Part 17

This part is written by Roswellian Princess 2001

The whole group met in the living room, for a few last minute preparations. Maria stared out the window, trying to prepare herself. Liz and Isabel both walked over and wrapped their arms around her, enveloping her. She giggled in the middle of the group hug.

Isabel was the first to speak. "Maria, please be careful, I'm not sure what I would do without one of my best friends."

Maria nodded, too choked up with emotion to speak. She and Isabel had been getting close, but she didn't realize that Isabel felt so close to her.

"I second that suggestion," said Liz, not wanting to be left out.

Maria looked at Max, who was hanging back away from the girly emotions. She disentangled herself from her friends and walked over to hug Max. "Max, if anything happens to me, promise me…"

"Nothing is gonna happen," Max interrupted.

"Please, just listen. If something happens, promise me you will take care of Michael. He wont understand, and I don't want to have to come and haunt you because you didn't look out for him."

Max smiled slightly and looked to the ground. After a few seconds of silence he returned his gaze to her eyes. "I will make you that promise. But only if you promise me that you will try your hardest to come back."

"I think I can handle that!" Maria laughed.

Before anyone was ready it was time to go. Max, Liz, Isabel, Kyle, Alex, and Tess all watched as two of their best friends left to fight their battle. Each hating the feeling that all they could do was wait.

AT THE PARK

Once the ragtag group of four witches, one demon, one alien, and one whitelighter reached the woods at the park they immediately began setting up. Cole and Michael positioned themselves behind some trees, not too far from where the girls were standing. Leo was going to stand watch from the other side, with the four women in the middle.

Prue laid the Book Of Shadows on the make-shift stand, and thumbed through looking for the locator spell Maria was going to have to perform. Once she located the correct page she looked to Maria, who was sniffing her oils, trying to calm herself down.

"OK, little sister. Are you ready?"

Maria opened her eyes and looked to her three sisters. "I guess as ready as I will ever be."
The Haliwell Sisters positioned themselves across from Maria, in an attempt to put up a shield to protect their charge. Maria walked up to the book, looking back to where Michael stood before beginning. Michael gave her a small nod of encouragement, just enough to strengthen her resolve.

Maria began chanting the spell.

From the deep, out of my reach
Bring the power to find the one
Hear my call, Hear my speech
To my hands, my will be done

Maria could feel the power being pulled from her. She could feel herself opening up to the elements. She was already growing tired, but knew she had to continue. Her voice rose as she continued the spell. The onlookers could see the electricity that Maria was giving off. She opened her eyes, revealing pools of black where her iris' should have been.

Bring to me the Power of Three
Take from me this power I give
Show to me what I wish to see

In a voice not her own Maria began to speak. "You think you are so smart!" she began, directing her comments to the sisters. "You send this child to seek me!"

Prue gasped, knowing it was The Source who was speaking through Maria. The second Maria began to speak Michael rose to help. Cole laid a restraining hand on his arm. He knew that The Source could, and probably would, hurt Maria if they interrupted.

"She has power. More power than the three of you. I can feel it coming off of her in waves," he continued, using Maria's hands to feel up and down her body. "I can feel, yes, she is the Chosen One. Only the Chosen One has power that outmatches the Charmed Ones." The group heard the evil laughter as Maria began to rise off the ground.

"With her power I can destroy you once and for all! You will turn your powers over to me, or watch her die slowly."

"We will never release our powers to you. Why don't you fight us yourself, don't hide behind a child!" screamed Piper.

"Ah, but this child has great power!" They all watched as a bolt of energy flew from Maria's hand, landing directly in front of Phoebe.

Phoebe jumped back before the bolt could harm her. Cole dashed out of the brush when he saw the blast head for his girl.

The Source spun around when he heard the commotion behind him. "Ah, Balthazar. How nice of you to join us. And I see you brought one of the hatchlings with you."

Michael was stunned. He knew who he was. How is that possible?

"You wonder how I know you?" he directed at Michael. "This one has a strong bond with you. But alas, it was your protector who told me about you."

"Nasedo…" Michael whispered.

"Yes. Nasedo, your so called teacher. He is after the same power as I am."

"Let her go!" Michael growled.

"Never! She is mine, forever!"

Prue grabbed the book and found a spell to eject The Source from Maria. Without stopping to ask for help she began the incantation.

From whence you came, return to now
Leave this body, Leave it be
Leave this place, hear my vow
Ejected, by the Power of Three

Maria gave an unearthly cry as The Source struggled to maintain control. He could feel the young witch fighting to surface, breaking through every couple of seconds.

"Please," Maria cried. "Don't stay here. I can feel him regaining control. I can't stop him!"

"Maria!" Michael screamed, stepping forward.

"No Michael, stay back. I can't have you hurt!" she cried.

"You will never regain control!" The Source shouted through Maria's lips. "I will destroy you before I let that happen!"

Again Prue searched for a spell to eject The Source from Maria. They could see by the lines on Maria's face that he was causing her great pain.

This time all three joined together in the chant. As the chant went on Prue inched closer and closer to Maria. She could see by her pained expression that she was fighting to regain control. When she was within grabbing distance, Prue through her arms around Maria. Maria struggled in the embrace, The Source trying to get free.

Maria suddenly broke free and turned on Prue. Maria grabbed the dagger that Prue always carried with her, and plunged it into the chest of her sister. Prue's eyes widened, she felt the blade slide deep within her chest.

Maria was still holding Prue upright, so no one realized the extent of the damage. She leaned down and whispered into Prue's ear. "Now that I have taken care of you, it is time to do away with The Chosen One."

Maria let Prue's body drop to the ground. Leo saw the blood on Prue's chest and rushed forward. Just as he was about to reach her, Maria lifted her arm in the air, the bloody blade glinting in the moonlight. She turned and looked directly at Michael, who was watching with horror in his eyes.

For a split second he could see that Maria again had surfaced. "I love you," she whispered just before she thrust the blade into her own heart.

"NOOOOOO!!!" Michael screamed, barreling past Cole to get to Maria. Finally Leo reached Prue and was looking over her to see what he needed to heal. But Prue stopped him. Phoebe and Piper were both on the ground next to Prue, both in shock.

"Please Leo," Prue choked. "You need to save her. She is more important. You can't save us both. Evil will win, if Maria dies."

Piper and Pheobe were both shaking their heads. "No Prue," Piper cried. "We need you too. He can save you both!"

Leo looked over to Maria who was gathered in Michael's arms. He was sobbing over her head. He then turned his stricken eyes to Leo. "Please, save her. She is slipping away I can feel it. Please! I can't lose her."

"Leo," Prue whispered. "She is slipping away. I can feel her energy fading. You have to save her."

Leo was torn. Both women were his charges. Who was he to say which should live and which should die. Finally, he made a decision. Crawling over to Maria he laid his hands on her chest. A bright light shone as he corrected the damage. During the healing he heard his wife cry out.

"Prue!! Oh god, please. Don't leave us! Come on! Wake up!"

Once Maria had been healed Leo hurried back to Prue's side. But he was too late, Prue Haliwell, the eldest of The Charmed Ones, was gone.

TBC