A/N: Princess Pinky, I think I answered your question about the Elders and marriage in this section. PrudenceHalliwell, you might some tissues...in fact just keep the box sitting at your computer for a while. Mandabella and coolcharmedchic, thank you so much for commenting. CC: Not to worry, Prue will have her revenge. DaniEllie03, I wrote this one quick just as you asked. son gomay vidal goku, great spells! I just may use one down the line, if that is all right with you! Thanks to everyone else for reading. I am really overjoyed by all of the great feedback. This part is also a little long but I couldn't find a good place to break it.
Silence erupted through the attic until Phoebe clicked her cheek, "okay, we have no powers so now what do we do?" Surely the Charmed Ones weren't meant to end this way? Phoebe was sure of that."I don't know, expect that the three of you are sisters, and you accept the consequences of personal gain together. " Leo said. "Personal gain" Piper repeated dryly, "I hate those words"
"Me too," Phoebe returned setting eyes upon her oldest sister. Prue was still staring at her hands in shock, "but we have to stick together, we can't let them think we're going to back down because of what's happened to Prue."
Leo looked bewildered, "Back down? This isn't a fight Phoebe, you and the Elders, we're all on the same side"
"The same side? The same side of what?" Piper challenged, "And don't you dare say good, because what just happened, that wasn't anything that like the goodness that we have spent the last three years of our lives trying to protect!"
Leo frowned thoughtfully, knowing that he had to defend his bosses, "I know it doesn't seem like that right now but whether we believe it or not they have a reason for everything. Look, I tell you what after things settle down I go up there and plead your case for reinstatement of your powers, maybe if Prue apologizes....".
Phoebe's dark eyes became small slits of anger and resentment, "Apologizes? Apologizes for what? Wanting to be with the man she's been in love with since the day she was born? No Leo...I don't think I want my sister to have to do that!"
"Plead, Leo? You want us to plead?" Piper asked incredulously, "There is no way in hell I am going to plead for my powers! They are part of my birthright, not some gift that can just be exchange and taken back whenever the Elders friggin' feel like it!"
"Piper settle down, they'll hear you"
"I don't care!" she spat, "this punishment crap and threat of unspeakable wrath is getting old"
"They're just testing us again," Phoebe dug in disgust.
"Leo's right" Prue sided breaking her silence "this is my all fault. I was the one who is guilty of personal gain not the two of you, if anyone suffers the loss their powers it should be me." She then adverted her eyes to Leo. "Leo, I want to go with you to talk to the elders, if I need to apologize to Natalie to get our powers back that's what I'll do"
"What? Prue you can't...it's not-"
"It's not what? Allowed? Please spare me the consequence line. I've already lost my powers and the man I love twice...there's nothing more they can do to hurt me "
"Fine, as long as this doesn't turn into witch hunt against Natalie or a quest to find Andy"
'It wont," Prue promised, crossing two fingers behind her back.
Andy materialized on a secluded part of the beach with Natalie following behind him. "What just happened back there?" he asked agitated. "Why would a Charmed Witch want to hurt you and vanquish me, that doesn't make sense".
Natalie watched him push a hand through his short sprigs of hair, "it's complicated, that's all you need to know"
Andy's eyes grew wide, "All I need to know? C'mon Nat! I think you owe me more of an explanation than that! That women, Prue, she was emotionally distraught!" It had something to do with him he was sure of it.
"And so are you, let me heal your emotional pain" Natalie retorted reaching out to touch his temple". She needed to erase the incident that had just occurred so that Andy wouldn't dwell on the memory.
"No" Andy's upper lip curled as he pushed her hand away, "I don't think I want your healing right now". There had been something about the whole situation that didn't feel right. Something in the witches voice, and mannerisms told him he was being played.
"Andy get back here!" Natalie snapped watching her charge orb away.
2 days later....
The girls and Cole were all sitting around the kitchen table eating a light breakfast when Leo orbed in," The Elders have agreed to see you" he announced. "In fact they've granted you a formal hearing"
"A hearing?" Prue sat her coffee cup down and lifted an eyebrow of doubt, "what are we on trial or something?"
"It's set up like a traditional system of democracy," Leo added, "they want to hear from both sides"
"You've got to be kidding," Piper hissed rising to her feet and reaching for a set of oven mitts. She padded carefully over to the oven where she pulled out a tin, filled with blueberry muffins.
Phoebe took a sip of her coffee and set the cup back down, "Well Leo if you ask me angel dusting Andy out of the blue like that so he can't remember Prue doesn't sound very democratic"
"It's the only way, otherwise you have to wait until they've decided that you've earned your powers back" Leo refuted.
"Sounds like to me your going to need a lawyer" Cole chimed in letting his arm slide around Phoebe.
Phoebe shook her head, instantly recognizing his look, "Oh Cole no...there is no way they are going to allow a demon to go up there, besides your already on their radar, you were Andy's mark"
"And what better way to get the star witness to appear himself"
Phoebe, Piper, Prue and Leo all just looked at each other. "C'mon, you don't think White lighter bitch is going to let him appear? Do you? I mean the last thing she wants is for him to have any contact with Prue"
"Anything that might spark his memory," Phoebe added catching on. She quickly pressed a kiss to his lips, "I like the way you think counselor"
Prue glanced a Leo reading the distress on his face, "Look Cole, I appreciate everything you're trying to do, but I can't afford to piss the elders off by having a demon represent me. Besides, look what they'll already done to Andy and me. I don't want to give them an opportunity to go after you and Phoebe too"
"Prue's right" Piper added dryly, pulling off her oven mitts, "if you step up and defend us you could risk more than just a lifetime in purgatory"
Phoebe smiled, touching the side of Cole's face, "I love you for trying to protect my sister, but this isn't your fight," she kissed him again. "We need to settle this in our own way"
"Are you ready?" Leo asked adverting his gaze to Prue.
"Just let me brush my teeth"
"We're coming too for emotional support" Phoebe added.
A long white table served as the bench where three Elders sat awaiting Prue's arrival. Natalie was seated alone at a table to their left, a book rules the size of the BOS was sitting on the table She was clad in pant-suit of all white, looking very angelic and as well professional.
"Sit here," A fourth elder acting as the court appointed supervisor directed when Prue, Piper, and Phoebe finally arrived. The girls sat instantly and the hearing began.
Leo remained standing awaiting his chance to speak, "White lighter, Leo you may begin your plea". Leo padded to the center of the room and cleared, "If I may your elderships, I'd like to ask to that you restore my charges powers based on the fact that you broke one of your time honored rules"
The Elder sitting in the center, raised his chin curiously, "And which rule is that?"
The sanctity of marriage; two nights ago, Prue Halliwell entered into a holy union with her high school sweetheart, who is now a Tracer," Leo waved his hand and hologram of the ceremony appeared in the center of the room.
"Such unions are forbidden" the elder on the right replied.
But nevertheless it did occur out of a bond of love that Prue and Andy have shared their entire mortal lives." Leo then looked to Natalie; "Prue only used her powers against his white lighter, when she tried to sever their sacred bond. She was protecting the man she loved."
The Elder on the left looked at Natalie, "you erased his memory with our approval did you not?"
"I did base on the grounds that it was not my charges destiny to be united with the witch." Natalie said smoothing her coat as she stood.
"Please elaborate"
Natalie stepped alongside Leo, "my charge was lured into this so called union by a witches spell that Patty Halliwell cast so that her oldest daughter Prudence could be happy." Natalie then turned a looked directly at Prue, "without the seduction of the spell, my charge NEVER would have gone back to her"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Piper and Phoebe each grabbed a shoulder as Prue attempted to fly to her feet"
"Miss Halliwell, sit down!" Prue sat instantly at the elder's request. "A spell cast by the witches Mother? Please give us just a moment" All was silent as the three elders conferred.
"We ask that you summon, the high Priestess, Penelope and her Daughter, Patricia"
"Grams and Mom?" Phoebe questioned softly to her sisters, "why would they want Grams and Mom?"
"I don't know" Piper replied through gritted teeth, "but I don't like it"
"Neither do I," Prue added rising to her feet, "Excuse me what does this have to do with my Mother and Grandmother. I'm the one that attacked the white lighter not them"
"Sit down Miss Halliwell" the center Elder ordered as the sidelined Elder waved his hand, making Penny and Patty appear.
"To what do I owe this calling?" Penny said to the Elders respectfully. The center elder leaned back into his chair and coolly began to speak, "it has come to our attention that your daughter, Patricia, cast a spell which has ultimately led to your oldest Granddaughter, attacking a white lighter." His voice paused for a moment while Penny cast a stern look at Prue.
"I see," Penny answered slowly, "and has she been stripped of her powers?"
"She has along with her sisters"
Patty's head popped up shocked, with angry words tumbling from her mouth, "Your broke the power of three?" Penny held a hand out, silencing any more that Patty might have wanted to say.
"We have" the center Elder replied, "and we have also decided that it would be in the best of interest of the greater good, if you have no further contact with your daughters. You are hereby stripped of your heavenly essence and banned from ever seeing them again"
"WHAT? NO! All three sisters howled as they jumped from their seats. "You Can't Take Her Essence Away! Piper shouted, "She's our Mother!"
"She cast a spell in which has interfered with your destiny" the elder on the left explained.
Leo's heart sank as the girls rushed past him to get to Patty, "please you can't do this"
The Elder ignored his plea, "as for your charges, they shall remain powerless until we determine otherwise"
"Mom, you can't leave us forever!" Phoebe cried. Prue stood on the outside of the circle glaring heatedly. Her hearted hardened while Piper and Phoebe huddled around their mother sobbing. Utter contempt and hate was burning inside of her.
"Grams how can they do this?" Now Prue felt as if she had truly hit rock bottom.
"Prudence, I have confidence in you my dariling," Penny said softly, placing her transparent hand on Prue's shoulder, "I know you will find a way to fix this"