Wow! Almost 70 Reviews! I am touched. Ruthy, piperleo4eva, and RakeTheSky thank you so much for taking the time to comment. PruedenceHalliwell and son gomay vidal goku you crack me up! Princess Pinky, I am truly honored that you take time to read (For those of you who don't know, Princess Pinky has an awesome series, featuring all four sisters with wild magical kids...check it out!) DaniEllie03 all I can say that the answer to your questions is yes!
2 weeks later...
Piper was pulling laundry from the dryer when Leo orbed into the kitchen, "back from your morning staff meeting so soon?" Leo smiled, and kissed her lips, "Yeah, the Elders have a proposition for you and your sisters."
Piper looked at him quizzically, "a proposition?" Leo nodded, "where are Phoebe and Prue?"
"Phoebe's still upstairs and Prue went to drop off some photos to her editor, " Piper commented. She set the laundry basket on the table, and touched Leo's arm. "So what is it that they want us to do?"
The words had no sooner left, Piper's mouth when a demon flamed in sporting electrical bolts of energy. "Ah, Crap!" she hissed,"Phoebe!"
30 minutes later...
"Piper! Phoebe? I'm home!" Prue walked into the manor to find everything dark. "Leo?" Where was everybody? She reached for the light and flipped it on, "Is anybody here?"
"They're all out" The voice Prue heard sent chills down her spine. It was cold, and definitely demonic. Looking to her left, Prue picked up the first object that she saw, a cane that used to belong to Grams. "Come out where ever you are!" she said bravely. A demon with horns, wearing all black appeared instantly.Prue held the cane up against her, defensively, "who are you what do you want?"
"I am Troxell, and I want you," The demon advanced on her calmly and smooth.
"Where are my sisters?" Prue demanded.
Troxell laughed, "they all ran like frightened little girls with their white lighter"
"That's not true" Prue hissed swinging the cane. Even without their powers, Piper and Phoebe would never run from a fight. The cane struck the demon dead center in the chest sending him several steps backwards. "You are mortal now. Nothing you can do will hurt me," the demon laughed insidiously.
Desperately, Prue ran towards the fireplace and grabbed the poker. It was then that she noticed Leo. He was laying face down on the floor. His body was half hidden by the couch. "What did you do to him?" Prue shouted ready to strike.
"He was in my way"
Thinking fast, Prue slung the poker, impaling the demon in his upper left shoulder. "Ouch" he mocked, pulling the poker out and tossing it aside like it was plastic.
"Piper! Phoebe! I need you!" An all consuming power then past through Prue and suddenly she faded out.
"I'm not in the mood for games witch!" Troxell looked to his left and then his right. It was then that Prue realized that she was invisible.
"What? How in the hell did that happen?" Silently, she moved away from the demon and looked for anything she could find to detour him.
From inside the kitchen an unconscious Phoebe started to wake up when she heard Prue. Slowly she pushed herself to her forearms then made her way over to Piper. "Piper, Piper Honey, come wake up. Prue needs us"
Piper groaned unceremoniously as Phoebe shook her, "ugh, what hit us?"
Phoebe slowly pulled to her feet and then "A demon and he's after Prue". Hand in hand the two sisters ran into the living area where Prue was valiantly trying to fight off Troxell. All they could see was Troxell seemingly fighting the air. Objects seem to fly at him from nowhere. "Prue where are you?" Phoebe shouted just as Prue materialized right behind them. "I'm right here," she said slowly, feeling drained.
Troxell growled and waved his hand, sending Piper and Phoebe flying against the wall.
"You think this is test?" Piper asked picking herself up from the floor.
"No, it's part their damn punishment!" Phoebe replied, wishing for her power of levitation.
"Screw their punishment!" Prue hissed picking up an antique vase and hurling it at one of the demons. The demon extended his hand and the vase burst into flames.
"Oh...Fire...Phoebe! Grab a hose!"
"How about an athame instead?" Phoebe tossed the athame she'd gathered from the attic to Prue. Prue caught it and hurled it into Troxell's the chest. The demon groaned as before, pulling out with sarcastic laugh, "prepare to die witch"
"Oh...oh..." Prue muttered standing protectively in front of her sisters.
"Prue, Prue what do we do?"
"Uh...Uh... Run?" Prue hated the idea of running like a coward, but given the circumstances that they seemed to up against an unstoppable demon she didn't see where they had a choice.
"Run where?" Piper shrieked. The trio turned and Troxell shimmered in front them causing all three to scream. The demon then reached out and grabbed Phoebe by the throat, elevating her body from the floor.
"Let her go!" Prue demanded, while Piper pleaded for Leo to wake up. "Leo, Leo, we need you!"
"Will another demon do?" Piper and Prue looked up surprised, to see Cole standing before them energy ball ready. "Nobody hurts Phoebe like that!" he hissed hurling the explosive mass. The energy ball hit, Troxell in the side of the head vanquishing him instantly. Phoebe's body fell limp to the floor.
"Phoebe!" Instantly the sisters and Cole were at her side. "oh...oh this is bad" Prue commented noting the demon had sunk his talons into the flesh of Phoebe's neck. "We need Leo". Pulling to her feet, Piper instantly crossed over to her unconscious husband, "Leo, Leo...we need you, you have to wake up". She waited a moment then turned back to Prue, "It's not working".
Prue looked down at her injured sister who was now cradled in Cole's arms. "She's bleeding badly" he commented, pressing a kiss to Phoebe's forehead, "Hang on Damn it, you have to hang on!"
"I won't let them take her," Prue looked upward, shouting to the heavens, "Is this what you want?" Piper quickly followed suit, "Our sister is innocent Damn it so get your supernatural Asses down here and help her!"
Natalie appeared almost instantly. "Oh great, we get you," Piper added under breath, as she watched Natalie fall to Phoebe's side.
"What happened?" Natalie held her hands steadily over Phoebe's wounds, emitting her golden white light until it healed. "A demon, named Troxell" Prue put out glaring at the white lighter as she crossed over to heal Leo. "Is everyone all right?" Leo shook his head gingerly, rolling his eyes up at Piper.
"No, we all almost died" she replied, "but Cole and Natalie saved us"
"Thanks" Leo looked to Natalie grateful as Phoebe began to moan, "Easy, just take it easy" Cole whispered softly. "I'm good thanks to you" Phoebe kissed Cole's cheek and then looked to Natalie, "and you"
Natalie nodded keeping a tight smile, refusing to meet Phoebe's bright one. Tenderly, Cole helped Phoebe to her feet, "hey Prue what was that weird thing you did? When Piper and I came in it sounded like you were on the other side of the room."
"Weird thing?" Prue questioned before remembering that she had faded, "I don't know, I just--". Prue was quick to note Natalie's ever-watchful eye, "I just sidestepped the demon, somehow--Whoa!" The room began to spin and Prue felt herself waver in time with a swell of nausea, "Excuse me!" she said quickly making a beeline for the bathroom.
"What's wrong with her?" Natalie asked, curious.
"Maybe another dizzy spell" Leo commented sending Piper's scared eyebrow up, "Dizzy spell? What dizzy spell?"
"Prue, you all right, honey?" Phoebe asked when Prue returned.
Prue placed a hand on her stomach, "I'm fine...I just had some bad tuna salad for lunch".
Piper kept her eyebrow arched, "you hate tuna salad," she hissed as Natalie and Leo started to confer about the demon in white lighter jargon.
"So did they agree to the terms of the compromise?" Natalie asked, looking at Leo expectantly.
"I haven't had a chance to tell them yet"
"Compromise?" Prue's eyes narrowed, "what compromise?"
Natalie's face was all smiles, 'the one where you all get your powers back."
"Get our powers back?" Phoebe questioned, "What's the catch?"
"No catch really," Natalie shrugged, "You all just have to agree let us erase any memories that you have of Andy, and any knowledge that he and Prue were ever married. It'll be just like changing back time."
Phoebe and Piper saw the rage filling in Prue's face, "absolutely not!"
Phoebe lowered her head, "it might not be such a bad idea Prue. I know how you feel about Andy but we almost died today"
"How can you of all people say that? And don't you dare tell me how I feel about Andy! " Prue shouted turning for the stairs, She couldn't, not now, not ever. There was just too much at stake.
"Prue! Prue!"
"Let her go" Piper commented, "she needs some space"