo materialized in front of Prue. He was clearly agitated.

                    “Where the Hell have you been?” Leo demanded, grabbing Prue by the shoulders.

                    “Whoa!” Prue said, backing up. “I’m the good guy, remember!”

“I can’t sense Piper or Phoebe any more. I tried to orb to find you, but something was interfering with me - until you called me. I was worried something had happened to you too.”

“Leo,” Prue said slowly, trying to stay calm. “Piper and Phoebe have been trapped in some future dimension by this, this demon-snake woman thing. She calls herself the White Snake and she works for someone called ‘Gong-Gong’ How bad can someone with such a goofy name be, right? I was just looking for a spell to help me figure out what to do.”

“Oh no. It’s worse than you think.” Leo gasped, taking a surprised step backward. “Gong-Gong is what the Chinese people call The Source. The White Snake is his oracle, a demon from his inner circle. She’s a shapeshifter and she has the power to see the future.”

                    “What!?” Prue exclaimed. “Oh, God. This so much worse than I thought.”

                    “How did she,” Leo asked, nervously, “how did she put them in the future dimension?”

As Prue started to answer, Lin Shu-Chin knocked on the attic door and walked toward Prue and Leo.

                    “You whitelighter?” Lin Shu-Chin asked.

“Yes,” Leo answered, surprised by the woman’s blunt forthrightness. “Who are you?”

“A witch. I am Lin Shu-Chin. I was trained in the ancient ways of the nagina, dedicated to fight the White Snake. I have the power of the jade weasel and am sworn to guard the Mirror of Prophecy. The Mirror is how sisters were put in other dimensions.”

Leo backed up another few steps. Prue was worried that he was going to trip over the chair behind him if he kept stepping backwards in horror.

“The Mirror of Prophesy?” Leo asked. “Prue, did it have a black surface and a really ornate frame and was it about this big?” Leo held up his hands about two feet apart.

                    “I didn’t see it.” Prue said.

“I have picture,” Lin Shu-Chin said as she handed Leo a tattered black and white photo. “I figured you would want evidence.”

Leo stared at the picture and then he took one more step backwards and promptly fell over the chair behind him. That was the last piece of bad news he was prepared to take.

“We have to act fast.” Leo said as he stood up, brushed himself off, and started pacing. “This mirror destroys souls. It uses them as a power source.”

                    “To do what?” Prue asked.

“To open doors to worlds sealed off from us,” the older witch answered. “With it, Gong-Gong calls demons from other worlds to help him master this world. With all three Charmed Ones in the mirror, it would be like . . . like an Energizer battery. Demons keep coming, and coming, and coming. Like that forever.”

                    “What did you find in the book?” Leo asked.

                    “I don’t know,” Prue said. “I haven’t had a chance to study it.”

Leo, Prue and Lin gathered around the Book of Shadows.

                    “That’s a first,” Leo said. “The spell is in Chinese.”

“I can only make out something about ‘fortune.’” Prue said, trying to recognize some of the Chinese writing.

                    “It is a recipe,” Lin said, “for a special kind of good fortune cake.”

“Huh?” Prue asked. “The Powers that Be want us to cook? That’s Piper’s specialty, not mine. I can only make coffee.”

Lin Shu-Chin began to laugh and slapped her knee in delight.

                    “I like you, nagina! You have good humor, a powerful weapon, and,” she said

tugging on Leo’s sleeve, “A handsome whitelighter. Ah, no, don’t worry. This spell is not for a cake that you can eat. It is a cake to throw.”

                    “A vanquish?” Prue asked.

“No. No, it will not kill her. But it will bind the White Snake - or any demon it touches - in the Underworld. It will keep her from walking in this world. This is very good fortune. Your book has great magic.”

                    “How do we make this cake? What do we need?” Leo asked.

“Oh, the man will help cook, too?” Lin asked, laughing. “My whitelighter is not so helpful.”

“We need to hurry,” Leo said. “That mirror wastes their power. If their powers are diminished, it will be hard for Prue to find them.”

“I can make cake. My husband is herbalist and my granddaughter, Jessica, is good with potions. I will help you defeat the White Snake.”

                    “Thanks,” Prue said. “I think we’ll need your help. I have a plan.”

                    “What?” Leo asked.

                    “First, Lin, you said you had a scroll, a spell to destroy the mirror.”

                    “Yes.” Lin nodded her head solemnly.

“What would happen if Piper and Phoebe and I read the spell together from inside the mirror?”

“Oh!” The old witch looked horrified. “The mirror would be destroyed, but so would anyone trapped inside it! You cannot do that!”

“I don’t intend to,” Prue said. “But, I’ve got to have a back-up plan just in case what I do fails. If we can’t get back out, we’ve got to destroy that mirror.”

                    “Well, Prue,” Leo scoffed, “First you’ve got to figure out how to get in.”

“That part is easy.” Prue said in utter seriousness. The White Snake will put me there. After she does, Lin will have to give her a nice piece of cake. Right? All we’ve got to do is wait for her to come to us.”

“Prue,” Leo said. “That’s very dangerous. If we don’t get her, if she takes the mirror, she might find a way to manipulate your realities, keep you from finding Phoebe and Piper -- even keep you from destroying the mirror from the inside. It’s far too dangerous.”

“Unless we can think of another way to get inside the mirror, I don’t see any alternative. What do you think Lin?”

“I believe you are right. I will call husband and granddaughter, and have them bring things I need here. I will make the cake. You have rice flour?”

                    “Yeah,” Leo said, “Piper bought some last week.”

“Such a helpful whitelighter,” Lin said as she pinched Leo’s cheek. “And so cute.”

***

    Phoebe woke with the startling realization that she was in familiar surroundings. Phoebe had been deposited on the attic floor of the Halliwell manor. She looked down to check if she had any injuries or that maybe, possibly, she was in a dream that had just miraculously ended. She cupped her head in her hands and vaguely remembered a confrontation with a mysterious Asian woman who had zapped someone with a yellow-green light that emanated from her fingers tips. Then she remembered. “Piper!” Phoebe called out, but no one responded. Phoebe worried that Piper was injured and lying in some other part of the manor. So, she ran down the stairs, checking every room on the way. Phoebe entered the kitchen, the last room in the house to be checked, and came to the conclusion that she was all alone. Panic started to set in. She didn’t know what to do next or how to find her sister. She trudged back up the stairs to at least find something on the White Snake woman in the Book of Shadows.

On a stand before Phoebe was the Book of Shadows, a book that had been handed down through generation after generation of Warren witches. The spells and recipes in the Book of Shadows helped the Halliwell sisters in the past and hopefully would help them now. ‘I really don’t know what I’m looking for!’ Phoebe said out loud, hoping the Book would once again flip its pages to the right spell. She stood there waiting as nothing happened. Disappointed Phoebe reached out to search the pages herself. ‘What the Hell!’ Phoebe’s hand had gone through the Book, as if she was a ghost. ‘Hey Pheebs, get a hold of yourself, you’re not dead!’ She thought to herself. ‘I look and feel solid enough. Maybe this is a trick old Ms. Snake lady is playing on me. So, I can’t use the Book of Shadows, but I still have my sisters.’

As Phoebe roamed the house in search of her sisters, she began to realize there were many objects that she wasn’t able to hold. Her hand simply passed right through them. ‘Ok, I can’t hold or grab anything, but thanks, I can at least sit on the couch!” Phoebe said as she settled on the couch, not giving in to defeat but waiting for help or a brainstorm about what to do next. She didn’t have long to wait. The front door of the manor opened and Piper and Prue walked in, excitedly talking about saving some doctor from a demon called Shax. Phoebe ran up to her older sisters to tell them about the latest demon threat. She thought that they were listening as they hung up their jackets on the coat rack but walked right past her, still discussing their own demon. Phoebe was one that never lost her temper and was the most carefree of the Halliwell sisters but this was the final straw for her. ‘PRUE, PIPER!’ Phoebe yelled as she stormed in the kitchen to confront her sisters. Prue and Piper were standing behind the counter drinking cups of coffee, as Phoebe rushed in yelling. It seemed that they stood there listening to her, so she continued explaining her situation and the new threat. Phoebe was just getting to the part of the story about The White Snake’s mirror when the front door of the Halliwell manor slammed and a familiar voice called out that she was home. Prue and Piper looked up as Phoebe joyfully bounced into the kitchen. Phoebe stood there, her mouth agape, starring at the impostor walking in. But it wasn’t an impostor. It was her. ‘This can’t be. I’m here already,’ Phoebe mumbled to anyone who would listen. Phoebe took her hand and reached out to touch her double. ‘It went right through me - her -- whoever.” Phoebe said to herself, dumbfounded and confused.

   Piper stood in the middle of the kitchen looking lost. ‘Hold on just one damn minute. I’m in Chinatown and then suddenly I’m home?’ She asked herself, completely frustrated by what happened. Piper checked to see if she was all right and that maybe this, the kitchen, was somehow an illusion. The last thing she remembered was confronting a demon and trying to protect a shopkeeper. Apparently the power of two wasn’t enough to vanquish or even ward off this new threat, Piper thought. ‘Ok, game plan: Find Phoebe, check the Book of Shadows, and then kick some demon ass.’ Piper said as she started upstairs. Piper went from room to room trying to find any signs of her little sister. But, finding nothing, she headed upstairs to the Book of Shadows. Piper reached out to open the book and was shocked to see that her hand passed right thorough the Book. She quickly withdrew her hand to look at it. ‘I look and feel solid enough. Maybe the objects and house are an illusion.’ Piper went around to other objects in the attic to try out her theory. Her hands passed through other items stored in the attic from their childhood. ‘I don’t like this. No Book, no Phoebe, no Prue and I don’t know what to do next. If I ever get out of here, that demon bitch is going to get it!’

Piper slowly trudged down the stairs, in no particular hurry to get anywhere. Her final decision was that maybe if she went to P3 she would run into one of her sisters. Without thinking, Piper headed for the front door and reached out to grab the keys on her way out. Her hand once again passed through the object she was intending to use. “Damn! I forgot. Not real.’ In her anger, Piper reached for the front door, absent mindedly planning to fling it open, and to her surprise, she was able to touch it and open it. ‘What the Hell!’ She said as she stood there looking out the front door and seeing none of their cars parked out front. ‘So, no one was home.’ Piper thought. ‘When Prue and Phoebe get home maybe they can figure out what happened to me.’ Piper quickly closed the door, afraid of something else happening to her. The realization suddenly struck her; she was powerless and all alone.

Phoebe stood still, staring at her mirror image. If that Phoebe was the real one, then who was she, or what was she? This situation had Phoebe perplexed. If the White Snake sent her here, then why wasn't she real? Or if she was real, then why have this impostor play her? These questions and more were running through Phoebe’s mind. ‘OK, let’s start this from the beginning. We were talking to Lin Shu-Chin, who told us of the White Snake and of a mirror portal. Then we get sucked into this mirror. Hmm. What was it she said before we got sucked in. Oh yeah, now I remember. She said, You will wait for me, here, in your own futures.’ Phoebe said out loud not worrying if anyone heard her. ‘So, if Ms. Snake sent Piper and myself to our futures, then what I am seeing is what is to come and I’m just here as a spectator.’ Phoebe was slowly putting the pieces of information together, trying to understand what was happening and to formulate some kind of plan. She felt proud of herself for figuring out this much. Until she could figure out how to escape, she decided to watch this reality carefully, to see what clues the future holds.

    Piper went back to the kitchen, feeling helpless. She felt emotionally drained and a bit tired, too. She discovered that there were some things she could touch and move with her hands, but not the important objects like the Book of Shadows or her potion ingredients. She sighed deeply as she plopped herself into the kitchen chair. ‘I wish Prue was here, she would know what to do next.’ Then at that instant the front door opened and Piper could hear Prue talking loudly to someone. She got up and ran to the front door, only to get a big shock. There, with Prue, was the mirror image of herself. ‘No, this can’t be. I’m here.’ Piper marched up to herself and grabbed for her. She almost fell to the floor as her hands and arms passed right through her twin. Prue and the other Piper walked right by, heading for the kitchen. Piper followed closely behind, listening to their conversation. They were in a tense conversation about a demon called Shax. From the parts of the conversation that Piper could understand, her sisters were planning a vanquishing before the demon could kill an innocent doctor. Piper was so absorbed in their conversation that she didn’t hear the front door open and another person enter, until Phoebe bounced joyfully into the kitchen behind them.

‘Phoebe!’ Piper yelled out desperately, hoping that this was her sister, the sister that was also trapped by the White Snake. Piper didn’t get any response, though. Everyone ignored her. ‘So, I assume I’m a ghost and I’m here just to observe?’ She asked herself. Piper went back to listening to her sisters and her mirror self as they discussed their latest demon threat. Their plan was to bring the innocent doctor back to the manor, where they were the strongest. Phoebe also discussed Cole with her sisters and that she was going to try out a new potion to rid him of his demon half. Piper perked up after hearing this. She was always into potions and their ingredients. She was surprised that Phoebe found a particular potion recipe to do away with the demon half of Cole. ‘Phoebe was always persistent when she had her mind set on something. God what am I saying!? She’s still here! Why am I thinking in the past. The past…’ Piper said as this word triggered a thought. ‘This is the future! That White Snake woman, demon thingy, sent me to the future! Only problem is, I’m still a ghost of myself, which doesn’t help me get out of here.’ Piper sat down, listening to conversation in front of her. ‘At least I can learn what I can do in the future.’

Lin was in the kitchen finishing the cake she had made with Leo’s help. This was the first time Leo had helped create something in the kitchen and he kind of enjoyed it. Lin was the perfect teacher. She constantly told Leo what ingredients to place in the mix and their origins. She gave a little chuckle seeing how much he enjoyed himself.

                    “You never cooked in kitchen with sweetheart?” She said chuckling.

“No, I never had the time to stop and try and Piper has been so busy, too. I should make the time, though. Piper is a wonderful chef.” Leo said proudly.

While Leo and Lin where in the kitchen cooking up the cake vanquish, Prue was in the attic looking through the Book of Shadows, for ideas on a spell she could devise. There wasn’t anything in the BOS directly about a spell on escaping the Mirror of Prophecy, but at least there was a small description of it and what it could do. This gave Prue a small clue on what she could do to save her sisters and herself once she got stuck inside the Mirror. Prue took part of the Time Portal spell so they could return to their normal time, and combined it with a Binding spell, so that once they said the spell Prue and her sister would be bound together so that they could escape together. She just needed another spell to add that would expel them from the Mirror with all their powers intact. Prue paced the floor, racking her brains to come up with something. She didn’t find a spell in the BOS that came close to what she needed or wanted to do. ‘This is Phoebe’s expertise, not mine. Creating spells comes easy to her. I have to think of something, and soon.’ She needed help, but Prue didn’t want to admit it to herself. She was always the one in charge, the one who always came through in the end with some kind of plan. This feeling of helplessness was driving her crazy. There was no one now that she could turn to - but then she remembered. Prue rushed over to the Book of Shadows and quickly turned it to the page entitled ‘To Call a Witch.’ Prue placed several candles on the floor, lit them, and said the spell with a sense of urgency.

“Hi Grams!” Prue called out cheerfully as Grams materialized in front of her.

                    “Hello dear.” Grams said patiently. “What can I do for you, sweetheart?”

                    “I have a problem and I need some help.” Prue said. Prue quickly related the story of White
                    Snake, the Mirror of Prophecy, and what had happen to her sisters. She told Grams about
                    the plan they had devised but that she needed help in creating a spell or potion that would get
                    Prue and her sisters out of the mirror prison. She explained that the spell she intended to use
                    to find her sisters would be a combination of ‘To Call a Witch’ and a ‘Binding Spell’ so that
                    Prue and her sisters will be bound when they left that place, even though she wouldn’t be able
                    to communicate with them while they were in those separate realities.

“That is very good. So, let me guess, you need a spell or potion to help you out of the mirror once you find Piper and Phoebe. And, it will have to be a strong one, since you won’t be able to coordinate the Power of Three. You’ll just have to do it all yourself.” Grams said.

“Yes, exactly!” Prue responded with some hope. “I was thinking of using the Time Portal spell in combination with something else. From what I know, Piper and Phoebe are stuck in the future. I was thinking of a potion we did in the past to escape from the celluloid world and the Demon of Illusion.”

“That would work,” Grams said. “In fact, everything you’ve said so far would work, dear. There’s just one problem.”

“What?” Prue asked, feeling just a little deflated.

“You are such a brave girl, and yet you are often afraid to play to your own strengths. To use your own powers. Don’t you trust them?”

“What do you mean?” Prue said, confused.

“You have the gift of astral projection. You’re astral body is dimensional and travels through space and time on the power of thought alone. You can make copies of yourself. More than one. When you are inside the mirror, you can use the witch-calling spell to sense Phoebe and Piper, and then you can travel to them astrally. You can coordinate events between them and then use the Power of Three to get yourself out. Don’t you see? You and your sisters will be together through you, so you don’t need a special spell. You’ll have the Power of Three. So, just make a spell up. You know how, dear, just start rhyming: This place is fake, I want to go home and vanquish a snake. There.”

“Grams!” Prue exclaimed in delight. “I’d hug you if you weren’t a ghost!”

“Well,” Leo said proudly as he walked out into the hallway holding a small cupcake on a plate. “Here it is. Vanquishing cake. Tasty to us good guys, deadly to demons. Do you think we should frost it?”

“Funny,” Prue laughed as she came downstairs from the attic, feeling rather happy now that she had a solid plan. Prue turned to Lin, expecting to see her laughing, too. But, Lin’s face was pale.

                    “What is it?” Prue and Leo asked her at the same time.

“Something is wrong. I feel strange energy, like just before White Snake appeared in the shop. I think she is coming.” Lin glanced around nervously.

Leo grabbed Lin’s hand and pulled her back into the kitchen. Prue nodded to Leo, realizing what he was doing. Prue stood alone, the bait in the trap, and waited. She didn’t have to wait long. As Prue stared toward the front door of the manor, she could feel cold energy materializing behind her. Prue turned around abruptly, seeing the demon as she shimmered in. Feigning surprise, Prue threw her hands up to push the White Snake away with her kinetic powers. However, Prue felt the energy being sapped from her. White Snake stood before her, glittering in a green dress, smiling wickedly.

“Who are you!?” Prue demanded as loudly as she could, hoping to alert Lin and Leo.

“I am your new master.” The White Snake hissed at Prue as she tapped the mirror with her long nails. “In you go.”

Prue felt her world twist and turn. She looked up at the chandelier in the hallway and saw it sparkle in a wild rainbow of colors. She felt her feet lift off the ground and her body stretch and elongate strangely. She was falling into the mirror. As she fell through the portal, Prue suddenly realized how right Grams had been. Prue could feel her astral selves reacting to the changing dimensions. She felt a strange new awareness of her powers. She smiled to herself, knowing that she would be able to save her sisters. She just hoped that Lin and Leo would be able to get the White Snake.

                    “That was too easy.” White Snake laughed to herself. She didn’t laugh for long, however. Someone had unexpectedly grabbed the Mirror of Prophecy from her hands. It was Lin Shu-Chin. Using her tai chi training, Lin had slipped up behind the White Snake as soundlessly as the tenacious weasel that was her totem animal.

“This is mine! I am sworn to protect it!” Lin Shu cried defiantly as she ran passed the White Snake and toward the front door.

“Do you really think you can hold on to that?” White Snake said as she sauntered toward Lin, raising her hands menacingly. “Old witch, you are no match for my powers.”

“Maybe not,” Lin said. “But that is going to hurt.” Lin pointed to Leo, who was now standing right behind the demon. As the White Snake turned around, a cupcake hit her hard in the face. White Snake hissed in pain.

“Damn Whitelighter! I’ll see you in Hell!” The White Snake shook her fist angrily at Leo as she shimmered away against her will in a sizzling green light.

“She such a stupid demon.” Lin said as she ‘high-fived’ Leo. “What would a Whitelighter be doing in the Underworld? Funny thought, though, eh?”

                    “Now it’s up to Prue,” Leo sighed. “I hope she can find them.”

           “She will.” Lin said confidently. “She is most powerful and courageous nagina I have
            ever met. And she has strong love for her sisters. Everything will be fine.” Lin patted
            Leo on the arm. Together they walked to the living room, sat the mirror down on the
            coffee table, and waited.

* * *

Prue found herself standing in the middle of the manor’s living room. Everything looked the same except that she was now alone. Gone was the White Snake woman that seconds before smiled wickedly as she tapped a mirror at her. Prue couldn’t believe that she was in the alternate or future time and kept blinking, believing that something more was about to happen. Prue didn’t want to waste time thinking what would happen next so she headed towards the kitchen. This was the heart of the house and where the Halliwell sisters spent most of their time. This was also the place where she was going astrally project herself in hope of finding her sisters’ locations.

When Prue arrived in the kitchen, she was shocked to find all her sisters in a heated discussion over some sort of plan to vanquish a demon. There, in front of her was herself -- or the mirror image of herself -- intensely answering Piper’s question about a plan. Prue just stared at herself in quiet disbelief. It was unnerving to stand face to face with her living mirror image, and the feeling sent shivers up her spine. It only took a few seconds for Prue to compose herself to listen intently to the conversation.

Prue learned that her future self and her sisters were trying to vanquish a demon called Shax before it killed a doctor. Phoebe came up with a spell they could use to vanquish this new evil, but she had other things on her mind, namely Cole. Phoebe asked her sisters if there was some way to remove the demon self from Cole without harming the human half of Cole. It was Piper who answered first. She told her little sister that there might be a slim chance that a potion could vanquish the demon, but keep the human half safe. Prue noticed that her future self said nothing when it came to discussing Cole. ‘Curious.’ Prue thought to herself. If this was the future, Prue wanted to know before hand how she could defeat the evil to come, so she watched the scene unfold as if she were watching a television show. As she watched the images zipping past her, Prue suddenly realized that there was no ‘time’ within the mirror. She could sense this with her astral awareness. Prue knew that she could study and watch and play out a lifetime within the mirror - if she wanted - and time in the real world would remain frozen. ‘Well, then’ Prue laughed to herself. ‘I might as well take advantage of this situation!’

Prue immersed herself in everything that her future self and her sisters did or talked about. She even waited as the future Halliwells left the manor to save the doctor and possibly bring him back to the manor where they were the strongest. She didn’t have long to wait until they returned with the doctor. Prue watched as her distressed sisters returned and Phoebe apologizing for not ‘seeing’ what kind of attack will happen in the future. She also watched as her future self ordered her Phoebe to look in the Book of Shadows. As Phoebe ran up the stairs, Piper reminded her not to get side-tracked with a Cole potion while looking in the book for a vanquishing spell. The future Prue looked a bit confused. She told Piper that she thought Phoebe was over Cole. ‘Boy, this is getting interesting and confusing.’ Prue thought to herself, still interested in the scene in front of her. She forgot all about her original mission of astral projecting to find her sisters. There was time to watch what the future held, and Prue wanted every advantage she could get or use. The scene in front of her was beginning to speed up. She watched as a scary demon burst through the front door and focused his malevolence on the doctor. Suddenly this demon threw a ball of power at the doctor. Prue watched in horror as her double stepped in front of the doctor to protect him. Future Prue took the full brunt of the energy ball and was blown backward, the force of the attack sending her crashing through the wall and out into the yard.

Prue was horrified when she saw what was done to her. But, she felt even more horrified and helpless when she saw what happened next: Piper tried to step in and stop Shax, but she, too, was thrown into the same wall and ended up in a bloody heap right next to Future Prue. ‘Noooo!’ Prue yelled as she ran to where her future self and Piper lay. ‘This can’t be happening -- or going to happen -- or will happen. Oh, Hell.’ She said out loud, frustrated. Then she saw Phoebe come running down the stairs. Phoebe rushed over and crouched down next to her fallen sisters and called out Leo’s name. Once he appeared and saw that Prue and his beloved were seriously injured, he healed them with his gift.

Prue felt weak as she continued to watch the horrible future unfold. She saw everything that was to come: Phoebe leaving to try to save Cole in the Underworld, the shock of getting exposed on national news, the crazy out-of-control crowds in front of the manor, the second attack of Shax and the public vanquish, the stress of trying to deal with the consequences and then -- the look of shock and surprise on Piper’s face when a sniper’s bullet pierced her back. Tears started to roll down Prue’s cheeks as she watched her future self holding her bloodied sister and calling out to Leo, but with no response. She watched Future Prue struggle to put Piper in the car and take her to the hospital, but it was plain that Piper was dying.

‘Why? Is this the end of us all?’ Prue cried out. She wondered why was there no one there to help them. Where was Leo? Prue couldn’t handle seeing her sister dying right in front of her eyes. ‘God, No!’ Prue cried out. The pain was too real, too intense for her. Anger welled up in Prue. She was mad at herself for allowing this to happen and at everyone else for not stepping in to help. She watched, helplessly, as the scene changed to a hospital. She saw herself standing over her dead sister, her hands covered in her blood. Although this sight upset Prue terribly, she also realized she was feeling something else, something other than her own emotional turmoil. Something terribly weird was happening. Her astral bodies sensed a time loop forming and it made her feel queasy and strange. Prue watched as Leo orbed up to the hospital, cried over Piper’s body, and then engaged Future Prue in an impassioned argument. Everything was getting hazy. Prue couldn’t hear what they were saying. She strained to listen, but this future world was getting dark, indistinct, and unreal. Leo orbed away and Future Prue turned just as a SWAT officer fired a shot at her head. Then this world faded to black and everything rewound, in fast motion, to the beginning.

“What the freaken’ Hell?” Prue asked as her whole world changed. She checked to see if she was still in this future world, still trapped in the Mirror of Prophesy. She reached out and grabbed the nearest object, but her hand effortlessly slid through it. ‘OK, I’m still in future land. I need to get out of here. I need to save my sisters now.’ Prue was telling herself in a daze. Before she had time to act on her original intent the scene began to start at the point where she first started viewing it. There was one difference, however: Phoebe didn’t come running down the stairs casting a vanquishing spell, and Leo didn’t orb in time to save them. She saw herself and Piper lying in a pool of blood. Shax instantly killed the doctor, and the demon left the manor triumphant that he accomplished what he set out to do. Leo did eventually orb in, with a tattered and stunned Phoebe and Cole in tow, but not in time to save Future Prue. He healed Piper, but she fell into emotional shock as she realized that Prue was dead and there was no saving her older sister. Leo was distraught over his inability to heal the dead. And Phoebe pressed her face into Cole’s chest, trying to deny the tragedy that had hit so suddenly.

Prue fell to her knees, her body exhausted from the emotional and physical strain of witnessing the future. She wondered if this was another test, somehow, if it was exclusively hers. She walked back to the kitchen. There she sat down and thought about all that happen and that was shown her.

‘I can’t believe this. I don’t want to die.’ Prue said in a defeated tone. ‘How can I change it? And should I change it? One thing that Grams told me long time ago was not to meddle with or change the past. Things happen for a reason. I don’t want to die, but then I don’t want to kill one of my own sisters.’ She began to pace back and forth, trying to figure out how she should deal with the future. ‘If I change the future by saving myself then I might change some part of that future in which either Piper or Phoebe dies, maybe even both. God, now I know why Grams didn’t want to know anything about the future when we went back to the past.’ Prue stopped dead in her tracks. ‘I came her to save my sisters, and save my sisters is what I’m going to do! Both now and in the future.’

Prue, known for her take-charge, non-defeatist attitude set herself upon the task at hand. She may not have known all the reasons for getting trapped inside the mirror, but she did know who was to blame: the White Snake. That was the immediate problem and it was about time she finished what she had come to do.

***

Prue took a long deep breath and said the spell to find a witch. Almost immediately, she could sense her sisters as if they were in the room with her. Prue realized, suddenly, that they were in the room with her, in the same space, just separated dimensionally. Prue closed her eyes and began to split herself into astral doubles - one for Piper and one for Phoebe. With the power of her thoughts, she sent her astral doubles to her sisters. When Prue opened her eyes again, she could see both Piper and Phoebe, but, oddly, she couldn’t see her astral doubles. And then it hit her. Prue realized that her consciousness was operating in several dimensions, simultaneously, but that her doubles all occupied the same space.

                       “Hey guys.” Prue laughed in relief.

Piper and Phoebe turned and stared at Prue. They both ran to hug her at the same time, which was a real trip for Prue. Prue watched as her sisters merged into the same space and both hugged her simultaneously, as if the were one person.

                    “OK. OK. Both of you are going to have to back up. This is too freaky.”

“What are you talking about? Where’s Phoebe?” Piper asked, just as Phoebe said essentially the same thing.

“OK. You are going to have to be quiet, too. Although you can’t hear or see each other, I can see you both. I’m split astrally. I’m in each of your dimensions, as well as my own. Listen. We’re all inside what is known as the Mirror of Prophecy. It’s a dimensional portal that once belonged to The Source’s oracle, the White Snake. I’m hoping that Leo and Lin Shu-Chin got the chance to vanquish her so that we can get out. Lin has a spell to destroy the mirror once we’re out. So, are you ready?”

                    “Yes.” Piper said as Phoebe nodded vigorously.

“Hold my hands,” Prue instructed her sisters as she outstretched her arms. Prue felt the warmth of her sisters’ hands as they held hers. It was odd to hold hands with two people at the same time, feeling both sets of hands clasped against hers. Then Prue said: “Uhm. OK. I’m not good with spells, but here goes: ‘This mirror world is fake; it will not hold; the weasel beat the snake; so let’s go home.”

                    “That sucks.” Phoebe said. “It’s not really a rhyme.”

                    “Just -- you two repeat it with me, OK. Now. Together.”

As the sisters’ said the spell, the world around them began to fade and grow dark. Prue could feel her astral selves whirling in the turbulent and twisting flow of dimensional energy. She saw rainbows of color, heard strange sounds, and saw bits and pieces of past and future lives. Prue heard children laughing and saw that they were Leo and Piper’s children. She saw Phoebe laughing and holding hands with Cole. She also saw a stranger amongst them, a young dark-haired girl who felt oddly familiar to Prue. Prue could sense that this girl was one of them - a sister! Prue felt a surge of joy and realized in her heart that even if she did die in that strange future world, it did not mean the end of the Power of Three. And, that was enough.

***

Prue looked at the heap of dust in front of her that, moments before, was the Mirror of Prophecy.

                    “It’s a shame we couldn’t keep it.” Phoebe said. “We could’ve put it to good use.”

“Oh, no no no.” Lin said as she rolled up the old scroll that contained the spell to destroy the mirror. “You did right in saying these words. That mirror dangerous, too tempting to demons. You got enough trouble already. Mirror was big demon magnet. I am very happy to be rid of it.”

                    “I am happy that it’s dust.” Prue said softly, still feeling disoriented.

                    “Did you see troubling future?” Lin asked.

                    “I saw something about a demon named Shax.” Piper said. “He’s after a doctor.”

                    “I saw that, too.” Phoebe said. “But, I never saw how it turned out.”

                    “Me either,” Piper said.

“I saw.” Prue said. “And don’t worry. The Charmed Ones get the demon. That I promise.” Knowing in her heart the real truth, but she kept it to herself.

“Well then,” Leo said happily. “I say we go out for dinner. To Chinatown. Lin told me about this great little restaurant that serves the best Peking duck. What do you say?”

“Sure. I’m in,” Prue said. “Just, let’s all skip the fortune cookies tonight? OK? I’ve had enough of predictions.” She added, hoping to lift everyone’s spirits.

Prue smiled and pulled her sisters to her for a big group hug. Prue wasn’t sure how long she had, but she decided she was going to make the most of every second. “I love you guys!” Prue whispered as she pressed Piper and Phoebe close. And then she thought to herself: ‘I’m sure going to miss you.”

END