Melinda
Power of One
Episode 13
Trial
30-01-2026
It has been almost three weeks now and I still haven't heard anything about a trial. About three weeks ago, I had used my raw power to make the whole world, forget about me. Nathan had found a way with John to expose us.
It all seemed hopeless and it came to one thing. I had to tell the world who and what I was. I did and it felt terrible. People started to shout that they wanted to burn me on a stake. I couldn't believe it and my heart broke. One thing I have learned for sure. The world is not ready yet, to know that there is magic and witches and demons.
Wyatt and Chris are complete lost. They have no idea, how to survive the days. After Wyatt clearly made clear to the Elders that he didn't want to do anything with them anymore. Now because they have nothing to do at home, they are now scrying for Demons and going after them, instead the other way around. Since I have killed the Source, twice now…yeah me… all Demons walking around without a leader and they are now fighting each other for the place of the new Source. So my brothers are making it even harder for them, by killing every Demon they can find. I don't mind that they kill each other. Less to kill for us.
My mother is not speaking to me. She still had difficulties with the idea, that I have confessed on the whole world, that I am a witch. She is scared, that someone still may know and that I have taken a huge risk, by doing it like that. She will come around. She always does….
A young girl was hiding behind a dumpster. She looked very scared. She looked around the corner and when she didn't see anything, she came out from her hiding place and started to run the alley. She was almost at the end, when the demon appeared before her. I couldn't see his face, but he didn't seem that tall. She screamed it out of fear and started to run the other side of the alley. She was almost halfway when the demon appeared again in front of her. She looked back and then again at the Demon in shock and she slowly backed away from him. Not knowing what to do. The Demon conjured a fire ball and the gild looked horrified at it, but didn't move. She realized it had no point of running and closed her eyes to meet her fate. The Demon threw the fire ball at her and she was vanquished. The Demon turned around and walked slowly at the alley and kept walking till he was standing in front of the Manor.
He walked up to the Manor and walked in and walked into the kitchen and there was Piper, cooking. The Demon walked up to her and gave Piper a kiss on the cheek and said, Hi mom I am back! The Demon who spoke to Piper was: ME!
Melinda woke up in sweat and her diary flew of her on the ground. She looked at it and looked around. She figured that she must have fallen in sleep while she was writing in her diary.
Melinda: That was a very weird dream. I need to discuss this, she said to herself.
Ten minutes later she was sitting with her brothers around the table, after she had called for them. Nobody spoke and all were in thoughts of what this dream could mean. Especially when almost everything Melinda dreamed, came out in reality. Finally they all agreed to go together to the Magic School. Melinda was a bit afraid to face her mother at this moment and with her brothers with her, maybe her mother would talk to her.
Magic School, Manor
Piper was watching some television when her children orbed in. She looked up, but when she saw Melinda, she looked away. Melinda flinched but didn't say anything.
Wyatt: Hi mom, how are you?
Piper: Oh, I am perfectly fine, knowing that besides Nathan, maybe other people still know that we are witches and they still will come for us.
Chris: Oh for god's sake mom. This is not the time to hold a grudge. We have bigger issues then that maybe people know who and what we are. It has been three weeks now and enough is enough, don't you think?
Piper looked at Chris for a long time and he looked back and it felt endless, but in the end she gave in.
Piper: So I assume that you three are not here to visit me, but you need something? Right?
Melinda: Well I had a dream, where I was a Demon and I killed a young girl and then I walked up to our house and walked in and you were there in the kitchen, cooking. I walked up to you and gave you a kiss and everything was fine. Like you didn't know I was a Demon.
Piper thought for a moment and then got up and got closer to Melinda and took her hand and closed her eyes. She did that for a moment and then opened them again and looked again at Melinda.
Piper: What happened when you created a fire ball? What did you feel? Did something changed?
Melinda: Well as far as I can remember it felt right. I didn't see my face until I was home and spoke to you.
Piper: How did you look like, when you saw yourself?
Melinda: Euhm I don't know. Normal I think. I was so shocked to see myself, I woke up I think.
Piper: Chris could you be so kind to see if your Aunt Phoebe can come over? I have s strange feeling about this and I think her powers can be useful.
Chris orbed out to get his Aunt Phoebe. Melinda sat down next to her mother.
Melinda: Mom, I understand that you are still angry at me, for what I did. But mom, didn't you made hard decisions when you were Charmed. Didn't one of you, did something that the others didn't agree with.
Piper: We never sacrificed ourselves to save our heritage.
Melinda: Wouldn't you, if you were in the same position as I was?
Piper: Probably I would, piper said slowly, hating to admit that her daughter was right.
Melinda: Mom, I just did what I had to do to protect our family and our heritage. I have read your whole Charming history. The whole Magic School has. I remember that at some point you had to choose between Aunt Paige and Aunt Phoebe, when an Egyptian demon needed bodies for his Isis? Remember?
Piper: I remember and believe me, it was no fun. It was one of the hardest things I had to do!
Melinda: Well I believe that Cole thought he really had you, but you outsmarted him.
Piper: Yes I did, she said thinking back at the memory.
Melinda: Well, what I did was almost the same. I had to make it real. In the meantime, I had already a plan to use my raw power and outsmart the Source and Nathan and I did, didn't I?
Piper: Yes you did! Even if it meant, almost giving your old mother a heart attack, piper said smiling at her daughter.
Melinda smiled back and they hugged each other and there were tears. Chris orbed in with Phoebe and they all hugged each other and Chris went to the kitchen to get some Ice Tea. After everyone had their drink, Melinda and Phoebe combined their premonition powers and while they were holding each other, they had the same vision Melinda had before. When they came to the end and they saw the face of Melinda, Phoebe let go of her and backed away.
Phoebe: Cole! She whispered.
Melinda: Aunt Phoebe? Are you ok? What did you mean with Cole? She asked concerned.
Phoebe: Your face reminded me of Cole. The look in your eyes was the same look, he had while he was hiding that he was the New Source and living among us and tried to break us! She said with a sad voice, while she shook her head, by the thought of that part of her life.
Wyatt: But what has that to do with Melinda?
Phoebe: Well normally, anybody who kills the source, becomes one, she said looking at Melinda.
Melinda: I am not the source! She said strongly and got up.
Phoebe: Honey, I am not saying that you are the source. When you killed him the first time, you should have taken over already.
Piper: I don't think so. Not one hour later, before we destroyed the Hole, he was summoned back. If he was already in Melinda, then there shouldn't be anything to summon back, right?
Phoebe: Again, I am not saying that Melinda is the Source, but I am trying to tell you what I think, but keep getting interrupted.
She looked at her sister and gave her a face and Piper smiled and waved with her hand to point out that her little sister could continue and she wouldn't interrupt.
Phoebe: The thing is, like you said. The first time you killed him, nothing happened and he was summoned back. Then you killed him again. This time for real, even without your brothers.
That makes his way of dying interesting. Normally the good aura around the Charmed Ones would protect you so he couldn't enter any of you, but because you were alone with him, maybe he was able to get in you somehow.
Melinda: I wasn't alone when I killed him. Nathan was there too, she reminded her Aunt.
Phoebe: That's true. But somehow I believe that only the one who kills him, he can enter. I don't think Nathan is now the Source. Thank god for that, otherwise I believe that we would have heard from him by now.
Chris: I agree. He is too arrogant. He would love to show his powers.
Melinda: So you are saying that the source is in me?
Blue orbs filled the room and an Elder appeared. Everybody got up and was on alert. Especially their way their paths had separated. It was a young Elder. Not older then Wyatt.
Caroline: I am sorry to interrupt you. I know I am not welcome, but there is something I need to say and I have a message for Melinda.
Melinda: Say what you have to say and then leave, she said coolly.
Caroline: First I have listened to your conversation. Not because I had to, but I was on my way and it seemed a pretty serious subject and I was waiting for the right moment to show myself.
Melinda: We get the point. So what is the message?
Caroline: Right, the message. First I would like to say something else. We believe that you are not taken over by the source, but that his essence is around you. Haunting you! Wanting to enter you and take over.
Melinda put her arms before her chest, she was getting the chills of the way Caroline told her story.
Caroline: The only thing that is stopping the source is your raw power. That is so strong, that he can't get through. So his essence is trying to make you vulnerable by making you see things, which are maybe not true. Giving you the feeling to do something bad! Simply driving you crazy. Crazy and weak enough to enter you! She said very seriously.
Phoebe: Like it did with Cole. When it just had entered Cole, he had fought against it. At some point the pull of the Source was stronger and Cole lost the battle and became fully the Source.
Piper: Ok. Now we know what is going on, we can see if we can deal with it, she said looking at Melinda.
Melinda: Thank you for telling me this, but I would like to know the message now.
Caroline: Tomorrow is full moon. At midnight you and your family are summoned at the Tribunal for your trail, she said looking at Melinda.
Wyatt: What? Are they seriously going through with that?
Caroline: Wyatt, you should know that if the case has been presented to the Tribunal, they almost always say yes to a trail.
Melinda: What are they going to do to me? She asked concerned.
Caroline: That depends on how things go. Phoebe can tell you all about it, as she has been through one.
Phoebe: I would take it very seriously, but also be very sharp and alert. There are always two ways to a story and the defense will do everything to make you look bad.
Caroline: Your father Leo had been notified and will represent you on your trail, as it is the duty of the head of Magic School, she said very formal.
Piper: Well at least some good news. Anything else we should know?
Caroline: No not from the Elders. From me personally I think you two made the right decision.
Chris I am glad that you still are a whitelighter and Wyatt it think this is your path and not being an Elder. So I am glad for you two, she said with a smile and orbed out.
Phoebe: Well that was interesting, she said smirking at Wyatt.
Wyatt: It was wasn't it, he said not looking at his Aunt.
Melinda: This is all just great. I try to do something right and get punished for it.
Piper: Ok, calm down sweetie. We are not there yet. We have almost two whole days, to figure this out and how we will represent ourselves. We will figure this out. Like we always have done! This is not the end of the Charmed Ones.
Melinda: I know. I am just scared. Scared that I say something wrong! Say something, because my temper gets the best of me.
Phoebe: Don't worry, we will all be there. We will support you through all the way.
Melinda: Thanks all. I appreciate it. Now how are we going to deal with the Source thing?
The next hour they checked the books, checked about different herbs, which would provide protections and checked if they could write a spell to protect her against the negativity of the Source. Leo came home and tried to help and in the end they came up with nothing special. They hoped, that how more the Source would try and not get in, how weaker he would get. But they weren't a hundred percent sure.
The Charmed ones went home and Melinda was beat of the tension all the time in her body for her trail and the idea that the Source could attack her any time, mentally didn't help either. That night Melinda lay on bed and was desperately trying to get some sleep. But it felt like something was keeping her awake.
'Melinda! Melindaaaa! It whispered.
Melinda: I am not hearing anything. Everything is good. Every breath I take in is light and every breath I breathe out is negative She kept saying this to herself, till she fell in sleep.
The next morning the Charmed Ones were having breakfast and trying to keep things light and don't talk about the trail, when the doorbell rang and Melinda got up to get the door. She opened to see Nathan standing in front of her. He looked awful.
Nathan: Melinda! Good you are home. Can I talk you for a second? It is important.
Melinda: What do you want Nathan? Haven't I make myself clear, the last time we saw each other?
Nathan: Clearly and that's why I am here. I have thought about what you said and about what has happened the last couple of weeks. I am sorry for what I have done to you. I see know that you and your family are not evil and that I have been living a lie. Believing that you were the bad guys and that I needed revenge!
Melinda: So? What is your point? I have stuff going on right now, that is more important than this.
Nathan: Of course. I will leave. I just wanted to let you know, that from now on I will not try to expose you or get revenge on you. I will try to help you in any way I can? If you let me?
Wyatt and Chris came also to the door, because Melinda hadn't returned to the kitchen. They looked with disgust to Nathan, but didn't say anything just listened.
Melinda: And how would you ever be able to help me with anything? How can I ever trust you?
Nathan: I can help you as a cop. Through all the years I am not the first cop who helped you, covered for you, right? I can do the same. I can let you know about the weird cases and help you when you are witnesses or something. Like in the past some cop Morris did.
Wyatt: Darryl? He said, like remembering a long lost memory.
Nathan: Yes. That was his name I believe. Darryl Morris. I can be like him.
Melinda: Why would you do that? She asked suspicious.
Nathan: Because to be honest. After my mother died, by the hand of magic, I have studied magic, learned everything about it. I don't know anything else anymore. I have worked with the Source of Evil, for crying out loud. As a human! I have seen you at your full power. You looked like some goddess! I felt disgusted with myself. Of the pain I have cost you, for something that has happened many years ago and you had nothing to do with it. Besides that you could have killed me. Right there and then! After you had killed the Source, if he was an insect! Instead you spared my life and let me live. It is the least I can do.
Melinda looked at him for a while and then pointed at him that he had to stay put and pulled her brothers away from the door, to have a small meeting.
Wyatt: I don't trust him at all, he said looking at Nathan with disgust and then back at Melinda.
Melinda: He can be helpful for my trail. He can tell the council, what he has done and was planning to do, so they can understand why I had to do, what I had to do.
Chris: She has a point Wyatt. We just have to be careful in the beginning and make sure not to trust him right away. Let's see where this go's. I remember Morris from the stories and he was a good guy. Maybe Nathan finally saw the light?
Melinda turning to Nathan: Ok. You get a shot to convince yourself that you have changed. But don't think that after one time helping, I will trust you completely. We all need time to get used to each other.
Nathan: I understand completely. What do you need? I do anything to prove that I have changed.
Melinda: Good to know. You can help me with my trail.
Nathan: Trail?
Melinda: Yes trail! Thanks to you I have to stand trial against the Tribunal, because I have used my magic against innocent human beings, without their permission. You can come with us and tell your part of this whole mess. Maybe that will be enough to get me out of this mess you have made.
Nathan: Ok. I will testify and tell that what I have done. Where and when is it?
Melinda: Tonight at midnight! Make sure to be here at 23:30 pm. Ok?
Nathan: I will be here. He smiled at the Charmed Ones and walked down the stairs to his car.
Wyatt: I hope that you know what you are doing, sis? He said concerned.
Manor, almost midnight
The living room was completely crowded. Phoebe and her family were there, as the ones of Paige. Leo and Piper had arrived also. Leo was talking with Melinda, when the doorbell rang and Melinda went to open the door. She had already warned her family of his coming, before someone wanted to attack him. When Nathan entered the living room with Melinda, some of the charmed family nodded to him and others ignored him completely. He smiled to everybody, ignoring that some of them ignored him.
Leo: Now everybody is here. Little ones, the whole family have been summoned. So I want you to be very quit up there and only speak, when something is asked. For the rest of you guys, is the same story. Speak only when is needed. Everything you say can be used against you.
Tribunal
They all held each other's hands and orbed to the Tribunal. Nothing had changed. It was still round and from the floor, white light was shining. Around them it was pitch black. Leo held up his hands and started to chant:
"Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!"
Out of nowhere the four faces, Thrask, Crill, Aramis and Adair appeared and the previous Charmed Ones, recognized them immediately as the ones, who had handled their case back then.
A stage appeared so the Charmed Family could take place. Another nearby appeared with two seats. One for Melinda and one for Leo. On the other side of the circle another table appeared and John appeared, looking surprised. There were 4 heads floating in the air. Two on the side of the Charmed Ones (the good ones) and 2 on the side of John (the bad guys). He backed away when he saw the whole Charmed family staring at him. Melinda got up and before Leo could stop her, she held up her hands and blew him almost from the floor. John had to struggle not the fall down in the big blackness of nothing. Everybody looked shocked at Melinda.
Adair: Melinda, it is not allowed to use your powers here, unless there is absolutely no other choice. I wouldn't do that anymore if I were you, if you want to keep your powers.
Melinda: Why am I here? Why do you people have summoned me? What did I do wrong?
Thrask: It would be wise to let your defender ask those questions.
Melinda: What does it matter, who asks those questions. I am asking them. Am I not important enough or worthy enough to ask those questions, she said temper rising with every second.
This was ridiculous and she needed to get out of here. She wasn't planning to let this old guys decide her faith. She didn't even meet them before. Who were they to judge?
Leo: Honey, please let me handle this? You are making it only worse for yourself.
Melinda: Why dad? Because I am not afraid to speak my mind? To say what others are afraid of saying. To say that what we are doing here is complete pointless.
Aramis: So you think that what we do is pointless?
Melinda: Yes I do, she said looking up to him. Were you there, when I was fighting of Demons? Were you there when I lost loved ones? Were you all there, when we had to save the world almost on daily basis, because of him over there? She pointed at John. No! You weren't. So now what? We all going to watch some parts of our lives and my dad is going to say all nice things about me and the Source is going to say all bad things about me and then you all will decide? If you really want to make a good decision, you should be there. Live it. Feel it, to know why someone does, what he or she does. How can you decide about someone's destiny or faith, just by some images and stories you will hear? How does that compare with all the images, which aren't going to be shown? All The other good we have done? How? She opened her arms and walked in circles to look at all four councils.
Crill: How dare you speak to us like that? Do you have any idea who we are?
Melinda: Do you have any idea, with who you are dealing?
Crill: I think so.
Melinda: Aha. There you have it. So you think you know, so that it legit enough for you. No facts, no nothing, just a thought and that is enough for you to decide. Well good to know that my destiny is in such great hands….
Adair: Melinda. We don't understand where this anger is coming from. You have done something that is forbidden. Therefore it is our job to ask you the reasons of your actions. Can you understand that?
Melinda: Oh I understand perfectly. But that's the thing isn't. If you want to know why I did what I did, you should talk to him first. He exposed us, but I am not hearing anybody talking about that part. That he showed a human, that Demons exist and that he was the Source. He helped the human with a Demon to write a story about us with our pictures in the newspaper, saying that we are witches.
Phoebe: Euhm excuse me for interrupting. If you like to see the newspaper, Melinda is talking about. I have it with me. Just in case.
The newspaper disappeared instantly from her hands, and was now floating in the air, while Tribunal were looking at it.
Thrask: Is this true John? He asked with a firm voice.
John: Well most of it. The human was planning to do it anyway, I just helped him a bit. After all I am the Source of all Evil!
Aramis: This changes the situation, but that doesn't mean that you have done something, that is absolutely forbidden.
Melinda: How? How is it wrong what I did? Tell me that, because I really don't understand. Magic was exposed. Not only us, but all magic. The good and the bad. I have made sure, that the whole world wouldn't go to hell and made the people forget about magic as far as that was possible. What is wrong with that? Did you prefer that I didn't do anything and let them burn me at the stake, for something he did? So bad would win, as the Charmed Ones would be broken? Would that have been better?
Adair: We are not the ones who can answer that.
Melinda: Well you don't have to. Because, as far as I am concerned this meeting is over. My family has been saving the world over more than 300 years. If it wasn't for our family line, there would be no longer a world to live in. How many times we have to save everybody, sacrifice ourselves to make you people see, that we are the good ones. We are not trying to hurt people or let them forget stuff, because we can. No, we do it only when there is absolutely no choice and we have to save the magical world. The good and the bad.
Adair: We understand what you are saying. It is a very difficult situation.
Melinda: Well all I know is that if you are going to take my powers away, fine. Then you must do that also with almost every whitelighter there is. Also my dad should not be head of Magic School anymore. Also the cleaners should be punished.
Crill: How so?
Melinda: Well I believe that my dad and almost every whitelighter has used at least once their magical forget powder, they have used on people. The cleaners make people forget also. They even tried to make my mother forget about my brother Wyatt once. So all those magical beings should get the same punishment as me.
John: Well I don't agree with that. The cleaners…
Melinda: Nobody cares what you think John. You have done enough. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be here at all.
Nathan: It is also my fault.
Thrask: Leo! How dare you to bring a human to our plane?
Leo: Because this human here, wanted revenge on the magical world and on us. He blamed for years that it was our fault that his mother was killed by a demon. So he tried everything to expose us in any way he could. Finally the Source figured out who he was and what he wanted and together they have exposed the whole magical community, starting with my family.
Aramis: Is this true human?
Nathan: That is true, he said looking up.
Nathan got up and walked over to Melinda and Leo and stood by them. He didn't notice the blue circle in the middle and stepped into it. Immediately an image appeared where all saw John and Nathan making plans to expose them and then image changed and all saw Nathan with a demon, at the newspaper, making an innocent write an exposure story about them. Nathan jumped back next to Melinda and looked in shock at the ground. He hadn't expected that to happen, so he was totally not prepared for that.
Leo: If I were you I would sit down again, he whispered to Nathan, who nodded and did as what he was told.
John: May I ask the human also some questions? He asked the Tribunal
Crill: Of course. A chair appeared and Nathan was pointed to sit there.
John: When was the first time, you were involved with magic, can you remember that?
Nathan: It was in the hospital when I was a kid and I was sick. Then I met Phoebe. She told me about this magical ninja doll I had and that it had special superpowers and if I believed hard enough, they would cure me and it did.
John walked over to the middle and waved with his hand, making a hologram of the moment when Nathan was still a child. They watched what Nathan just had told. The hologram disappeared. Nathan looked shocked at the floor, where the hologram just had appeared. He was completely blown away, by seeing himself as a young kid.
John: What happened after you got better?
Nathan: My mother got sick and I thought she was going to die, but then suddenly she got better. Like everybody else who got some virus.
John: Didn't you found it strange that she got sick and then got better?
Nathan: of course I did. I thought it was magic and that it all started with my doll. Then I thought of what Phoebe Halliwell had said to me. That my magic doll had magical powers that would fight of the cells that were making me sick. I kept thinking about one word she had used: magic! Over and over again that word kept coming back in my mind. I also found it strange that the moment I got better, people around me started to get sick. Then another weird thing happened. I had given my doll to Phoebe, because her sister needed her. Then suddenly the doll was lying on the ground in my room and people got better.
Leo: Tribunal, if I may say something at this comment?
Crill: You may.
Leo walked over to the middle of the floor.
Leo: Nathan. I can now totally see from your side, how things must have looked like at that age. But now you are a grown up and I want to show you pieces of that moment in time to show you what really happened, if that is ok with you?
Nathan nodded and Leo closed his eyes to recall that memory. The hologram appeared again and everybody watched as a very young piper was lying in the hospital and was very sick. They see how a younger Phoebe en Prue saying a spell to heal her. Piper's eyes were full of tears when she saw Prue so big in front of her, like she was right there. To hear her voice, was amazing. Phoebe, who was sitting next to her, squeezed her hand and she was all teary herself. Her daughters were giggling at the image of their mother so young. They see how the doll came to life and started to make people sick. This was new for Piper and Phoebe, because they had never figured out, what made them sick, except the spell. They hear that she got sick, because of some imported fruit and then they hear that people are getting sick and then they see, how piper offers her own life to save all those who got sick because of the magic they had done to heal Piper. They watch how Piper dies and everybody was holding their breath, till the moment her heart machine started to beep again. At that moment, they watch, how the doll was about to make Nathan also sick, when the doll, froze and was a doll again, as the magic was broken. Then the hologram disappeared back into the floor again.
Nathan looked at it and needed time to take all this information in and link to his own way of how he thought things happened.
Leo: Now you have seen this, you need to know that this had nothing to do with you, but all with ourselves. The sisters were so afraid of losing Piper, they have used a spell with your doll, not knowing that the doll would came to life and make people sick, to heal her. The other problem except your doll was in fact that they have used a spell for a human decease. Witches can't heal deceases, otherwise there would be no sick people anymore by now and everybody would accept witches, right.
Nathan: Thank you Leo, for showing me what really happened. Now I finally know. I also want to point out to the Tribunal and my decision to come here is to tell that I have talked this morning with the Charmed Ones. I had no idea my actions would have such an effect on the Charmed Ones. I was the one, who exposed them. I tried everything to make her use her powers in public. But no matter what I tried, she kept her secret and still saved the day. She could have hurt me so many times, but she didn't. She even tried to show me magic, to point out that there is also good magic. Not only bad ones, who kill people like my mother. I see now that my hatred all these years were at the wrong people. I should have been angry at his kind, he said looking at John.
Aidar: I believe we get your point, he said gently. We don't need to hear more. You may sit back at the stage.
Nathan got up and walked back to sit down with the rest. Everybody at the stage was anxious as they knew the decision was about to come and they would decide of the faith of Melinda.
Thrask: We will leave for now and will come back shortly with our decision. John your services are not needed anymore.
Before John could say anything, he was flaming out. 'See you around Melinda,' he said before he disappeared into nothingness and his table disappeared also with him. Melinda walked over her table and sat down. She needed to calm down.' They would not take her powers,' she thought to herself.
Leo: This didn't go as I had planned at all. You should have let me speak.
Melinda: Sorry dad. I didn't mean too. I just can take this. It is driving me nuts. It is so unfair, she said tears welling up her eyes.
Leo: I know honey. Your path is not easy, but don't worry. We will get through this, ok? No matter what happens here, we will get through this as a family. Leo squeezed her hand and then looked up, to see four faces watching their father/daughter moment.
Aidar: We have decided and like the last time and we are unanimous in our decision. We understand the reasons why you Melinda have used magic against the humans, to protect the magical world. But you have used magic against the whole world. You made the whole world forget about the magic, but what did they forget more? Who knows? What kinds of problems were not created after your action?
Melinda was not looking up. She felt a rage coming over, an unfairness of this all. But it felt like this was not completely her feelings, but also all the ancestors feelings inside her. Like this was happening again to one of us. Melinda felt all her muscles tighten and she was about to burst. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her breathing. Adair went on with their decision:
Adair: We have decided as the Source is defeated for good and the human is not your enemy anymore, is it maybe good, to be stripped of some powers for a time being. We will take your active powers till you have earned them back, by going back to the basic, like the first Charmed Ones when they figured out that they were Charmed. Saving innocents and learn and do good.
Melinda couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't hold the rage inside her anymore and she held her hands up and the whole floor shaked as she instantly transformed. She was floating and was completely white. Her hair and her eyes, her outfit had completely changed in white. Her hair and dress where all around her, because of the wind she was creating. The Tribunal watched shocked at her, as she almost floated right in front of them.
Crill: That is impossible. Nobody can use magic unless we let them. How is this possible?
Melinda was raged and her voice was not her own anymore. It wore more women voices at the same time.
Melinda: You arrogant bastards! How dare you to take away her powers! Every bone in this girl is good! She has done nothing but good. She has saved all by herself the whole world several times and you STILL doubt her. You men! You are all the same! Punish the women for doing good! While the one who should be punished is the Source! He is all the cause of this and she had to do what she had to do. Are you that blind and ignorant not to see that? We will not let you touch a single hair of her head, let alone her power. You can try, but it will be the end of the Tribunal. Are you willing to risk that?
Aidar: Who are you?
Melinda: We are the ancestors of the Halliwell line and all the Matriarchs before her. We are one with her and will always protect her and help her fight the good. Our power is limitless and there is nothing you can do to take that away from her. So even if you manage to take her power, she still will have us.
So as you can see, there is no point in taking her powers, so leave her and her family be! Do you understand that?
The four faces looked at each other and did their telepathic thing and then Aidar nodded at raged Melinda.
Melinda: Good! Too bad that we had to use her true power to convince you and that you just couldn't see the good in people anymore. Maybe you are losing your touch and shouldn't you, not decide anymore about other people's faith? So let this be a warning. If you ever summon one of our family members again, I will be back and believe me, I don't need a spell to find you. I will just be and it will be the end of you four.
Melinda swirled around and looked at her family and waved with her hand and her whole family was taken away, including Nathan to her home. She swirled back one more time to the Tribunal and looked at them one by one and then she kept swirling till she was vanished and taken also to her home.
Manor living room
Everybody was overwhelmed of what just had happened and were hoping to see Melinda soon, when Melinda appeared in bright white light. Everybody got up, but didn't move. Melinda just stood there still raged. Piper came slowly closer and closer till she was standing in front of her. Her hair started to fly all around her, like Melinda.
Piper: It is ok. You can let go. You are home and save with your family. Let go, she whispered and hugged her daughter. Melinda stood there for a minute still raged and then you could notice clearly that is was becoming less windy and she started to turn back to herself and finally she was herself again.
Piper pulled herself away from Melinda and looked at her daughter. Her sweet little daughter, which was a goddess of goodness. She couldn't be more proud, how her whole family line protected her today.
Melinda: I am good. I want to do good, she said and then collapsed, but got catch by her mother.
Piper: I know sweetie. I know, she said hugging her daughter with tears in her eyes.
After Leo had tugged his daughter in, so she could rest, the whole family was downstairs and they had thanked Nathan for his help and that things were finally cleared out. Nathan had told them what he had told Melinda, about helping them like Darryl had done and they were grateful. Now they were sitting and talking about what happened and they were all in shock and proud that Melinda had stood up to the Tribunal. Leo was a bit worried, but as her father and head of Magic School, it was understandable. Piper wondered if they should worry about this rage of Melinda. Nobody knew the answer. Then they discussed her other problem. The Source that was trying to get in her and the previous Charmed ones were thinking to make a spell, which involved the whole family. Everybody who had powers and was a Halliwell. They decided to let it rest for a couple of days and let see how she was doing and then discuss it with Melinda.
Bedroom Melinda
Melinda was lying on bed and she was beat and she couldn't lift a finger anymore and was very tired, but she couldn't help to think about what had happened. She couldn't believe that she still had all of her powers and a promise from the Tribunal that nobody of her family would be bothered by them again. She was also a bit scared about this rage of her, she didn't know she had. She knew she had temper issues and she could get worked up quickly, but not like this. She was not herself anymore but it was all of her ancestors that just took over. She needed to get control over this, otherwise things could get ugly very quickly, if her ancestors wouldn't agree with something else what was happening with her. For now, things were good. She had her powers and her family was with her and there were no whispers or weird things with the Source. She finally felt, she could sleep safely at least for one night.