A woman, Nina, with a small box in her hands is attacked in an alley. Her attacker is a demon named Katya. They fight briefly but we don't know the result of the battle. The box disappears during the fight.
Paige can't stop hearing ringing in her ears, and Phoebe is trying to help her. Wyatt orbs downstairs in front of Paige and Phoebe. Leo comes down and tells Wyatt to orb back upstairs to Piper for his bath. Leo tells them that Wyatt has entered his "terrible twos." Phoebe thinks that it's a normal part of childhood. Leo explains that he and Piper disagree on how to deal with it. Leo asks what's wrong and the sisters explain about the ringing in Paige's ears. Leo explains that this is possibly a call from the Elders, and the only way to find out is to actually speak with one.
Nina transports herself to the manor and tells Phoebe and Piper of Pandora's Box. Wyatt orbs the Book of Shadows to him and Piper tells him that he can only orb when she says he can. As Piper gets the Book from him, Phoebe tells her that she can't deny who Wyatt is. After getting the sisters to focus back on Pandora's Box, she explains to them that Pandora's Box has gone to its next guardian and that Katya wants to open it. Doing so will release all of the world's sorrows.
A college student, Hope, enters her dormitory room and finds the box on her bed. Not knowing where it came from, but curious about its contents, she opens it slightly. A coarse, black mist escapes with a loud scream, and she closes the box again.
At Magic School, an Elder, Sandra, explains to Paige that she's hearing a global alert, a warning of a threat they've not yet identified, and that only Whitelighters can hear it. Paige doesn't want to become a Whitelighter, but Sandra tells her that becoming a Whitelighter is a natural part of her destiny, just like becoming a Charmed One was. Leo suggests that Paige help a future Whitelighter instead; Sandra thinks that can work. Paige wonders how that will help, and Sandra explains that helping others can help you find some clarity. Paige agrees to try it if clarity means the ringing in her ears will finally stop.
Piper is scrying for the box when Wyatt orbs in a toy, causing Piper to drop the crystal. Piper tells Wyatt that being on time-out also means he can't use magic. Piper is upset that she's the only one disciplining Wyatt. Phoebe takes over the scrying and finds the box at UC Berkeley. Nina transports herself and Piper to Hope's room. They tell Hope about the box, but she is frightened. Nina picks up the box and then morphs into Katya.
Sandra explains Pandora's Box to Phoebe. It exists only to tempt, part of the Grand Design. "If Mankind wants to open it again and unleash unspeakable horror on itself, then so be it. But the Box is not to be opened by demons." Sandra further explains that the box will only move on to the next guardian if the current one has died. This alerts Phoebe and she quickly asked to be orbed to Piper and Hope, but Hope is scared and wants nothing to do with Phoebe and Piper.
Paige is in an elevator with two men, a woman and a small girl. The power fails and the elevator is stuck. She believes that her future Whitelighter is in the elevator. The girl has an asthma attack.
At the Manor, Piper, Phoebe, and Leo explain what's happening to Hope. Hope isn't willing to embrace her destiny, unsure if she even believed in magic. Hope freaks out when Wyatt orbs into the room. Piper and Leo have Wyatt orb upstairs while Phoebe tries to calm down Hope. While talking with Phoebe, Hope receives a call from her friend Darcy. Hope turns out to have telekinesis and flings Phoebe as she leaves. She reaches Darcy's room but finds Katya there. Katya teleports Hope to her lair. She calls for her henchman, Lucius, who produces Darcy at knifepoint. Hope, on Katya's order, opens the box.
One of the men in the elevator tries to escape through the roof. He receives an electric shock and his heart stops. The girl's asthma attack worsens. Paige asks the other man to help her give CPR while the woman sings to the girl to calm her down and ease her breathing. The man revives, and then the elevator opens.
Katya tries to kill Hope, but she deflects the sai with an Energy Blast. Piper and Phoebe enter her lair through a spell. Piper blows up Lucius and the two pursue Katya. Katya knocks out Darcy and assumes her form. Back at the manor, "Darcy" tries to persuade Hope to leave. In time, the sisters become suspicious. Paige pulls Hope aside, on the pretext of showing her how to contact the sisters.
Downstairs, Leo is holding Chris while looking for Wyatt. Piper and "Darcy" come downstairs while Phoebe, Paige, and Hope stay in the attic. Piper catches Leo and asks him where Wyatt was. Leo isn't sure until they hear a plate breaking in the kitchen. Leo leaves after Wyatt and "Darcy" wonders what's taking them so long in the attic. After a moment, "Hope" comes downstairs. "Darcy" morphs into Katya and transports "Hope" into her lair. Once there, "Hope" is revealed to be Paige in disguise. Paige throws a potion and vanquishes Katya. She gives the box to Darcy and orbs her to the manor.
Piper and Phoebe again try to help Hope embrace her destiny, but she is still unsure. After Darcy encourages Hope, she finally opens the box and gathers the sorrows back. Hope thanks the sisters for helping her to embrace her destiny.
Sandra tells Paige that the future Whitelighter she was to save was herself and suggests that perhaps being a Whitelighter is the life separate from magic Paige is looking for.
Back home, Leo tells Piper that Wyatt accidentally hit his head when he tried to orb a toy to himself, and that it was enough to teach the little boy a lesson about using his powers. Piper worries about restraining the boys too much that they end up questioning their own identities but will continue to teach them to be careful with their powers. She encourages Wyatt to use his powers in the house, and the boy levitates a collection of toys into the air.
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