Welcome to the vast chambers of we, the Elders. If we have summoned you, or you wish to speak, this is where you will find someone to talk to. Generally, only Whitelighters are permitted up here.

::Leo orbs in and walks straight up to the other Elders::

"I need information, anything, on whats happening to Piper. Where is she? Who took her? Why can't I sense her?"

"You are needed elsewhere."

::Leo glares, his face trying to convey intense hatred and anger. Instead he looks conspitated. Without a word he orbs out to Paz's Apartment::

"WEDGIE!"

[Lucas Morgenstern, at your service.]

(Oh, for fuck's sake! Another hit of Déjá Vu All Over Again...)

::He looks around the place, realizing that he wasn't in his penthouse.::

"Oh, you're kidding me. Luke?"

::The Elders confer for a while, throwing out various phrases such as "he's hardly the epitome of good" and "but we're desperate!" Eventually, the head elder turns around and addresses Luke.::

"Luke, I'm sorry to inform you that you have died on Earth."

::He looks at the group of Elders who had confirmed his death.::

"Yeah. I figured as much having died once before, though this place seems a little bit different from the other place. Is this heaven? I mean, I really doubt that this is. I figured that I'd be somewhere random and alone or burn for all eternity."

"Unfortunately not. We The Elders have come to a... *sighs*... decision. Being that we're desperate and all at the moment from a shortage of Whitelighters, we would like to ask you to become on. You do know what a Whitelighter is, don't you?"

::He adds disparagingly.::

::Luke looks to the Elders, slightly confused. No shock there.::

"Eh. Kind of. Leo's one of those things, I think, right? Just humor me and explain the whole thing to me."

"Alright. Ultimately, a Whitelighter is the guardian of witches. We assign you a few witches who become your 'charges'. They will be able to call you from any location, you will be able to hear them, and can use a transportation power called orbing and can help them out. It is your duty to teach and protect your charges and help them overcome challenges and ultimately become good witches. You have a couple of other powers too, the only one you can use right now is healing as well as orbing. You yourself are regenerative; you cannot die other than from the poison arrow of a Darklighter, which is like the demonic version of you. How does this sound?"

"I am obligated to help people?"

::He sighs defeatedly after thinking it over.::

"I suppose it could be worse with the fire and brimstone. I guess I can handle it. Who is my first 'charge'?"

"A novice called Shinji."

::The Elder clasps his hands together and smiles.::

"We'd tell you where he is, but it's more fun when the n00bs try to sense 'em and get totally lost. If you ever need help, you can come back here. Now push off."

"Oh...uh. All right, then."

(Here goes nothing. Shinji? Are you there, boy? Get serious, Luke.)

::Luke concentrates on sensing Shinji, eventually finding him at the door to Andrea's Apartment. Luke dissipates in an orb cloud, with the intent of transporting there. However, he fucks up (naturally) and ends up in Room Number 13.::

::Luke orbs into the Elders' Chambers, looking for an Elder (duh!) to speak with.::

"Hello?"

"What do you want?"

"The healing thing. Is it just restricted to healing Shinji?"

(Not that I was able to do it earlier, anyway.)

"I know. Stupid question but I wanted to clarify that."

"No, you can heal all good beings, and humans."

(Now bugger off, I have a game of Snakes 'n Ladders to get back to.)

::Luke orbs off near the outside of the Magic Shop.::

::Luke orbs in.::

"Yes?"

"Luke, we have decided to assign you a 'buddy' to assist in your training. You'll both have to learn how to do things together, I think it will be of benefit to you both..."

"A...buddy? Who is this 'buddy', exactly?"

"Well...she's the work experience girl..."

::He steps aside to reveal Crystal.::

"Oh my gawd, you're sooooo cute!"

::She squeals and dives on Luke, wrapping her arms around his neck.::

"We, like, totally make a great couple!"

::Luke's jaw drops, prying Crystal off of him.::

"Uh, no. You're like, eleven."

"Fifteen and a half!"

::She smiles and bounces on her heels. Perky little bitch.::

"Do you have some gum?"

"I'm twice your age, kid. And no, no, I do not."

::He looks to the Elders, giving them a "You've got to be fucking kidding me" face.::

::The Elder gives Luke a look back.::

"We were desperate enough to get you, this is the same situation..."

"Oh, fine..."

(I so don't know how to deal with kids or even one teenager, much less two teenagers.)

"...so now what?"

::That last statement from the Elder sifts through her brain and she throws herself on Luke's arm, squeezing his muscle.::

"Mmm, I likey!"

::She giggles like...well, like a little girl, and continues to squeeze his bicep.::

"So, buddy, you ready for some fun?"

"As long as it doesn't involve manicures or slumber parties or drawing 'Luke 'n' Crystal 4EVA' hearts, I suppose so..."

::He looks to Crystal, uncomfortably attached to the blonde twit.::

"But..."

::She pulls a notepad from her pink handbag. It reads 'Crystal 4 Luke 4eva', 'CC+LM4eva' and 'I <3 Lukey' all over it. Her chin wobbles as tears fill her eyes.::

::Luke looks at Crystal, feeling a little guilty about making a fifteen and a half girl cry. He sighs defeatedly, patting her shoulder.::

"It's okay. Don't worry about it, kid. Shh..."

(This is going to be a long partnership...)

::She stops crying and rests her head on Luke's chest.::

(He loves me.)

"Well, good luck. We'll be watching."

(And laughing our elderly arses off!)

::He waves a hand and sends both Luke and Crystal to Luke's Penthouse in an orb cloud.::

::Leo orbs in and walks over to The Elders' Council, bowing his head slightly before leaving a respectful pause then speaking.::

"So what do you think?"

::The first Elder, a young looking female bows her head and speaks in a soothing voice.::

"It was certainly a surprise, Leo. Nobody expected Petunius would be able to do such a thing, and in truth, more worryingly, he should not have been able to. We believe there may be another force behind this."

::Leo frowns in concern.::

"Another force? Like what? If it wasn't you guys, then who?"

"We don't know. But you should be careful, just in case it could be intervention from the wrong sort of people."

::The elder purses her lips.::

"Just in case."