DISCLAIMER: All of these characters belong to the 'Charmed Series' except for the Demon of Choice which was a fictional character of my own creation. The following is copyrighted by Amanda. Unauthorized reproduction of text is not allowed, contact me by clicking my name above for permission to use this text.
TIMELINE: This story takes place in the third season. Piper and Leo are already married and Phoebe knows that Cole is a demon and is going out with him.
It was Wednesday night and Piper was at P3 serving drinks. She was wearing long purple skirt, a light pink shirt, and her hair was in a ponytail. Piper looked at her watch for the fiftieth time that night.
"Ugh!" she groaned. "Prue and Phoebe are an hour late," she said to Leo who was sitting on a stool at the bar.
"Piper, I'm sure that they're on their way here right now." Leo said.
"Oh yeah sure I'm sure they're on their way here right now I mean they didn't come the time they said they would be here yesterday, or the day before that, or the day before that but I'm sure they'll be here the right time today! " Piper yelled sarcastically.
Just then Cole walked into P3.
"Hey," Cole said sitting down at the stool next to Leo.
"Hi," Leo replied.
"Uh is Phoebe here?"
"No!" Piper yelled.
"She's not?" Cole asked looking at his watch. "But she said she'd be here already around this time."
"Join the club," Piper said as she dialed a number on the phone waited for a few seconds and then hung up. "And why the hell isn't Prue answering her cell?"
Leo shrugged.
"Well, when will she be here?" Cole asked.
"I don't know. Hey when you see your girlfriend tell her that if her and her sister tell their other sister that they're are gonna meet her at her club at a certain time they should probably come at that time!" Piper yelled.
Phoebe and Prue walked into the club, linking arms, and laughing. They made their way through the crowd of people and over to Piper, Leo, and Cole. Prue was wearing a blue shirt and black pants and Phoebe was wearing a green shirt and a knee length, tan, jean skirt.
"Hey," Prue said giggling.
"Hi. Do you know what time it is?" Piper asked angrily.
"Uh it's about 10:00." Phoebe said looking at her watch. "Why?"
"Why? You were supposed to be here an hour ago!"
"Oh sorry we just went shopping after we saw the movie." Prue said, still laughing with Phoebe.
"Again?" That's the third movie you two saw this week! Not to mention how many times you guys went shopping."
"Sorry we just lost track of time I guess." Prue said. Phoebe whispered something into Prue's ear and Prue and her started cracking up all over again.
"What's so funny?"" Piper asked.
"Nothing," Phoebe said.
"No really what?"
"It's nothing really," Prue insisted.
Piper sighed.
"Uh Phoebe and I are just gonna go to the bathroom," Prue said, giggling. "C'mon," she said to Phoebe pulling her sister who she had never unlinked arms with.
* * * Meanwhile somewhere off in a dark place outside where there were trees and grass a demon was holding a fire ball over a witch who was holding a baby and a man's hand.
"Please don't make me choose!" the witch sobbed.
"That's what I do. I force people to make choices they can't bear to make," the demon said evilly.
"Then take me instead! Please don't hurt them!" the witch begged.
"No!" the demon boomed. "You must choose who will live and who will die. Your son or your husband!"
"Kill me! Please spare them!"
"Well, you have failed to listen to my orders now they both must die!" the demon yelled as another ball of fire appeared into his other hand. He shot one of them at the baby who disintegrated as soon as the ball of fire hit him.
"Nooooo!" the witch cried.
The demon threw the other ball of fire at the witch's husband who also dissolved when the ball hit him.
The witch dropped to her knees, sobbing. "Noooo!" she cried. "Why didn't you just take me?"
"I can only take whom you choose and since you chose no one I killed them both," the demon explained.
"I did chose I chose myself!" the witch wept.
"But you had to chose between the two you loved the most and you didn't so now you must live knowing that your child and your husband died because of you."
"No, I won't live like this," she said. She leaned over and pulled a knife out of the demon's pocket and stabbed herself in the stomach. She instantly fell to the ground, dead. The demon grabbed the witch just before she hit the ground and held her in front on him as her power became one of his.
* * * The next morning at the manor Prue was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a bagel, and reading the newspaper. She was wearing a dark blue shirt, a pink sweatshirt, and blue jeans. Just then Piper walked into the kitchen. She was wearing an orange t-shirt, blue jeans, and a matching orange bandana headband.
"Hey," Piper greeted Prue.
Prue looked up from the newspaper. "Hi!"
"Uh can I talk to you about something for a sec?"
"Yeah, sure. Prue put the newspaper down. "Okay, go."
Piper sat down in the chair next to Prue. "Well, it just seems that lately you have been doing everything with Phoebe and nothing with me."
"What?"
"I mean don't get mad at me really that's the last thing I want now but Phoebe and you have been late for the past week when you guys were out together.
"Piper..."
"Wait, wait, wait, let me finish. I mean don't get me wrong I am thrilled that you and Phoebe have gotten so close these past three years but I don't like it when you guys leave me out. Look at last night you guys were whispering to each other and you wouldn't even tell me what it was about."
"Piper it wasn't important what we were whispering about last night."
"But I still would like to know I mean yeah you know the saying 'two's company three's a crowd' but we're sisters and we shouldn't leave each other out."
"Okay, but why are you telling me this why not tell Phoebe?"
"Well, I hang out with Phoebe a lot more than I hang out with you and I feel like we haven't been together alone in a long time."
"Piper I'm sorry that Phoebe and I are making you feel left out but it's not like you have been really available lately you know you're either with Leo or at the club or..."
"Look Prue I said I don't want you mad at me. It's just I feel left out so can you two please try to include me more when you can?"
"Okay."
"Okay," Piper said as she leaned over and gave Prue a hug.
"Uh heres an idea I don't have to work today and Phoebe has school so how about on your lunch break we go out to lunch and then maybe we can go shopping?"
"Alright that sounds great!" Piper exclaimed excitedly. She looked at her watch. "Okay I have to go open the club. So I'll see you later right?" Piper asked standing up.
"Right."
"Okay," Piper leaned over and gave Prue a kiss on the cheek and then grabbed her blue jean jacket and headed out the door.
* * * Meanwhile in an alley somewhere the same demon from the previous night was standing over a young witch with had her hands tied behind her back who was clinging onto her mother and her father.
"Now!" the demon bellowed. "You must choose your mother or your father to live."
"I can't! I can't! Please don't make me choose!" the young witch cried.
"Last chance! Choose who will die!"
"No! I can't!"
"Fine then they both shall die!" the demon shouted as a lightning bolt appeared on each finger.
"Where'd you steal that power from?" the witch asked.
"Oh just stole last night from a witch who wouldn't choose either so I killed them both and then she killed herself and I got a brand new power."
"So that's your plan," the witch cried angrily. "Make witches kill themselves by killing their loved ones when they can't choose between them."
"That's right. And then I get their powers and now I'm about to get one more right after I do this!" the demon shot a lightning bolt from each finger. One into the witch's mother and one into the witch's father who both screamed out in pain as they died.
"No!" the witch sobbed.
"Now I can get your powers. Your powers will help me defeat the Charmed Ones."
"The most powerful witches of all time. No, I won't commit suicide no matter how much you manipulate me if you get my powers then you will kill the Charmed Ones and if you kill them and steal their powers than you will be unstoppable."
"Very good you figured out my plan too bad you won't live long enough to stop it."
"Oh yeah?" the witch smirked. "What are you gonna do you can't kill me. You can't kill your target. Only I can kill myself and I won't so your little plan will fail. You will not kill the Charmed Ones."
"Oh really?" the demon asked. He walked closer to the witch. "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! Your parents died because of you! If you had just chose one of them to live then you wouldn't suffer as much loss but you didn't so now they're both dead and it's all because of you!"
The witch covered her ears and cried. "Alright! Alright! You win!" she sobbed.
The demon smiled and threw the knife down at her. The witch picked it up and stabbed herself in the heart. The demon grabbed her as she fell, held her close, and received her powers. The powers that would help him destroy the Charmed Ones.
* * * Later that day Piper was at P3, wiped down the bar with a rag. She was smiling and humming a tune. She was so happy that she would be hanging out with her big sister all day, just the two of them.
Prue walked into P3. Piper looked up at Prue and grinned.
"Hi. Ready?" Prue asked.
"Uh-huh," Piper answered. She put down the rag and put on her jean jacket and linked arms with Prue. "Let's go."
Prue laughed as her and Piper walked out the door.
* * * Phoebe was just getting in the manor. She was wearing blue jeans, a red and white tie-dye shirt, a black and red jacket, and her hair was down. She was carrying a backpack and struggling to keep her school books in her hands. Phoebe closed the door behind her and put her books down on a table. She took of her jacket and put her backpack down. Phoebe looked at her watch.
"Okay," she said to herself. "I have exactly 5 minutes to get ready, drive, and meet Prue for lunch, perfect. Prue is probably already at the restaurant waiting for me and I am late as usual. I think I will call her yes that's what I will do. Phoebe picked up the phone and dialed Prue's cell phone number.
Prue was out shopping with Piper they were looking at clothes at a crowded store and laughing. Prue's cell phone rang but it was so crowded and loud in the store that she didn't even hear it! She just continued to giggle with Piper and look at clothes.
"You know I feel like I was going to do something with someone today but I forgot about it," Prue said to Piper.
"Well, were you?" Piper asked.
"Maybe but I can't remember it's so loud in here I can't even think straight!"
Piper shrugged and her and Prue got back to there shopping.
When Prue didn't answer Phoebe hung up the phone. "Hum that's strange," Phoebe said. "Wait a minute maybe she's still here. Prue!" Phoebe yelled as she began to walk up the stairs to look for her sister. "Prue!" Phoebe looked in Prue's room, no one was in there. "I guess she just didn't answer her cell."
Phoebe walked into her own room, smeared on some lip gloss, picked up her purse and her wallet, and headed downstairs. She was just about to open the door when Cole shimmered right in front of her. Phoebe gasped, startled and then she said: "Oh my god, Cole, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Phoebe yelled putted her hand to her chest.
"Sorry,"" Cole said as he leaned over to give Phoebe a kiss.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I wanted to know if you wanted to go out to lunch with me since we didn't really have a chance to hang out last night at the club since you and Prue were late."
"Oh yeah sorry about that. I would love to go have lunch with you but I already promised Prue I'd meet her for lunch so..."
Cole sighed. Phoebe could see his disappointment. "Maybe we could do it another time. Okay?" Phoebe said as she headed for the door.
"When?" Cole asked turning around.
"What? Uh I don't know we'll talk about it later." Phoebe said grasping the handle of the door.
"Are you sure? Are you sure you won't be too busy with Prue?"
"What?" Phoebe asked letting go of the handle.
"Are you sure you have time for me? I mean your sisters are obviously more important than me if you have to keep canceling on me."
Phoebe put her hands on her hips. "Wait a minute Cole what are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is that you haven't been doing anything with me lately. You're either with Prue or at school or at the club or wherever."
"Well, Cole you're not the easiest person to go out with. We can barely go into public since the Source might find you and the cops are looking for you so don't blame this on me." Phoebe yelled.
"Phoebe, I came back here to be with you. I risked my life and you don't even do anything with me?" Cole asked raising his voice.
"Cole, where is this coming from? Is it coming from the fact that you ask me to go out with you at the last minute and I already had other plans because I have a life too ya know."
"And I'm not part of your life now am I?"
Phoebe sighed. "Cole that's not what I meant. I'm sorry I didn't mean..."
"Yeah you did Pheebs. Yeah you did." Cole said right before he shimmered away from her.
Phoebe sighed and put her head in her hands. She looked at her watch and saw that she was late for lunch with Prue so she grabbed her keys and headed out the door to meet Prue at the restaurant since she was probably already there waiting for her. Or at least that's where Phoebe thought she'd be.
* * * Meanwhile the demon was trying out his new power that he had just stolen. It was the power of unconsciousness. With a single wave of his hand his victim would become unconscious. He knew that it would be so easy to kill the Charmed Ones now. Then the demon went out to take his new power for a test run.
* * * Meanwhile Phoebe is at the restaurant waiting for Prue. She is surprised that Prue isn't there since she is already late.
Phoebe waits about 20 minutes. Prue never shows up and Phoebe, disappointed, confused, and angry, leaves the restaurant.
* * * Piper and Prue walk into the manor holding shopping bags and laughing. Phoebe walks over to them with her arms crossed.
"Oh hey Pheebs," Prue says, laughing.
"Hey," replies Phoebe. "Where'd you guys go?"
"Oh just shopping and lunch."
"Shopping and lunch oh that's nice."
Piper looked at her watch. "Oh. I got to get back to the club I just came here to drop this stuff off." Piper walked into the kitchen and put the shopping bags on the table.
Phoebe just stood there with her arms crossed glaring at Prue.
Piper walked back over to Prue and Phoebe. "Okay I gotta go now," she said heading for the door. "Bye!"
"Bye!" Prue called out. She looked over at Phoebe. "Is something the matter Phoebe?"
"Yeah Prue actually there is." Phoebe answered. Phoebe began to walk back and forth. "Did you forget to do something today?"
"Oh my god I don't know! All day I felt like I was forgetting to do something but I couldn't remember what it was!" Prue exclaimed.
"Oh. Well, maybe I can help you remember." Phoebe stopped walking. "Lunch, me, you, restaurant, you never showed up!"
Prue put her hand to her head. "Oh god I totally forgot!"
"Yeah."
"Oh Pheebs I am so sorry I just got caught up with Piper and..."
"Oh so I guess Piper is more important than me."
"Phoebe, it's not that. Look she feels like we are leaving her out and I felt bad so I told her that I'd hang out with her for the day. Phoebe I'm really sorry."
"Prue, I'm not mad that you forgot to come. Actually I was late coming to the restaurant anyway. I'm mad that because of this I am now in a huge fight with my boyfriend because I was in a rush to have lunch with you!"
"What do you mean? Why are you in a fight with Cole?"
"Well, he came over and asked if he could have lunch with me since I totally ditched him last night at the club. I told him that I was going out to lunch with you and then he gives me this whole speech about how I am not spending any time with him and about how I'm always too busy with you. And then I get mad and tell him that 'I have a life' and he gets all pissed because he thinks that he is not a part of it."
"Phoebe..."
"And he has every right to be mad at me what I said was terrible and I don't blame him if he never forgives me."
"Oh Phoebe don't be ridiculous of course he'll forgive you, he loves you, he took a huge risk to come out in the open to be with you."
"I know that and I still never paid any attention to him."
"Yes, you did he just over reacted."
"No, he didn't, Prue." Phoebe started to head for the door. She grabbed her jacket and put it on.
"Where are you going?" Prue asked.
"I am going to the mausoleum to talk to Cole....if he's still there." Phoebe said as she walked out the door.
* * * Phoebe is in the cemetery. She is walking into the mausoleum.
"Cole! Cole!" Phoebe yells. She sighs sadly when she looks around to find nobody present. "Uh if you can here me I am so, so sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it I swear. Cole I'm sorry please come back! Cole!" Phoebe waited a few more minutes and looked around to see if Cole had shimmered anywhere else in the room. "Cole come on! Please! I'm sorry!" Cole still didn't come.
Outside the demon was about to walk inside the mausoleum to attack Phoebe and try out his new power.
Phoebe was still inside waiting for Cole to show when the demon walked down the steps. Phoebe heard footsteps and turned around. The demon approached her and smiled evilly. Phoebe moved back. "Uh who are you?" she asked nervously.
The demon smiled again. "Why the Demon of Choice of course," he said as he began to walk over to Phoebe. He raised his hand as if to shoot a lightning bolt at her but Phoebe have his hand a hard kick. The demon fell back but regained his balance. Phoebe gave him another hard kick in the stomach. He fell down to the floor in pain. Phoebe did a back flip and prepared to kick the demon again but he had already stood up. She thrust out her leg aiming for his face but the demon grabbed her leg before she could do anything. Phoebe struggled to break free but before she could do anything the demon waved his hand and tried out his new power. Phoebe's eyes closed and she fell to the floor, unconscious. The demon smiled with satisfaction, admiring the work of his new power.
* * * Piper was at P3. The demon was already walking down the steps. He had taken care of Phoebe now all that was left was Piper and Prue but he had a different plan for Prue, one that would lead her to her own self destruction right after he killed Piper and Phoebe. The demon reached the bottom of the stairs. Piper whirled around at the sound of footsteps. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"In so many ways," the demon said evilly.
"Uh what's your name?" Piper asked still not aware that the person she was talking to was a demon.
"The Demon of Choice." The demon started walking over to Piper.
"The demon?" Piper stammered, moving back. The demon nodded evilly. "Oh no," Piper exclaimed. She raised her hands to freeze the demon but he beat her to the punch. He raised his hand and used his new power. Before Piper had a chance to freeze him she was already on the floor, unconscious.
The demon looked at his hand. "Pretty nifty power," he said looking at his hand.
* * * Prue was in the manor she was walking down the hallway when Cole appeared in front of her. Prue jumped back obviously startled. "Cole! Hi uh what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Uh is Phoebe here?" Cole asked.
"What are you talking about wasn't she just with you?"
"No, I was at the mausoleum."
"That's where Phoebe just went she said she went there to find you. Wasn't she there?"
"No."
"Okay uh well when to you get to the mausoleum?"
"About a few minutes ago."
"What? Well, Phoebe went there over a half an hour ago and since she was their so long I assumed she was with you."
"Well, maybe she's on her way back."
"Maybe, but it only takes five minutes to get from the cemetery to here I don't understand why'd she would stay there for that long if you weren't even there." Prue said exchanging a 'she was probably taken by a demon look' with Cole.
* * * Leo walked into P3. "Piper!" he called looking around the club for his wife. "Piper!" Leo walked to the office. "Piper?" Leo asked as looked peeked inside the office to see if Piper was in there. Leo looked around for a few more minutes, found no Piper, decided that she must be at the manor, and orbed out.
* * * Prue and Cole were still at the house when Leo orbed in behind them. "Leo what are you doing here?" Prue asked.
"Uh I'm just looking for Piper."
"She's at the club."
"No, she's not I was just there."
"She's not at the club?"
"No."
Prue and Cole looked at each other again.
"What?" Leo asked.
"Phoebe is missing and now that Piper is..." Cole stated.
"It can only mean one thing." Prue finished.
Leo nodded.
"Okay Leo you ask the elders what they know and Cole and I will check the Book of Shadows."
"Okay," said as he orbed out.
"Okay let's go." Prue said to Cole as she headed for the attic.
* * * Phoebe awoke in a dark room. She was tied to a chair. She noticed Piper sitting next to her. She was tied up to a chair too and she was still unconscious. "Piper! Piper!" Phoebe yelled trying to wake her sister up. Piper woke up she looked around. "Phoebe? Where are we?"
"I don't know do you remember anything?"
"Uh I remember being in the club and then this demon dude came in and then I was about to freeze him and then I don't know I must of blacked out or something because the next thing I knew I was here."
"The same thing happened to me. I was at the cemetery looking for Cole and then the demon came in and did some weird hand motion thingie and then all of a sudden here I was."
"Wait what did he say is name was? The Demon of Choice?"
"Yeah but I don't see Prue here. That's a good sign I hope."
"Okay well we have to find out why the demon kidnapped just us and not Prue."
"Okay uh well he said he was the Demon of Choice so maybe he is gonna make Prue choose between something and that's why he kidnapped only us and not her."
Piper sighed.
"Maybe he is gonna make her choose between us."
* * * Prue was sitting at a table in the porch scrying for Piper and Phoebe using a map and the crystal. Cole walked in holding the Book of Shadows. "Find anything?" he asked.
"Nope," Prue answered sadly. Cole sat down next to Prue, he opened the Book of Shadows. Prue put the crystal down and sighed. "Did you find anything in the book?"
"No, I don't even know what I'm looking for anything could of taken them, a demon, a warlock..."
Just then Leo orbed in.
"Leo good you're here we can't find anything. My scry isn't working and we don't even know what to look for in the Book of Shadows, did you find out anything from them?" Prue asked.
"No, not really." Leo said walking over to the Book of Shadows. He began to flip through the pages. "What we have to figure out is why whatever it is took only Piper and Phoebe and not you."
"Yeah, that is strange that it only took two of you." Cole said.
"Well, maybe it's trying to lore me to them so he can kill all three of us." Prue suggested.
"But we still have the same problem no idea how to find them," said Leo.
Cole nodded.
"Well, we have to find them before it's too late how do we they're not dead already?" Prue asked Leo anxiously.
"They're not dead. The elders would be able to sense that no matter what." Leo reassured her.
"But we still don't know where they are! Scrying isn't working and we don't even what had taken them! Don't you guys even care?" Prue yelled raising her voice. Cole and Leo didn't say anything they just Prue a 'you know we care' look full of sorrow and anguish. Prue sighed. She sat back in her chair. "Okay I'm sorry I didn't mean that I know you guys care about your girlfriends but there has to be something we can do. Right?"
Leo shook his head. "No, there isn't," Cole said sadly. Then all at the same time Prue, Leo, and Cole let out a great, big sigh.
* * * Later that night Prue was sitting in the attic in a chair reading the Book of Shadows. She was wearing gray pajama bottoms, a light blue shirt, and a dark blue hooded sweatshirt. They still hadn't found Piper and Phoebe. Leo was up "there" talking to the elders and Cole was looking around to find Piper and Phoebe. Prue looked at the clock. It read 1:53 A.M. She sighed and continued to look through the Book of Shadows.
Just then Cole shimmered into the attic. Prue looked up. "Did you find them?" she asked eagerly.
"Nope," Cole said shaking his head.
Prue sighed and slumped back into her chair.
"Hey, we'll find them don't worry." Cole said reassuringly.
"How can I not worry? My sisters are missing and I don't even know where they are and what is happening to them! And how can you not be worried I mean your girlfriend and her sister are kidnapped and might even be seriously injured!"
"Prue I am worried. Very worried but we have to figure out what kind of demon would be after you."
"After me?"
"Yeah. Whatever demon it is, is obviously after you because he took Piper and Phoebe to lore you to them so he can kill you so he can get your powers."
"Why just my powers? Why not theirs too?"
"He probably wants their powers too. All I know is that whatever demon it is, is trying to lore you to Phoebe and Piper to kill you so he can kill them too."
Prue sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"Now c'mon get some sleep I'll look in the book."
"No, I know the book better than you so I'll keep looking in it and uh can you just keep looking around town for them?"
"Prue it's almost 2 in the morning."
"I'm not tired."
"Yes, you are now go get some sleep."
"No, I can't go to sleep until I know that they're safe or at least what demon we're up against so can you just please keep looking?"
"Okay," Cole said as he shimmered out of the attic.
Prue sighed and rubbed her eyes. Just then the Book of Shadows pages began flipping on it's own. Prue moved her hands back so she would not interfere. The book finally landed on a page that read "The Demon of Choice."
"The Demon of Choice?" Prue read. She quickly got up and grabbed a pen and pad and began reading the page and taking notes.
* * * Piper and Phoebe were still in the dark room tied to chairs.
"Did you get it yet?" Piper asked Phoebe.
"Just keep picking at the knots." Phoebe answered.
"Prue's power would really come in handy now."
"Yeah tell me about it."
Piper sighed. "I can't untie it."
Phoebe sighed too. "Me neither."
"How do we even know that Prue is still alive?"
"We don't but she probably is because if the demon is going to make Prue choose between us then he has to keep her alive long enough to choose."
"But Prue would never choose between us."
"I know but if Prue doesn't choose he's gonna kill both of us so she's going to have to somehow."
"No, she won't, Phoebe. Prue loves us she could never choose which one of us to live and which one of us to die. I mean she is so overprotective she wouldn't choose at all or unless..."
"She chooses herself."
* * * The next morning Prue was still in the attic. She had fallen asleep. The Book of Shadows and a notepad were in her lap. Cole and Leo walked into the attic. They walk over to Prue.
"Prue, Prue!" Leo yells shaking her.
"Huh?" Prue exclaims waking up.
"Were you up here all night?"
"What? Oh yeah, yeah I was."
"Did you find anything?" Cole asked.
"What?" Prue asked rubbing her eyes, she was still half asleep. "Oh!" she exclaimed, suddenly jerking awake. "Yeah, I did!" The book flipped to this page." Prue said turning the Book of Shadows around to show Leo and Cole. "This was probably the demon that has them."
"Well, what does it say about him?" Leo asked skimming through the page.
"Uh, well, apparently there is a demon called the Demon of Choice who makes people choose between the two people they love the most and then when the person doesn't choose or chooses themselves then the demon kills both of them. It says he's been planning for years to target the Charmed Ones"
"Whoa wait a minute he's gonna make you choose between Phoebe and Piper?" Cole asked.
"Yeah but I mean I'm not gonna choose between them. I couldn't."
"But Prue if you don't choose then he'll kill both of them!"
"Well, Cole I couldn't possibly choose. I made up a plan I can astral project to the demon and I can choose myself to die and then if he kills me I will still be alive since he only killed my astral form and then I can say the vanquishing spell."
"Okay, Prue you're plan is never gonna work. This demon only has the power to kill Piper and Phoebe he wouldn't be able to kill you even in astral form." Leo said.
"Wait what do u mean the demon can't kill me?"
"The Demon of Choice's powers to kill are limited. You see he targets three people. Two people to kill and one person to choose which one of them will live and which one of them to die so he can only kill Piper and Phoebe but he can't kill you."
"Well, what about all the other people in the world?"
"Nope the only people he can kill are his two victims."
"He can only kill two people?"
"Actually he can only kill one person the one that you choose to die but if you don't choose he can kill both of them."
"A fine print of killing," Cole mutters.
"Yeah."
"But if I do choose, which I won't, he can only kill the one that I choose so then me and the one that's left would be able to vanquish him since it isn't a Power of Three spell." Prue says.
"But you see nobody has ever been able to choose between the two people that they love most so his plan has worked everytime."
"Well, then I'll just choose myself in regular form and then as the Demon of Choice is about to kill Piper and Phoebe since I won't choose I'll use my powers to stop him and then we'll vanquish him easy as that."
"But Prue it won't be that easy. Look just yesterday I found out that the Demon of Choice killed another White Lighter's charge, a witch with the power of unconsciousness."
"Unconsciousness? You mean like the power to make someone unconscious?"
"Yup, with a single wave of his hand he can now make anyone or anything lose consciousness for a short period of time."
"Okay but if I don't choose at all and he kills Phoebe and Piper then he still has me left and I can still vanquish him."
"But about fifty years ago he killed a Dark Lighter to get his powers."
"Just like Eames did."
Leo nodded.
"Well, what kind of Dark Lighter? There are lots of different kinds out there."
"The same kind that attacked you and Maggy Murphy, a Spirit Killer."
"Wait now I'm confused why would he kill a Spirit Killer?"
"Because when the first person doesn't choose or chooses themselves and the Demon of Choice kills both of their loved ones and then uses the Dark Lighter's power to make them commit suicide."
"Okay so how do we defeat him?"
"You might have to choose," Leo said, sadly.
"Whoa wait a minute." Prue said getting up from the chair. "Are you saying that I have to choose which one of my little sisters will die? I can't do that. I won't do that! How can you be asking me to do that Leo?"
"Prue I hope it doesn't come to this but you may have to make a choice."
"How can you be saying that Leo? Cole surely you'll side with me."
"Prue, Leo's right this demon has been around for hundreds of years and nobody knows how to defeat him."
"But there's a vanquishing spell in the book."
"Still you may not have enough time to say it now that he has the power of unconsciousness."
"Well, what's so special about that power?"
"It's a good power to have and very few witches have it the ones that do are very powerful."
"There still has to be a way to vanquish him."
"Prue their might not be a way. Look I hate having to put you through this but you are gonna have to choose."
"How can you guys say this!" Prue shouted. She looked at Leo. "Leo, what if I choose Piper to die huh? What happens then? You'll hate me forever if I choose her and Cole what if I choose Phoebe you'll hate me then too. Alright, just admit it guys you would have me die then have them die."
Neither Cole or Leo said anything.
"I thought so." Prue said as she stormed out of the room.
* * * Cole and Leo followed Prue downstairs a little while later. She was on the porch scrying for Piper and Phoebe. She had changed her clothes and was wearing blue jeans a black t-shirt and the same navy blue sweatshirt.
"Wait why are you still scrying? I thought it didn't work." Cole asked Prue.
"Well, maybe it wasn't working because we didn't know what demon where looking for and now that we do I can scry for him and most likely he will be with Piper and Phoebe."
"Wait Prue you're gonna go after him?" Leo asked.
"Yeah that would be the idea," Prue answered sarcastically.
"Prue where were you when we had this whole discussion about how you can't go after him?"
Prue didn't say anything.
"Wait are you gonna choose?"
"Uh, Leo where were you when I had this whole discussion about how I was not gonna choose?!" Prue yelled, raising her voice. Leo and Cole sighed. "I mean come on guys you know I couldn't possibly choose between them." Prue got up and began to walk to the front door.
"Where are you going?" Cole asked.
"To save my sisters and you can bet that I'm gonna come back here with both of them."
"Prue..." Leo started.
"Don't come I can handle this. I will use my powers quickly before he can use his power."
"Fine be careful."
"I will I have the spell." Prue said as she walked out the door.
* * * Piper and Phoebe were still trying to untie themselves in the dark room.
Phoebe put her arms down. "I give up."
"No, c'mon Pheebs keep trying we'll get it sooner or later." Piper said.
"No, I won't keep trying." Piper looked up at Phoebe. "Prue's probably already dead and by the time we get out of here which will probably be like the next era, she'll be gone." Phoebe looked down at the floor.
"Phoebe. Phoebe, honey, look at me." Phoebe looked up. "Prue's not dead."
"How do you know?"
"Well, if the demon is going to make Prue choose between us then he's going to need to keep all of us along alive long enough to choose."
"Great, Prue's gonna pick a favorite sister."
"No, Phoebe she won't. Prue will not choose between us alright. She is so overprotective and loves us so much that she would never choose."
"That's easy for you to say you know she's gonna choose you."
"No, she's not. She won't choose anyone."
Just then Prue burst into the room. "Phoebe! Piper!" she yelled loudly.
"Prue!" Piper shouted. Prue walked over to Piper and Phoebe.
"Prue, thank god you're okay." Phoebe said.
"Forget about me are you guys okay?" Prue asked kneeling down next to them. She started to untie Phoebe.
"Yeah we're fine but Prue what are you doing here?"
"Saving you."
"Prue you have to leave now or the demon will kill you and us."
"He can't kill me. You two maybe, but me no." Prue said as she struggled to untie Phoebe.
"What do you mean Prue? Of course he can kill you." Piper said.
"Nope,"
"Huh?"
"Leo, Cole and I looked the Demon of Choice up in the Book of Shadows and it says that he can only kill the two people he makes a person choose from. His killing is limited."
"Wait a minute if he can't kill you Prue then you can vanquish him!" Phoebe cried.
"I can but it's gonna be hard with his new power. It's called unconsciousness. The power to make anyone of anything unconsciousness with a single wave of his hand."
"Well, if he can't kill you it won't matter if he has that power." Piper said.
"Yes, he can. He can't kill me but he can hurt me." Prue moved back. She used her power to untie Phoebe and Piper from the chair. They all got up and did their special group hug with Prue in the middle.
Just then the Demon of Choice burst in through the door. "Aw, the three sisters have been reunited," he said pretending to sound sympathetic. "Too bad they won't be for long." The Demon of Choice said as a lightning bolt appeared on his index finger. He fired it at Prue, Piper, and Phoebe but Prue used her telekinesis to shoot back at him. The demon jumped out of the way in time, though. He smiled an evil smile and walked behind Prue. "Ah yes, Prue, the oldest Charmed One, the overprotective Charmed One. The one who cares so much about her little sisters."
"Shut up!" Prue yelled.
"Uh, just out of curiosity, Prue, which one of your sisters do you love more I just want to know. I'm not gonna make you choose between them or anything. Oh no wait maybe I will." Prue threw him against another wall using her power but he got up. He walked over in front of Piper and Phoebe. A fire ball appeared in his hand. "Now Prue choose!" he bellowed. "Choose which one of your beloved sisters will live and which one will die."
"Alright." Prue answered.
"What?" The Demon of Choice asked, shocked that Prue had made a decision.
"You heard me okay I'll choose."
"You are saying you are gonna choose between your sisters. Nobody has ever chose before!"
"Yeah well not everybody is the Charmed Ones. I know you're plan and I know the only way to defeat you is to choose so I have made my choice."
"Are you telling me that you will sacrifice one of your sister's life just to defeat me?"
"Yup."
The demon was shocked as well as Piper and Phoebe.
"Alright then you will have to live knowing that your sister has died because you didn't want her to live," The Demon of Choice said hoping to change Prue's mind.
"That's okay."
"Fine, very well then which sister will you choose to put to their death."
"Hummm, uh I guess I pick Piper."
Piper felt as if her heart would break. Phoebe just stood there, shocked.
"Alright then." The Demon of Choice said. He kicked Piper to the ground.
"Ow!" Piper yelled out in pain as she fell to the floor.
The Demon of Choice raised the fire ball back and prepared to throw it at Piper but before he threw it he stopped. "You know after all these years of killing, using the same plan over and over again to kill witches and get their powers, powers that I searched for so I could kill more and more innocent people, nobody has ever chose, not once. Oh well it doesn't matter the Charmed Ones are three witches not two and you won't be able to defeat me." The Demon of Choice said as he moved his hand back and got ready to throw the fire ball at Piper. He thrust out his hand and aimed it at Piper.
"No!" Phoebe screamed.
Before the fire ball hit Piper, Prue put her head down and astral projected in front of her. The fire ball hit Prue's astral form.
"Prue!" Phoebe yelled.
Piper just sat there shocked. Prue returned to her body. The Demon of Choice was looking at Prue, very confused.
"What the..." The Demon of Choice started to ask, still looking at Prue.
"Piper freeze him!" Prue shouted.
When the Demon of Choice heard these words he raised his hand as if to make Piper unconscious but before he could do anything Piper flung out her hands and froze him.
Prue pulled out a folded piece of paper and began to recite the spell.
"You made me pick,
you made me choose,
I've won the fight,
now you will lose.
I've made my choice
and it is this;
to send you
right to your death!""Noooooo!" The Demon of Choice screamed as exploded into nothing.
Neither Prue, Piper, or Phoebe said anything. Then Prue broke the silence.
"Oh!" she cried running over to help Piper up. Piper stood up. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine" Piper answered.
Phoebe walked over to them. "Are you okay?" Prue asked Phoebe.
"Yeah, but how did you know to do that?" Phoebe asked.
"Well, Leo and Cole said that the only way to defeat him was to choose so I had to and then with his new power I knew that I had to distract him so Piper could freeze him, so..."
"So you astral projected in front of her to distract him and have Piper freeze him?"
"Exactly."
"Good plan."
Prue nodded. She turned to Piper. "Oh Piper I'm so sorry but I needed you to freeze him and... Piper put her arm around Prue.
"It's okay everything is gonna be okay now." Piper said.
Prue nodded. She reached out her arm for Phoebe. "Come here." Prue said as she put her arm around Phoebe and all three sisters hugged.
* * * The next night at the club Prue and Piper were sitting in the back. Piper was sitting on the couch and Prue was sitting in the arm chair. Prue was wearing a knee-length black skirt and a light blue tube top, her hair was in a braid. Piper was wearing a leopard print skirt and a black tank-top.
"Well, this was quite an experience." Piper said.
"What was quite an experience?" Prue asked. Piper gave a 'you-know-what-I'm-talking-about' look. "Oh right that." Prue said looking down at the floor. She got up and sat on the right side of Piper. She put her hand on hers. "Look, Piper, I'm sorry I didn't mean for you to think that..." Prue started to say.
"Prue, save it. I know that you didn't mean for me to think that you love Phoebe more than me. I know that it was just part of the plan to vanquish the Demon of Choice."
"I know but..."
"I know that you love Phoebe and me the same and the fact that I told you I was feeling left out by the two of you doesn't change anything." Prue looked at Piper sympathetically. "You made the choice to save both of out lives and it worked. It was a smart plan Prue and you loving me or Phoebe more doesn't change anything. You love us both the same and you chose me to save both of our lives." Prue nodded.
Just then Phoebe walked over to Prue and Piper holding three drinks. She was wearing a pink tube top and a blue jean skirt, her curly, blonde hair bounced loosely on her shoulders. "Okay here you go." Phoebe said as she handed each Prue and Piper a drink."
"Thank you." Prue said as she took a sip of her drink.
"Your welcome," said Phoebe as she sat down on the other side of Prue.
Piper put her drink down. She looked at both of her sisters. "It's nice to be together again."
"Yes, it is," Phoebe said as she finished taking a sip of her drink.
"Um hum," Prue said as she took a sip of her drink and put it down. "But it's still I don't know a little... upsetting, for me anyway"
"How is it upsetting? Phoebe asked.
"Well, I mean knowing that one of you could of died and it would of been because of me is very sad because I couldn't live without either one of you."
Phoebe put her arm around Prue and she put her arm around her too. Piper touched Prue's cheek with her hand. "And we couldn't live without you." Piper said stroking Prue's hair.
Prue nodded. "But still I am so sorry if I ever made either one of you feel left out or excluded."
"Well, Prue I think we were kind of making you feel left out." Phoebe said.
"What?"
"Well, Piper and I know both know what it's like to be kidnapped by a demon and what it's like to have someone choose between you and you have never experienced that."
"Yeah, Prue we were leaving you out by not including you with our kidnapping." Piper said.
"Funny," Prue said hitting Piper and Phoebe on their legs who were laughing. "But I just want you two to know that I love you both, equally.
"And we love you too." Phoebe said putting her head on Prue's shoulder.
Piper leaned over and picked up her glass. "Let's make a toast. To sisters everywhere."
"I'll drink to that." Phoebe said as her and Prue picked up their drinks.
They were just about to toast their drinks when Prue said; "Hey do you guys know that saying 'two's company three's a crowd'?"
"Yeah," Phoebe answered.
"Well, two's company but I prefer three."
"Amen to that sister." Piper said as all three Halliwells toasted their drinks to sisters everywhere.