Pinky: I don't view Prue as the evil one here; she's protective like she was of Phoebe's relationship with Cole. It's the demon thing. I hope that this chapter will shed a little more light on Prue's POV. Also If Prue and Andy decide to bind Ayleia's powers it won't affect Austin's. They are spiritually linked, but the two only hold the power to vanquish one another. Faith Kingsley: I guess you'll have to wait and see. Thanks for reviewing again! Poofball: Andy will not have any major issues with Prue over Alyeia Prince Halliwell: Yes it was Phoebe who gave Alyeia the middle name of Hallie. Cheese-Fairy: Glad you liked the last chapter! Sci-Fi Gillian: thanks again!
FYI: Ayleia's powers are as follows: Conjuring defensive weapons (Andy's Tracer power) and dark mind based powers such as, telepathy, and mind control Datalian. Basically she was able to dark orb while pregnant with Prue and Dantalian by willing them to do so and using their greater force of magic to create the power she needed.
Eternally Charmed: Gossiping Whitelighters and Naughty Nymphs
Prue stood in the doorway watching her three sisters fawn and coo over Alyeia. It had been six weeks since the little half demoness had been born, and still she and Prue shared no love loss between seemed to be Ayleia's favorite. Cole or Colleen was the only one other than Andy who could get close enough to the child to feed and do routine care giving chores. Every time Prue tried Alyeia would conjure some sort of defensive weapon, striking out at her presumed "Stepmother" Prue suspected that the little demoness was attractive to Cole's demonic based powers.
"Half breeds" Prue thought indignantly as she watched Colleen kiss Ayleia's face. Prue knew she shouldn't think that way, but she couldn't help it. No matter what Leo said, Ayleia was part demon and not just your everyday run of the mill demon. Ayleia was next in line to become the next demonic high priestess. The fact that Prue and Andy had even seen the future where Ayleia killed Austin and Amanda complicated things even more.
A now four-year-old Ally, stood at the side of Cole's rocking chair, peering at her exotic looking half-sister. "Why she not have special bracelet like me, Aussie and Amanda?" Ally held out her wrist to her mother showing off the sparkling Triquetra bracelet that Prue and Andy had given her at birth.
"Because" Prue hesitated searching for plausible answer, until Piper spoke up with a blunt version of the truth.
"Because she isn't Charmed, like you and your sisters"
"Piper!" Phoebe hissed at the middle sister from where she stood beside Cole watching Piper shrug, taking Prue's side.
"It's true" Piper knelt to Ally's level. "Ayleia isn't a part of the Halliwell line. She belongs to your Daddy and she's more like him."
"Why she not a Halliwell?" Ally asked inquisitively making her aunt smile warmly.
"You'll understand that story later" Piper ruffled the little witch/tracers hair affectionately, before turning her attention to Prue.
"Prue you okay?"
"I'm fine" Prue lied, "I'm just going to go take care of some Wicca business"
Unable to watch anymore, Prue called for Leo and had him orb her up to the Elders so that she could attend to duties as the High Priestess of the Wiccan Realm. With the exception of when she'd been separated from her family shortly after her death Prue had always felt comfortable in the realm. Even though she didn't agree with the majority of the Elders policies, being the realm brought her a sense of comfort and peace; until today.
Prue had just stepped into the garden of Melinda Warren when she caught the whispers of two female white lighters. "I heard the baby doesn't even look like the High Priestess'. It belongs to some sorceress of the Asian culture"
"And she and family are supposed to be Charmed!" The second one sniffed, "Charmed in everything but love!"
It never ceased to amaze Prue how catty Angelic beings could be, sometimes it was hard to believe that they all descendants of the Greater Good.
"Even though they are the blessed ones, they are still cursed with human emotions"
Prue whirled around to see Melinda Warren standing behind her. "Melinda"
The Matriarch stepped towards Prue engulfing into her arms. "It is good to have you back my daughter" Lovingly, Melinda kissed Prue's cheek. "I trust everything went well with the birth"
"It went fine" Prue plastered on a tight smile as they started to stroll towards the Wiccan Conference Area.
"You are keeping the child safe from the Source?" Melinda questioned clasping her hands behind her back.
Prue's head tipped slyly "Don't you mean the Elders?"
"Prudence, in their hearts they mean the child no harm"
"And neither do I" Prue sighed exasperated as they stopped in front of a pair of gold trimmed doors.
Melinda took a hold of Prue's hand. "No one expects you to love this child Prue. Your husband conceived a child with another women. Magically speaking of course, Dantalian has put a curse on you that no witch should have to bare. You have every right as a women to feel the way you do."
"Thank you" Prue said quietly marching up the steps while Melinda remained behind.
"I know you'll find a way to stop the future disaster of the Angelic Ones from coming true."
Prue turned around just in time to see Melinda vanish into a set of lights. She had forgotten that Melinda had the power to hear and read her thoughts.
"It's your destiny Prue"
Taking in deep breath of confidence, Prue entered the great hall where a set of Fairy's gingerly laid her long white cloak of her high priestess attire over her shoulders. Instantly her street clothing turned into a set white robes that laid neatly under the flowing cloak.
One of the fairy's nuzzled Prue's cheek as if she were giving her kiss. "It's good to be back Thistle" Prue beamed walking down the corridor that lead to the Wiccan Conference room.
Dressed in Elders Robes, Natalie met Prue at the door. "People are talking about Alyeia"
"Let them talk. Andy and I have nothing to hide" Prue brushed past the Whitelighter entering the conference room where she was met with a host of stern looking faces. Witches from all races and backgrounds, and abilities were seated at long table.
"May I have the agenda?" Prue asked taking her place at the head of the table.
Natalie instantly pulled a file folder from her underneath her robe and handed it to Prue. "There is talk that the Nymphs are planning to attack the manor and take Alyeia"
Prue glared heatedly. The Nymphs had been the most vocal of the covens over the witch sterility laws but they were weak in terms of their powers and bared no serious threat.
"I'll deal with it later, just warn my sisters in case anything happens before I get back" Prue snatched the folder from Natalie's hands grumbling under her breath.
"Later is perfect" Natalie grinned inwardly glancing at the large timepiece on the wall as Prue began the meeting. She had conned Nymphs to peacefully attack the manor so that it would look like the magical world was trying to strike back at Prue for giving birth to a demonic child. As it stood, Prue already looked like hypocrite to her subjects, tensions amongst one of the covens who only prove to make things worse.
At Prue's bidding, Natalie orbed to the manor. Her first thought was to get rid of Paige and then perhaps Piper. Andy was already off on a wild demon hunt for a fog demon in the spiritual realm, while Leo was still up the Elders. So that only left Cole and Phoebe.
Her dark eyes shifted calculating a plan as Paige started to breeze past her. "Paige, the Elder's have just informed me that you are needed in the Dimension of the lost".
Paige tiled her head squinting her eyes, "But the dimension is goneā¦there's nothing left".
That's where you are wrong, Natalie shook her head, "It has come to the Elder's attention that there are a few lanterns that need your attention"
"But how can that be?" Piper interjected entering the room from just having put a tired Melinda down for a nap. "Paige literally destroyed all of the lanterns, wouldn't she be able to sense if anyone of them were still viable?"
"Not necessarily" Natalie shook her head, "not if they were weak. Their light wouldn't have the ability to call out to Paige"
"So there could be undesired children that are still waiting for me to search out their destiny" Paige mutter, expressing a distant gaze. "I can't do it"
"Paige you have too" Piper crossed back to the middle of the room and ran a hand through her hair, "Paige these children are your charges"
"She's right" Natalie agreed letting Piper the lead.
"C'mon, I'll come with you" Piper reached for Paige's hands, "Pheebs, can you handle all of the kids"
"I got them!" Phoebe crowed, as Amanda entered the attic carrying a sleepy looking Austin,
"Aussie's diaper leak-ted" Amanda told Phoebe prompting Paige's face to crinkle before she and Piper disappeared in a flurry of orbs.
"Ewe, let's go!"
"Ewe! Is Right!" Phoebe waved a hand in front of her nose before taking Austin from Amanda. "I've got her, go wash your hands and get me some clean clothes for your sister "
Phoebe held Austin out at arms length, speaking to Cole, "She needs a bath. Will you be all right with Alyeia?"
"Ayleia and I will be fine" Colleen answered not seeing the grin splaying across Natalie's face.
"I've got to get back to Prue" Natalie orbed to wooded area where the Nympths were waiting patiently, playing with another's hair and arranging wildflowers. "It is time"
One by one the Nymph's teleported to the attic. Cole was still sitting in the rocking chair with Alyeia.
"Hello Ladies" Cole smiled reluctantly at the trio as they started to fuss over Alyeia. Nymph's were usually surely outdoor types with an insatiable appetite for playful mischief and an attraction to their Satyr.
"Hi!" The Nympth's giggled bending to kiss Cole's cheeks while the third planting a loud kiss onto Alyeia's head, transforming the young demoness and her watcher instantly. The fine dark hairs on Ayleia's head grew a foot with a floral headband encircling her head. Her receiving blanket and angelic white gown turned green.
"Can I get a pretty headband made of flowers too?" Ally asked innocently.
"Of Course, all you need to do is let me kiss your cheek" One of the Nyphms leaned over and softly kissed Ally's cheek causing the little girl to giggle as a floral wreath burst onto her head.
Cole's or Colleen's attire changed too. Cole's raven hair changed from waist length's locks back to his normal short above the ears cut. The hair return to his legs and chest while the muscles of his torso and abs returned their typical male physique. A leather toga replaced the dress that Darryl had gotten from the evidence room of the station after a raid on cross-dressers.
"What have you done to me?" Cole squealed with his voice crackling like an aging adolescent, engaging the Nymphs into uproarious laughter.
"You're our new Satyr!" one of them beamed spotting Phoebe enter the doorway.
"Oh My God! Natalie!" Phoebe's call fell upon deaf ears as the Nymph's teleported away with Alyeia and Cole heading back to the woods where Natalie was waiting along with a band of demons.
"Take the child!" Natalie commanded watching as the Nymph's physically attacked Cole in their playful manner.
"Uh Ladies, I think we have a problem" Cole swallowed as the Nymphs pawed and tugged on his clothing.
"Play this for us!" One of the Nymphs begged shoving a pan flute into Cole's hands.
"After, I destroy the demons" Cole pushed Ayleia along with the pan flute back into the Nymph's hands.
The demons advanced faster than Cole could produce an energy ball killing two of the Nymphs.
"My sisters have a part of the Earth!" the remaining Nymph cried happily wanting to celebrate as Cole took out one of the demons, allowing for the other two of the five demons to shimmer around the hapless wood creature.
"Why don't you join her!" A long saber appeared in the demons hand as he drove it right into the Nymph's back.
"Careful you do not harm the future dark Priestess!" Another growled snatching Ayleia from the fallen Nymph's arms.
Sensing a change in spiritual energy Alyeia began to cry. No longer could she feel the warm sensation of goodness that she felt in Cole's arms; the same type of goodness that formed the bond she shared with her father.
"Argh. What is she doing to me!" The demon screamed at feel of something warm and sharp, sticking into his back right before he blew up into pieces. Ayleia had mentally called for a heat seeking probe.
The demon exploded causing the blast to send flying straight for a tree. Luckily Cole however was able to shimmer, catching the demoness before any harm could be done.
"This isn't working!" From where she stood hidden behind a set of trees, Natalie glamoured making herself look like Andy and then orbed to Cole's position.
"Here give me Ayleia! I'll take her back to the manor"
Cole nodded handing the child to whom he believed was Andy.
"Thanks, I'll be back to help you with the demons as soon as Ayleia's safe" Andy/Natalie orbed straight to the underworld, delivering Ayleia to the Source himself.
The source sat on his throne gazing into a crystal. "Send more demons to slay Belthazor!" he commanded to a nearby henchman. His gaze then fell upon Natalie.
"You have done well"
Natalie bowed her head, handing the child over to the dark see'r. "There is one more thing I must do to ensure the balance"
The Source looked at her intrigued.
"I must go back to the past and make certain that the Angelic Ones are never born."
"And how do you purpose to do that?" The Source asked with great curiosity.
"I must go back to the day in which the Mortal Tracer was killed and prevent him from saving Prue and her sisters" If Andy never came into his powers, then he and Prue would never conceive Angelic children.
"It shall be done" The Source answered knowing that time would not be effected in the underworld and that Ayleia would be safe from any possible changes.
