"What'cha doin' Pru?", Phoebe asked innocently. Though, the truth of the matter was she knew exactly what her sister was doing.
"I'm finishing the transference harness as Buffy instructed", Pru said merrily.
"Oh, really? How is it coming?", Phoebe asked.
"Great. Willow and Tara are absolute geniuses. This product is light years beyond where we were a few weeks ago", Pru boasted.
"Yeah, they're really great", Phoebe said as Pru filled a small vile with the glowing liquid.
"I think it's done!", Pru smiled.
"Great, that's great Pru. By the way, do you know the spec's of this stuff... do you know what it is going to do to Piper?", Phoebe asked, still trying to come off as having only a casual interest.
"Sure, Willow and Tara explained it to me."
"Neat...so, can you explain it to me?", Phoebe asked.
"Well, like I said, it's called a transference harness. The new host of the power drinks this, then when they come in physical contact with their target, the target's life essence is transferred to the new host. There is a catch though. The new host will need to be extremely strong to handle the additional life essence. That's why Buffy will have to be the new host.", Pru explained.
"I see. So then, you, I and Buffy will be able to conjure the power of three", Phoebe added.
"Yes.", Pru said. She could see something was wrong.
"Look Phoebe", Pru added, "I know it is going to be hard to let Piper go, but Cassandra loves her. We should let them be together"
"Right", Phoebe said quietly, knowing that any agreement would be futile. Pru was too far gone to see what was really going on. She decided to try a different angle, "Pru, do you know what will happen to the 'target' after the transference is complete?"
"Not really, but I'm sure it's safe. Willow and Tara told me not to worry about it", Pru told her sister.
Phoebe's stomach almost turned. Something had to be done, even if it meant doing the unthinkable.
"Great. Well, Buffy sent me down here to see if you were done. She'll be glad that you are. I'll take it up to her now. Any special instructions for her?"
"No, just make sure she doesn't touch anyone besides Piper after she has ingested the potion", Pru warned.

"Ok, I'll bring this to her now", Phoebe said, taking the vile then briskly walking out of the kitchen.

What she didn't know was that Willow had been watching the entire exchange. The young Ms. Rosenberg knew something was up with Phoebe. She knew she should warn Buffy before Phoebe was able to do something she'd regret.

"Leo! Leo!", Phoebe called to her whitelighter. A whitelighter was a mystical healer that watched over good witches. Leo was the Haliwell sisters' whitelighter. He had also been, up untill recently, Piper Haliwell's boyfriend. Whitelighters were not allowed to directly interfere with the struggle between good and evil. That meant the witches had to fight their own battles. Although Whitelighters could see everything, they could only interact when called upon.
Phoebe paced nervously, she knew she didn't have much time.
"Phoebe, thank goodness you finally called me!", Leo said as he orb'd into the room behind the young witch.
"Look Leo, there isn't much time to explain. I ..well, Piper... needs your help."
"Phoebe wait. This Mesmotto has you under some kind of hypnotic spell. Pru and Piper are under spells too. This is not how things are supposed to be!", Leo said.
Phoebe was irritated."Stop, stop, stop!", she said motioning for him to be quiet, "I know this is not what you or the elders had in mind for us, but we are happy now, happy with Mesmotto. If it wasn't for that damn Slayer wanting to strip Piper of her power, and maybe even kill her... well if it wasn't for that everything would be just the way we like it".
"What's this about stripping Piper's power?", Leo asked, taking a breath.
"I can't get into it too much right now because we don't have a lot of time, like I said. But the short of it is the Slayer wants to harness the power of three for Mesmotto, but Piper has fallen in with this chick Cassandra, who by the way is a heretic bitch, but anyway, Mesmotto wants to give Piper as a gift to Cassandra, but the Slayer wants to have her power so Pru and I can combine with her to call the power of three. OK?", Phoebe said in one breath.
"Give Piper as a gift?", Leo objected.
"Damnit Leo, lecture me on woman's lib some other time. Right now if you want to save Piper, get this to Rupert Giles", Phoebe said, handing Leo the vile.
"Phoebe wait! Who is Rupert Giles? Plus, you know that I can't interfere with the struggle between good and evil, that is an edict from the elders!"
"Damnit Leo - figure something out!", Phoebe shouted, maybe a bit to loud.
"Phoebe - where are you?", Pru yelled from downstairs. Phoebe and Leo could hear the sound of high heels coming up the stairs. It sounded like at least two people.
"Crap! They found me. Go Leo! If you love Piper than go!", she pushed.
Leo went to object again, to try to get even another second to figure this out, but he followed her advice and orbed out of sight.

Pru and Buffy burst into the room just a split second after Leo orb'd out. Phoebe was obviously flustered.
"Phoebe, give me the potion vial. I know Buffy didn't ask you to bring it to her", Pru accused. Phoebe knew she was caught. She wanted to stall for as long as possible though, giving Leo as much time as she could.
"What are you guys talking about? I was coming up here to write out instructions for Buffy so she knew how to use the potion", lied Phoebe.
"You're not fooling us", Buffy said coldly.
Phoebe had one hand closed tightly in a fist, attempting to fake them into thinking the vial was in that hand.
"Pru, give me what she has in that hand", Buffy commanded. Pru used her telepathic power to pry Phoebe's fingers open. It was revealed that she had nothing.
"Where is the vial Phoebe?", Pru demanded.
"Damnit Pru, don't you see what she wants to do?
She wants to strip Piper of her birthright, she wants to strip Piper of what makes her a Haliwell!", Phoebe cried, hoping her sister would come to her senses.
"Phoebe, our old allegiances don't matter now, even those of family. You are part of a new family now, and we are all your sisters", Buffy said, trying to exert some hypnotic influence.
That only enraged Phoebe more.
"No, no, no!", Phoebe shouted, "I'm sick of you manipulating my mind. I will not turn against my sister! She should be with Pru and I!", Phoebe protested.
Buffy could see that she was getting nowhere fast.
"Tell us where the vial is Phoebe", the slayer demanded.
"No!", Phoebe defied.
Buffy was becoming very angry. She was about to break into her 'We can do this the easy way, or we
can do it the hard way' speech... but she stopped herself. Pru was still under control, but physically attacking Phoebe in front of her might test that control a bit too much. Buffy thought of an easier plan.
"Pru, make sure that Phoebe doesn't leave this room. She is upset. I think a nice talk with Master would make her feel better though. I'll go see if he is available.", Buffy said. She knew Mesmotto could get Phoebe to talk.

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