A/N: Just to warn you, there's a bit of nasty language in this chapter. Prue always did have a bit of an attitude, but you know we all loved her for it. Anyhoo, read on.
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Piper and Leo materialized somewhere Up There, surrounded by five Elders. They stood up, still clinging to each other. The Elders clicked away in Whitelighter-speak. Piper looked from them to Leo, wishing she knew what they were saying.
After what seemed like forever, they spoke to Piper and Leo in English.
"I don't think we need to ask what this is." one Elder, Caligule, began. "You both know that you've been forbidden to see each other. What do you have to say for yourselves?"
"I love her." Leo said simply. "You can do whatever you want to me, but you can't change that."
Piper was too scared to speak. Leo put his arms around her, both to reassure her and to illustrate his point to the Elders.
"Did anyone else know?" Caligule asked.
"No." Piper said firmly, trying to protect her sisters. It was too late. Caligule knew she was lying. In a moment, her sisters, Phoebe, Paige, and the ghost of Prue were summoned the same way she and Leo were.
"Piper, Leo-" Prue started, rushing forward toward her sister and their former Whitelighter.
"No." Caligule commanded. "The five of you have willingly broken one of our most consequential rules. Not only that, but you have repeatedly ignored our other requests. You have been irresponsible, irreverent to us, and irrational in your dealings with evil. And what's more, your selfishness has put countless of innocents at risk."
"Hey." Prue snapped. "We've have saved your asses more times than I can count. We very rarely lose an innocent, and when we do, it's usually because we follow your rules instead of our instincts. You all know damn well that nothings is more important to any of us than saving innocents, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy, too."
Caligule moved toward her, so his face was only inches from hers. "If you're so good at saving people, then explain to me what happened to Andy, and to you."
"Fuck you." Prue spat, tears burning her eyes.
Caligule turned to face his colleagues, and began a lengthy discussion in Whitelighter clicking. Piper and Leo stood before them, determinedly holding onto each other. Phoebe and Paige stood a little behind them, with Prue hovering near them protectively. Finally, Caligule addressed them again.
"You've said before that you believe you're meant to be together. We've decided that, before we penalize you, we should test that. We've created another reality, one where there is no magic, where you aren't the Charmed Ones, and there are no such things as Whitelighters. There, you will all be mortal beings. When, and only when, you prove that you are, indeed, destined to be together, we'll bring you back to this world. Seem fair?"
The Elder didn't wait for an answer, and the couple was too shocked to offer one. In an instant, they saw the powers of the Elders join, and then, it all went black.
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Piper and Leo materialized somewhere Up There, surrounded by five Elders. They stood up, still clinging to each other. The Elders clicked away in Whitelighter-speak. Piper looked from them to Leo, wishing she knew what they were saying.
After what seemed like forever, they spoke to Piper and Leo in English.
"I don't think we need to ask what this is." one Elder, Caligule, began. "You both know that you've been forbidden to see each other. What do you have to say for yourselves?"
"I love her." Leo said simply. "You can do whatever you want to me, but you can't change that."
Piper was too scared to speak. Leo put his arms around her, both to reassure her and to illustrate his point to the Elders.
"Did anyone else know?" Caligule asked.
"No." Piper said firmly, trying to protect her sisters. It was too late. Caligule knew she was lying. In a moment, her sisters, Phoebe, Paige, and the ghost of Prue were summoned the same way she and Leo were.
"Piper, Leo-" Prue started, rushing forward toward her sister and their former Whitelighter.
"No." Caligule commanded. "The five of you have willingly broken one of our most consequential rules. Not only that, but you have repeatedly ignored our other requests. You have been irresponsible, irreverent to us, and irrational in your dealings with evil. And what's more, your selfishness has put countless of innocents at risk."
"Hey." Prue snapped. "We've have saved your asses more times than I can count. We very rarely lose an innocent, and when we do, it's usually because we follow your rules instead of our instincts. You all know damn well that nothings is more important to any of us than saving innocents, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy, too."
Caligule moved toward her, so his face was only inches from hers. "If you're so good at saving people, then explain to me what happened to Andy, and to you."
"Fuck you." Prue spat, tears burning her eyes.
Caligule turned to face his colleagues, and began a lengthy discussion in Whitelighter clicking. Piper and Leo stood before them, determinedly holding onto each other. Phoebe and Paige stood a little behind them, with Prue hovering near them protectively. Finally, Caligule addressed them again.
"You've said before that you believe you're meant to be together. We've decided that, before we penalize you, we should test that. We've created another reality, one where there is no magic, where you aren't the Charmed Ones, and there are no such things as Whitelighters. There, you will all be mortal beings. When, and only when, you prove that you are, indeed, destined to be together, we'll bring you back to this world. Seem fair?"
The Elder didn't wait for an answer, and the couple was too shocked to offer one. In an instant, they saw the powers of the Elders join, and then, it all went black.