The Elder looked at the Charmed Ones. "Piper Halliwell, step into the Circle of Truth."
She glared at him. "Kiss my-- "
"Very well," George interrupted. He waved his hand, and the circle of light expanded to include the area where the Charmed Ones sat. Rapidly shifting images appeared, proving his words true. When presented with an innocent to save or a demon to vanquish, the first words out of the Charmed Ones mouths most often were complaints and desires to do something else.
"That's not fair!" Paige hissed.
Kevin looked at her sadly. "Unfortunately, it's all too true, isn't it?" Paige scowled but couldn't disagree.
"In addition," George continued, "despite the trial not long ago about the misuse of their powers, quite soon afterwards, Paige used her powers to conjure a man to...satisfy her." Paige flushed, but didn't say anything. "It is obvious they did not learn their lessons."
Serris moved to stand beside George. "Because of this, we submit that these women are not fit to bear the title and power of the Charmed Ones. Since the eldest complains of wanting a normal life so much, their powers should be stripped from them so that they live out their lives as mortals. Women worthy to be the Charmed Ones will be found."
"Fine by me!" Piper snapped. "Take them. They're yours."
"Obviously," Serris continued, "their memories would have to be stripped of any knowledge of magic and the magical world..."
"I don't think I like the sound of that," Phoebe said nervously.
"...and while the younger child of Piper Halliwell may have his powers stripped as well, she may retain him, but the older, Wyatt, will have to remain here with us," Serris said.
Piper rose to her feet, her eyes flashing with anger. "Over my dead body!"
"SIT DOWN." Briel's voice boomed loudly through the room, and the force of it knocked Piper back into her seat.
"You can't do this!" Piper continued to protest. Beside her, Leo looked stricken.
"We can do whatever we wish, Piper Halliwell," Briel said. "If this is the course of action we choose, there is nothing you can do to stop it. We are not the Cleaners that you can intimidate with your power. If this is done, you will not mourn your child. You will have never known him or his father. Your new memories will comfort you, as will your very normal life."
Piper looked helplessly at Cole, realizing their fate was in his hands. "Cole...please...don't let them do this."
He laughed shortly. "Why the hell should I care what happens to you?"
"Because...because..." She searched for the right words. "You'll prove us wrong. You'll prove we were wrong about how we treated you."
"Cole, please," Phoebe added softly.
He stiffened and turned to the judges. There was a long moment of silence, then Cole finally spoke. As he did, the Circle of Truth conjured images -- Prue's death and funeral, Leo leaving Piper to become an Elder, Chris dying. "These women are the Charmed Ones," Cole said. "They are powerful witches. But they are also human. They have endured lifetimes of sorrow and pain and fear. They need joy and peace and love to counteract it, and instead of seeing that these simple needs are met, the Elders have heaped more misery upon them. It would be a simple matter to let them see their sister..."
"They need to accept she is dead," Serris interrupted.
Cole shook his head. "They have. As they have the loss of their mother and their grandmother, yet they are allowed to see them."
"It is a special privilege to be able to see the spirits of the dead," Esttai noted.
"One which they deserve," Cole argued. "Instead you have forbidden this and did not even allow Prue to attend her nephews' wiccanings. If they were ignorant to the possibility of seeing the dead, that would be one thing. But they are not, and you cruelly deny them the opportunity to see their sister. And then you took Leo away from them."
"It was his choice," Darban insisted.
"A choice that was not really a choice," Cole said. "You could have easily released him from his duty and allowed him to remain with his wife and son, but you did not. Time and time again, the Elders have stood in the way of these women's happiness. Perhaps they would focus more on their duties if they knew they would have a moment's respite. For all they have done, do they not deserve it? Instead you force them to cling to children and boyfriends and jobs so tightly that they neglect their wiccan duties."
"You are blaming us for this, demon?" Darban said irritably.
"In a way, yes," Cole said. "You interfered in Piper's and Leo's relationship from the beginning, and it caused resentment of the Elders and their guidance. It put the wheels of rebellion in motion. Rather than build the Charmed One's trust and respect, instead you have created resentment. You command, you take, but you do not give."
"How dare you..." Serris seethed.
"Enough!" Briel said. "We have heard all we need to hear. We are prepared for make our decision."