Chapter 139: Vallhalley of the Dolls Pt 1
On a beach. Smash Mouth is performing on a stage. A large crowd of people in swimwear are dancing along. The song ends and everyone cheers.
Phoebe and Chad the DJ, are sitting under a canvas shade shelter holding microphones. Buffy is watching from off to the side where she sits next to Celia's stroller.
Chad smiles, "Give it up for Smash Mouth! Let's here it, come on! Hanging Chad coming back live at the KQSF annual Beach Bash. Winding it up with our special guest, the stunningly, beautiful, Phoebe Halliwell, of the Ask Phoebe fame. Okay, so what's your deal? Are you psychic, is that it?"
Phoebe frowns, "I'm sorry?"
Buffy rolls her eyes.
Chad smiles, "I mean, you gotta be don't you? Your column has sky rocketed, all the critics rave about how amazingly insightful your advice is. How else do you explain it?"
Phoebe smiled, "I just think I read people really well."
"Oh, you do, do you? Can you read me?" Chad asked.
The crowd cheers.
Phoebe laughed, "I don't know, write a letter and I'll see."
"Come on, give it a shot." Chad said.
Several in the crowd yell out, "Yeah!"
"Come on Pheebs." Buffy yelled.
Phoebe glared at Buffy for a second before she looked back at Chad.
"You guys wanna see her do it, dontcha?" Chad asked the crowd.
Several in the crowd yell out, "Yeah!" They applaud.
"Oh, alright, alright. Ah, what do you want advice on?" Phoebe asked.
Chad smiled, "Okay, let's see. There's this woman that I like and I'd like to ask her out but I'm afraid she'll say no. What should I do?"
Phoebe looks at Chad and thinks. "Well, why don't you just ask me and find out?" She laughs as the crowd applauses.
Short time later Chad pours some juice into a cup at the refreshment table.
Phoebe and Buffy, whose pushing Celia's stroller, walks up to him.
Phoebe smiled, "Hi. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you back there."
Chad laughed, "Hey, I'm just glad it was only on the radio."
"I don't know why I answered like that. It was..." Phoebe said.
"Dead on, that's what it was. It's exactly what I was feeling. Nervous about asking you out." Chad said.
Phoebe looked at Buffy who shrugs, "Really? You were? Well, then maybe I should ask you out and just take the pressure off. Oh!" She laughed "I just don't know what's the matter with me. It's gotta be the heat or something."
Chris orbs in behind a van nearby.
"Bayview Cafe, say 1:00?" Chad said.
"Go for it Pheebs." Buffy said.
Phoebe nodded, "I'll be there."
Chris comes out from behind the van and walks towards Phoebe and Buffy. "Phoebe. Payson."
"Chris, what are you doing here?" Phoebe asked.
"Um, listen, I gotta get back. Don't be late." Chad said.
Phoebe smiled, "I won't be."
Chad walks away as Buffy and Phoebe raises their eyebrows at Chris.
"Trok Demon, remember?" Chris said.
Buffy sighed, "Oh, Chris, get a life."
"Come on." Chris said.
Phoebe sighed, "Pff."
Sometime moment later at the manor. Chris and Paige orb in with the five dogs.
"Alright, can we get this started because I have to go..." Phoebe notices the dogs. "Where did they come from?"
Paige sighed, "He wouldn't let me take them back first."
"Back?" Phoebe asked.
Paige nodded, "Yeah, I'm a... dog walker. The temp agency messed up."
"Okay, do you guys mind? We have to summon the Trok Demon while he's still on our plane. Piper! Payson! Dawn!" Chris shouted.
Buffy comes down the stairs, having changed clothes followed by Dawn.
Phoebe shook her head, "Oh, Chris, lighten up. Sending us after all these demons is getting to be a real drag."
Paige nodded, "Yeah, you're working us like dogs."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "For once I would love not to have to deal with a demon."
"I don't see Piper complaining." Chris said.
Dawn shook her head, "No, because Piper doesn't complain about anything anymore. Ever since Leo left to become an Elder, all she does is walk around the house all... chipper."
"So?" Chris asked.
Phoebe sighed, "So, it's unusual."
"What's worse, it's not Piper." Paige said.
Piper walks down the stairs carrying Wyatt. She's on the phone. "I'd love to have a play date. Maybe we could call Jenny and she can bring baby Josie and Buffy can bring Celia. And then I'll bring the juice and maybe bake some muffins and..." She sees the dogs. "Aww, how cute!" She walks into the kitchen.
"She's getting worse." Phoebe said.
Paige sighed, "Definitely."
Dawn nodded, "Something is wrong with her."
"Do you have a spell?" Phoebe asked.
Chris smiled, "Right out of the book." He hands Phoebe a piece of paper. "After you summon him, make sure Piper freezes him. Otherwise you'll never get the spell off."
"Here, take these guys to the attic, they'll be fine there." Paige said handing Chris the leashes.
Chris frowned, "Wait, me?"
Paige nodded, "Yeah, you. Go." S
The dogs pull Chris upstairs.
Piper walks in all cheery. She's wearing an apron. "Alrighty, are we ready?"
Buffy shook her head, "Alrighty?"
Piper smiled, "Phoebe, have I told you how much I love your new 'do. It's fabulous."
"Very chipper. Okay, let's do this. You take this." Phoebe hands Paige the spell as Piper grins. She closes her eyes and concentrates and suddenly a two-headed demon with one eye on each head appears. "Piper, freeze him." Piper blows off one of his heads as he whimpers and she giggles. "What did you do that for?"
Piper shrugged, "I don't know, I didn't mean to."
The Trok Demon roars and sends the girls flying across the room. They land on the floor.
Buffy grabs the spell. "From other worlds far and near, let's get him the Trok, out of here." The Trok Demon bursts into flames and is vanquished. Piper smiles. "Is everybody okay?"
"Yeah that was awesome." Piper said.
Phoebe rolls her eyes.
A few moments later Paige walks in with her hand against her shoulder. Chris follows her in. "What kind of Whitelighter can't heal?"
Chris nods, "For the record, you can't heal either."
Paige sighed, "I'm half-whitelighter. How come you didn't tell us about this before we hired you?"
Chris shakes his head, "First because you didn't hire me. I was assigned by the Elders."
Phoebe enters the room carrying first-aid materials for Paige's shoulder. She sits on the couch next to Paige. "Any other little surprises you would like the share with us?"
"No. Look, I haven't been a Whitelighter very long, okay? And healing, it's big, and takes a little while to learn how to do." Chris said as he sat down.
Dawn sighed, "Great. Student-lighter."
"Okay, you could've told us about this like, I don't know, maybe a month ago." Buffy said.
Phoebe nodded, "Well, I know one thing for sure, we're gonna stop all this demon fighting for a while."
"Wait, why?" Chris said, alarmed.
"Can somebody please fold the towels in the dryer when it's done?" Piper called out from another room.
"That's why." Dawn said.
Piper walks out into the hallway, her baby bag slung over her shoulder and she's carrying Wyatt in her arms. "I put a casserole in the oven; you can check on it in about an hour or so. Buffy you coming?"
Buffy sighed and gets up and walks upstairs a moment later she returns with Celia in her arms and a baby bag slung over her shoulder.
"We will be at the club if you need us. Have fun!" Piper said as she followed by Buffy walk out the door.
"Oh my god, Piper is so sad." Phoebe said.
"Sad? Where are you getting sad from?" Dawn asked.
"How about this. Three more demons, then we can talk about taking a little break." Chris said.
Paige frowned, "What, do you have a quota or something?"
"Look, I've already told you this before. I know from future knowledge that a demon is gonna come after Wyatt. These are all pre-empted strikes." Chris said.
"Okay, look, Chris, we like you a lot. But we have been doing this a lot longer than you have. Trust me, you have to pace yourself and you gotta let us have a life." Phoebe looked at her watch. "Ooh, speaking of which, I have to go get ready for my lunch date." She stood up and heads toward the doorway.
"Oh, I didn't know your boss was back in town." Paige said.
Phoebe turns around and leans against the doorframe, "No, it's not with Jason, it's with Chad, the DJ, who I'm not really interested in."
Chris sighed, "Two demons, how about that? Two."
"No, Chris. And especially not until we figure out what's wrong with Piper, and more importantly Piper's powers." Phoebe said.
"I swear, I think Leo did something to her before he left." Paige said.
"You know what? I think it's about time we orb him down here and ask him." Dawn said.
Chris shrugged, "I don't think that's possible."
"Well, then make it possible. Look, even if he doesn't care about Piper as his wife, as an Elder he at the very least should care about what happened to her powers." Phoebe said rather insistent.
"I can't." Chris said.
"Yeah, you can. You just go up there and tell him to get his butt down here." Paige said.
Chris sighed, "That's not why I can't. Look, I didn't wanna tell you this because I didn't want to worry you three but... Leo's missing."
Dawn frowned, "What?"
Paige shook her head, "Missing?
"How long?" Phoebe asked.
"Since the last time you saw him. Anyway, the Elders think he's been kidnapped." Chris said.
Phoebe frowned, "By whom?"
At Payson's P5 a portion of the center stage has been converted into a large play area for a lot of children including Celia and Wyatt. Buffy and Piper walks over to the bar with Darryl and Sheila following them.
Sheila smiles, "You two are amazing, Piper. Buffy."
"Sorry?" Piper asked.
"I mean, seriously, I don't know how you two do it. I mean, I could barely take care of myself when Eli was a baby, let alone run a day care." Sheila said.
Piper smiles, "Well, you know, nobody was using the club during the day anyway and I was running out of room at home with all of Wyatt's play dates."
Sheila nods, "Well, I think it's great, really. I mean, especially with everything you're going through."
Darryl stops as Sheila glances warily at him. Piper and Buffy see the exchange and smile, puzzled.
"What?" Piper asked.
"Sheila's just been a little concerned about you lately, Piper. You know, with Leo and all." Darryl said.
Sheila nodded, "I can't even imagine how hard it must be for you. Do you ever even talk to him?"
Piper shakes her head, "Oh, no, it's probably against the rules. But, you know, no use crying over spilt milk, and besides, you know, I've just got to push ahead for Wyatt." There's an uncomfortable silence between them that both Buffy and Piper seems oblivious to. She picks up the tray of treats. "Well, better get these treats to the little ones. Um, is Eli staying late?"
Darryl nodded, "Yeah."
Sheila smiled, "Uh, yeah, yeah."
Piper smiled, "Super." She takes the tray of treats and heads for the play area followed by Buffy. "Hey, guys."
Darryl looked to Sheila, "I gotta get back to the station."
They both turn and head for the door.
"That's right." Buffy and Piper said to Wyatt and Celia.
Dawn, Paige and Phoebe walk down the stairs as Darryl and Sheila head for the door.
"Hi, guys." Paige said.
"Hey." Sheila said.
"Hey." Dawn said.
Darryl smiled, "Hi."
"Whoa. What's the matter?" Phoebe said sensing something was wrong.
"Sorry?" Sheila said, startled.
"Something's bothering you, I can tell." Phoebe said.
"Phoebe?" Paige warned.
Phoebe looked towards Paige, "What? Oh, sorry."
"So, Piper's doing fine, huh?" Darryl said. "So is Buffy for where she has been."
"Yeah, but you don't think Piper is." Phoebe said.
"Don't mind her she's just being a little annoying. Um, would you excuse us for a second?" Dawn said.
"Yeah, sure." Sheila said.
"We'll you later." Paige said.
"Bye." Darryl said as he and Sheila head for the door.
Paige, Dawn and Phoebe move aside.
"What is going on with you?" Dawn asked.
Phoebe shruged, "I don't know, it's weird. Lately I've just been feeling a lot of weird vibes, I don't know what it is."
Paige frowned, "Vibes? Check it out, I can really, really only deal with one or even two whacked out sisters at a time."
"Huh, got it." Phoebe chuckled.
They turn and head towards Piper and Buffy in the play area.
"Piper? Buffy?" Paige said.
"Buffy, Piper, you two got a minute?" Dawn asked.
"Uh, can't it wait?" Piper said.
Phoebe shook her head, "No, actually, it can't. It's about Leo."
"Oh, did he call?" Buffy asked.
"Not exactly." Paige said.
"There's no easy way to break this to either of you so I'm just going to come out and say it. Leo's missing. We just found out that the Elders haven't heard from him since he left us to join them." Phoebe said.
There is no reaction at all from Piper. And for a brief moment Buffy's mask slips and they see the vacant look in her eyes before she recovers smiled.
"Wow." Buffy said.
"So did he happen to say anything to you, Piper, the last time you saw him that could potentially help?" Phoebe asked.
"No. All I remember him saying is that he was leaving to become an Elder and I wished him good luck." Piper said.
"That's it? That was your big goodbye?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah, as far as I can remember. But I wouldn't worry about it too much, he'll turn up sooner or later." Piper smiled. "Excuse us." She and Buffy turns and heads back to Wyatt and Celia and the play area.
"So much for that shocking Piper back into reality, huh?" Paige asked.
Phoebe nodded, "Unfortunately, I think only Leo can do that."
"Did you notice the look in Buffy's eyes when we told them Leo was missing?" Dawn asked.
Paige and Phoebe nod.
"We know it will take time for her to get over it though. At least she's trying." Phoebe said.
Later back at the Manor in the conservatory Chris stands near the window looking outside. Behind Chris, Paige is scrying for Leo. Out on the table in front of her she has three large maps including a map of the solar system. She steadily moves the crystal from one map to the other to the other.
Phoebe and Dawn walks into the room and looks at Paige with the three maps.
"Where exactly are you trying to find Leo? Jupiter?" Dawn asked.
"Well, when an Elder gets kidnapped, they're probably not gonna just take him to Chinatown, right? I think everything is game, even the cosmos." Paige said.
"I don't see how the crystal's gonna find him. Especially not without something of his to focus it better." Phoebe said.
Paige grabs a shirt and shows it to Phoebe and Dawn. "I've got one of his plaid shirts."
"I was thinking something a little more special than that." Phoebe said.
"Leo loved those shirts. His entire closet's full of them." Paige said.
Phoebe stops and senses something. She turns around, looking, then sees Chris standing quietly at the far end of the room looking out the window. "What's your problem?"
Chris turns around. "Huh?"
"You're nervous, I can feel it." Phoebe said.
"Ooh, watch your vibes." Dawn said.
"I just think you guys should be focusing on helping Piper and maybe even Payson, not Leo." Chris said.
"Ha, I was right." Phoebe said.
Paige sighed, "Hey, finding Leo could help us with Piper."
"And only time will help Buffy." Dawn said. "What she went through is not something you get over in a day."
"Well, then you better find another way because you are not gonna find him." Chris said. Everyone becomes still. Paige scrunches her eyes at him. Dawn and Phoebe stares at him. He steps towards Paige. "I mean, you haven't found him yet have you? I'm telling you, you've just got to leave it up to the Elders, alright? Just let it go."
"Let it go? He's Wyatt's father." Paige said.
"And our brother-in-law." Phoebe said.
"And Celia's uncle." Dawn said.
"Ex-brother-in-law... Look, I'm just trying to get you three to focus on your sister here. That's all. Because with her powers messed up, you guys are all at risk." Chris said.
Paige sighed, "He's right."
"I know. But if Leo did do something to block Piper's pain, how do we unblock it without him?" Phoebe said.
Paige gets an idea. "A magical laxative."
Dawn frowned, "Okay, eww."
"But think about it. If we can write a spell to help her remember her pain, I don't know, it could even help us find Leo." Paige said as Phoebe walks over toward the phone and picks it up. She starts dialing. "Who are you calling? Spells-R-Us?"
"No, I'm calling the Bayview Cafe. I'm gonna cancel my lunch date with Chad, which I'm already late for." Phoebe said.
"Bayview Cafe."
"Hi, can I speak to Chad Carson please? I was supposed to meet him for..." Phoebe said.
"Yes, he couldn't make it."
Phoebe frowned, "What?"
"He called and cancelled."
"He cancelled?" Phoebe asked.
"Yes."
"Wait, are you sure? 'Cause he didn't even call..." Phoebe said.
"He told us to let you know that he's very sorry."
Indignant, Phoebe hangs up. "Huh! He stood me up."
"Wait, weren't you just calling to cancel on him?" Chris said.
"Yeah, but I called him. That's cancelling. He called the restaurant. That's standing up." Phoebe said.
Dawn and Paige both nod in agreement.
Chris sighed, "Oh."
Phoebe sighs, "This doesn't make any sense, I don't understand. He liked me, he really liked me, I felt it."
"Well, um, excuse me, it didn't seem like your heart was in it anyway." Paige said as Phoebe turns around, puts the phone back on the shelf and grabs her bag. "Where are you going? We have a spell to write."
"And I have a DJ to grill." Phoebe called over her shoulder.
"Want some company?" Dawn asked.
"Thanks, Dawnie, but no." Phoebe walks out of the house.
Later in the attic an enthusiastic Oscar the dog jumps on Paige's leg and starts humping it. Paige shakes her leg trying to get oscar off of it. She is looking through the Charmed Book of Shadows as she talks on her cell phone. Dawn is trying to pull Oscar the dog off Paige.
"Sir, what does it matter when I bring the dogs home? Their owners aren't there, that's why I got the job in the first place." Paige said as she looks to Dawn. "Dawnie can't you get him off my leg?" The other dogs tear up the attic, pulling things apart and jumping on tables. "Look, you know, when I came to the agency, I really went with the idea that I would be helping, you know, people, not animals. And what I really mean to say is that it's, sir, it is time for me to strike out on my own. Yeah, I'll have the dogs back in an hour." She hangs up.
Buffy sighed as she finally pulls the bulldog off Paige's leg. "Sorry."
Paige nods, "It's not your fault, Dawn."
Chris calls from downstairs, "Piper's home!"
"Coming!" Paige and Dawn said as they hurry downstairs.
Downstairs Chris walks into the sitting room carrying a baby bassinet with a baby inside as Paige and Dawn walks down the stairs.
"Hey, who's that?" Paige asked.
"Good question." Dawn said.
Chris sighed, "Ask them." He walks into the conservatory.
Piper walks past Paige and Dawn as she heads into the main hall to pick up another baby-occupied car-seat carrier. Buffy is not far behind as she picks up the last carrier.
"Hi, how's it going?" Piper asked.
"How's it going? Uh, what are you doing?" Paige said. "Whose babies are these?"
"Well, their mommies couldn't pick them up in time so we offered to bring them home for a while." Buffy said.
Dawn sighed, "Oh, you did? Um, what about, you know, Leo?"
Piper shrugged, "I don't know, what about him?" She and Buffy heads into the conservatory where they put the car-seats down next to Wyatt and Celia's playpen. "Look, Wyatt, look who's here. Another friend for you to play with."
Buffy and Chris moves to stand next to Paige and Dawn. They watch Piper. "Is that the memory spell?" Chris asked.
"Yeah." Paige said.
"Cast it." Chris said.
Paige looks at Buffy and Dawn as they recite the spell, "Powers and emotions tide, a witch's heart is where it hides, help her through her agony, bless her with her memory." A white mist rises out of Piper. She stands up.
"Piper? Are you okay?" Buffy asked.
Piper turns around to look at Buffy, Dawn, Paige and Chris. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"
Paige laughed. "Very funny."
Dawn shook her head, "I don't think she's kidding."
Piper turns around to look down at Wyatt and Celia. "Aww, cute." She whips around and looks at Paige. "Yours?"
Paige frowned, "No the boy is yours. The girl is hers." She points to Buffy.
Piper scoffs. "Mine? What do you mean? Wait, who am I? What am I doing here?" She starts looking around the place.
Chris sighed, "Great, you didn't restore her memory, you erased it."
Dawn sighed, "That's impossible, it's a good spell, I know it. Unless it interacted badly with Leo's magic."
A fly buzzes in front of Piper. She waves her hand to swoosh it away and winds up blowing up the hanging plant pot to the right of her. It startles Buffy, Dawn, Paige and Chris as Wyatt and Celia start crying.
Piper gasped. "What happened? How did that happen?"
"Uh, its okay, you're gonna be okay." Buffy said.
"Just don't point at anything, okay? Just keep your hands down. Like this, okay?" Chris grabs Piper's hands and pulls them down straight against her body.
"Can somebody please tell me what's going on." Piper asked.
"We're gonna tell you that. Just as soon as we know ourselves." Paige pulls Piper into the sitting room. "Okay, you come in here and you have a seat and, uh, take a load off. And, um, keep those arms down." She walks back into the conservatory as Buffy gives Celia a pacifier. "Oh my goodness. Okay, don't freak out because magic got us into this and magic'll get us out." Wyatt cries louder and suddenly, Celia's pacifier orbs out of her mouth and orbs into Wyatt's mouth and she starts crying again. "Did you see that?"
"See what?" Chris asked.
"Wyatt. He orbed Celia's pacifier." Buffy said. "Wyatt give your cousin back her pacifier."
"What?" Chris asked as the pacifier orbed back to Celia.
Paige smiled, "I think I know how to find Leo."
"Leo? Will you please forget about Leo?" Chris said.
The front door opens and closes and Phoebe walks into the sitting room, she turns and sees Piper as she gets excited and rushes over toward her.
"Ooh, Piper!" Phoebe said as Piper stands up. "You're never gonna believe this. I think I have a new power. It would certainly explain a lot of my weird behavior lately like why I wanted to date Chad, why my advice has been so amazingly accurate. I know, this is huge, right? Huge. So what's my new power you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Um, do you remember that empath we helped a couple of years ago? That guy that could feel what other people were feeling?"
Piper doesn't say anything, but looks off to the side as if trying to find a way out.
Chris sees Phoebe and walks over toward her. "Uh, Phoebe..."
Phoebe waves him quiet. She wants to finish telling Piper about her new power. "Just a sec. I think that's what I am now. An empath. I am an empath. That's my new power. Or at least an advancement of my premonition power, I don't know."
Chris interrupted. "Neither does she, I'm afraid. Know that is, anything. Paige, Dawn and Buffy erased her memory."
Piper leans forward toward Phoebe and smiles smugly at her. "Can you blow things up to?"
Phoebe smiled. "Oh, boy. Paige! Dawn! Buffy!" She turns to find Paige, Dawn and Buffy. She and Chris walk into the conservatory where Paige is holding onto Wyatt while scrying. Dawn and Buffy stands next to them. "What did you three do to our sister? Oh, you poor dears." She looks to Paige and Dawn. "You two feel awful about it, don't you? I'm so sorry." She looks at Buffy and gets a sensation that Buffy is slightly envious of Piper.
"Thanks, I think." Paige said.
Chris watches, disappointed that Phoebe isn't angrier at Paige, Buffy and Dawn than that. "That's it? That's all the ass kicking you're gonna dole out? You're supposed to be sisters."
"They're clearly devastated about this." Phoebe said. She didn't mention that Buffy has enough on her plate without her yelling at her for this either.
"But you can't let them off the hook. You need enough guilt to get them to fix it." Chris said.
The crystal points to the Indian Ocean on the map.
"I think I just fixed it. I think we just found Leo." Paige said.
"We?" Phoebe asked.
Paige stands up and carries Wyatt back to the playpen. "Yep, Wyatt and me. I mean, nothing's more important to Leo than him, right? There you go, big boy." She puts Wyatt down in the playpen. She stands up and exhales. "Let's go."
"Go? Go where? It's pointing to the middle of the Indian Ocean." Chris said.
"There must be something there, I trust Wyatt." Paige said.
Chris sighed, "No, this is crazy."
Phoebe interrupted. "Chris, she's feeling really strongly about this." She stands beside Dawn, Buffy, Paige as she puts her arm around Paige. "I have a new power. I'll explain on the way."
"Be back as soon as we can." Dawn said.
"Oh, hey, can you take the dogs back for me? The addresses are in the book." Paige said as she and Phoebe orb out.
Chris shook his head, "No, there's no way. "
Buffy flames out with Dawn.
A moment later… Phoebe, Buffy, Dawn and Paige are walking down a path in Vallhalla.
Paige smiled, "It's so beautiful here, and it's like paradise. But why isn't it on the map?"
"They obviously don't want anyone to know it exists. Like the island has some sort of magical camouflage or something." Phoebe said.
"That's a hell of a lot of magic." Dawn said.
"Over there."
Phoebe, Buffy, Dawn and Paige glance behind him at the sound of voices. They immediately head off the path to hide in the bushes. Three Warriors rush by. When they're gone, they walk out of the bush.
Dawn lets out a sigh of relief, "That was close; I hope they're not looking for us."
(Phoebe rushes forward, grabs Paige and pushes her to the ground. She rolls them over till she's above Paige. She then pushes her elbow into Paige's throat.
Buffy shook her head, "Phoebe, are you out of your mind?"
Paige pushes Phoebe's arm off of her. Suddenly Phoebe stops and looks at Paige. She pulls Paige up and they both get up to their feet.
Paige starts to cough. "I know you're upset about the memory spell, but this is ridiculous."
"I'm so sorry. I must have tapped into what they were feeling." Phoebe said.
Paige nodded, "Okay, well let them kill me, not you. Let's go look for Leo."
Together, they head back into the jungle to search for Leo. They walk into a cave moments later and see a cage in the center of the room. Phoebe walks around the room trying to get a reading on Leo.
"Anything?" Buffy asked.
Leo turns the corner and sees them. He runs out from the back to the front of the cage. "Phoebe, Paige, Buffy, Dawn."
Phoebe smiled, "Leo! Oh my god."
"I can't believe it." Dawn said.
"I can't tell you how good it is to see you guys. Hey, you cut your hair." Leo said looking at Phoebe's hair.
"Yeah, yeah, you like it?" Phoebe asked.
"Hello, people." Paige said.
Buffy shook her head, "What are you doing in here anyway?"
"Somebody put me here, that's what." Leo said. "Watch out!"
Behind them, four Valkyries walk into the cave. Buffy, Dawn, Paige and Phoebe turn around, but they're too late. With a wave of their hand, they send the girls flying away from the cage. The Valkyries split up. Phoebe and Buffy gets to their feet and fights. The other Valkyries grab Paige and Dawn, lifts them to their feet and starts choking them. The Valkyries are proving to be very strong just as strong as Buffy.
Unable to stand aside and do nothing, Leo looks around, sees two swords on the ground, picks them up and tosses them at the two Valkyries. Each sword hits the two choking Paige and Dawn in their backs. They fall to the ground, dead.
The other two back off as Buffy and Dawn power up a fireball and energy ball, respectively, and throw them at the Valkyries killing them.
"Oh, oh, thank you." Phoebe said.
They go back over to Leo.
"Wow, Leo, I didn't know you had it in you." Paige said.
"I've changed. You need to get out of here before the other Valkyries find you. If you orbed in here, they've already been alerted, believe me." Leo said.
"Valkyries? Who are they and what do they want with you?" Dawn asked.
"You can't orb out from here, it's protected." Leo said.
"Hurry, in the cave!"
"You need to get out of here now. Go, run!" Leo said.
The girls head for the entrance.
Phoebe turns around back to Leo, "We'll be back." She follows the others out of the cave.
As soon as they are out of the cave Paige orbs out with Phoebe as Dawn shimmers out with Buffy.
Back at the manor Paige and Dawn sits at the dining room table leafing through both Book of Shadows while Buffy and Phoebe paces around the table.
Chris is at the other end of the table fretting. "You could have been killed, you know that? Huh? What were you thinking?"
"We were thinking of finding Leo, which we actually did if that matters to you." Paige said.
"What was up with that skirt he was wearing?" Phoebe asked.
"At least the skirt wasn't plaid." Buffy said.
Phoebe and Dawn can't help but laugh.
"I don't believe this. It's like none of you are taking this very seriously." Chris said as Oscar the dog barks. He looks at the dog. "Hey, do you mind?"
"Well, I can't help it if he doesn't like you. Hey, you were supposed to take him back home anyway." Paige said.
"I tried but the owners weren't there. Besides, the dog, he's not my job, he's yours." Chris said.
Paige mutters, "I know, don't remind me. Hey, Oscar, lay down."
Oscar whimpers, finds a comfy spot on the carpet and lies down next to Paige.
"Aw, look, Paige, I think he likes you." Dawn said.
"Where's Piper?" Phoebe asked.
"I put her in her room hoping that it might jog her memory. Since nobody else seems to be trying to." Chris said.
Dawn finds the Valkyries in her and Buffy's Book of Shadows. "Here it is. Valkyries. A powerful race of demigoddesses who scout the battle grounds for dying warriors."
Phoebe and Buffy settles next to them to read along
"Then take their souls to Valhalla where they prepare them for the final world battle." Paige said.
Buffy blinked, "Valkyries, huh?"
"Does that mean they're good?" Phoebe asked.
"How can they be good if they've got Leo?" Paige said.
"And how did they even get Leo?" Dawn asked. "He's not a dying warrior, he's an Elder."
"Look, why don't you guys concentrate on helping Piper and I'm gonna go fill in the Elders and see what they wanna do." Chris said.
"No, Chris, we don't have time for that. We have to go back for Leo now." Phoebe said.
"Why? It doesn't sound like he's in any sort of trouble." Chris said.
"He's only stuck in a cage." Buffy said.
Phoebe nodded, "They tried to kill us when we tried to save him."
Chris shrugged it off, "My point exactly. It's too dangerous, you're not going back."
"Wait, let me get this straight. Are you telling me that you'd rather just let Leo rot there? Is that what you're saying?" Phoebe said.
Chris shook his head, "No, but..."
"He needs our help." Paige said.
"Not to mention, he may be the only way we have to save Piper." Dawn said.
Chris sighed, "You can't orb, flame or shimmer into Valhalla undetected. The only way to get there safely is with a Valkyries pendant. But that still won't get you close enough to Leo. He's too well guarded now."
Phoebe and Buffy looks to Dawn and Paige who eyes him wearily.
"How do you know all this?" Buffy asked.
"I've crossed paths with Valkyries before. In the future. Anyway, I can get you the pendants but the only way to get close to Leo is by proving to the Valkyries you're one of them." Chris said.
"How are we supposed to do that?" Phoebe asked.
Chris smiled. "Easy. Just arrive with a warrior's soul."
"Oh! Easy." Paige said.
"Where are we supposed to find a warrior's soul?" Dawn asked.
Chris shruged, "Beats me."
"Do—" Buffy starts as Chris orbs out.
In an alley across town. Darryl leads a thug out of a building into the alley.
"You ain't got nothin' on me."
Darryl shook his head, "Ah, shut up." He walks him over to the car, opens the car door and tosses him inside. "Get in." Paige and Phoebe orb in as Dawn and Buffy shimmer into the back of the alley. Paige waves to Darryl as he sees them. "Wait here."
"Yeah, like I'm going anywhere."
Darryl slams the car door shut and heads toward the girls. "Are you out of your mind? What are you doing here?" He leads them further down the alley.
"Darryl, we need your help." Phoebe said.
"Does this have anything to do with you asking Sheila to watch Wyatt and Celia? She just called." Darryl said.
Dawn nodded, "Yes, actually. But we don't have a lot of time. It's about Leo."
Darryl blinks, "You found him?"
"Actually, yeah, we did." Paige said.
"And we need your help to save him." Buffy said.
Darryl nodded, "Sure, you know that, just ask, anything."
"Great! We just need to borrow your soul for a couple of hours." Phoebe said.
"Yeah, we'll get it right back." Paige said.
Dawn nodded, "It's perfectly safe, really. Your body will just slip into a coma and as long as we get your soul back in time..."
"…which we will..." Buffy said.
"…you'll be fine. Just a little headache, that's all. What do you say?" Phoebe said.
Darryl stares at them, processing what they're saying. His expression doesn't change, "You four are serious, aren't you?"
"Please, Darryl, it's the only way we can save Leo." Paige said.
Darryl shook his head, "No! I ain't doing it."
Dawn sighed, "Darryl, please."
"No. Absolutely not. Listen. I love Leo like a brother, ..." Darryl turns around and heads back to the end of the alley, his back to the girls. "... but, you know, there is a limit ..." Paige raises the vial and throws it at Darryl, hitting him square in the back. "... to what you can ask a man to do, ..." Immediately, Darryl's body falls to the ground, presumably in a coma, while his spirit continues to walk and rant in the alley. "... and this is definitely over the limit."
"Uh, Darryl?" Paige said.
Darryl turns around. "What?" Paige points to his body. Darryl looks at his body on the alley ground. He sighs. "Oh. That's just great."
Phoebe uncaps the container and Darryl's spirit immediately vaporizes and goes into the container. She recaps it tight. "I hope this works."
At the Manor Chris puts a pendant around Piper's neck. "Just remember everything I told you, and you'll be fine."
The pendant glows and transforms Piper into a Valkyrie.
Paige and Phoebe orb in as Buffy flames in with Dawn.
"Okay, we got the..." Phoebe said as they see Piper standing in the room with all her Valkyrie glory. "Oh my god, what did you do to Piper?"
"I turned her into a Valkyrie. And convinced her she's one too. Actually, it wasn't that hard really, considering the fact that her mind is basically a blank." Chris said.
Phoebe doesn't say anything, although she does appear hesitant as she turns to look at Buffy, Dawn and Paige.
"But why?" Paige asked.
"Because you might need the power of five to get Leo out of Valhalla and this is the only way you'll get her in Valhalla." Chris said.
"Well, if Piper ever gets her memory back, she's gonna kill you." Buffy said.
"Why?" Chris asked.
"Because she hates wearing those costumes as much as we do." Dawn said.
Paige nodded, "Mm-hmm."
"Yeah, well, in that case, you're gonna kill me too." Chris opens his hands and holds out two more pendants, one for each of them. Their eyes widen.
In Valhalla a vortex opens as Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige walk out of the vortex into the open road. The vortex closes behind them.
In the cave two Valkyrie warriors carry out the Saracen from the cage. They shut the door to the cage behind them as the girls walk into the cave.
"Can I help you?" Freyja asked.
"We've brought you a warrior." Phoebe said.
Kara stands up.
"Warrior?" Freyja said.
"Is there a problem?" Buffy asked.
Freyja stands and takes a step forward. "How come I don't recognize you?"
Buffy, Dawn, Paige and Phoebe remain silent, unsure of whether their plan will work. Piper surprises them by calmly stepping forward. She holds out the vial with Darryl in it. "Perhaps you'll recognize this. A warrior's spirit worthy of Valhalla." She opens the vial and Darryl mists out of the vial in front of the Valkyries. He looks around, confused by where he is.
Freyja looks at Darryl, pleased. "Well done."
Piper smiles.
Darryl is thrown into the cage as Kara tosses in a sword and shield behind him. Darryl scrambles to his feet and picks up the sword and the shield as Kara closes the cage door behind him. She moves to take her seat.
On the side, Piper sits high up in the seat. Phoebe and Paige sit nearer to the ground as Buffy and Dawn stand on either side of them. A servant serves them some food.
Paige mutters, "Not a bad afterlife if you ask me."
Phoebe, Buffy and Dawn don't say anything. But Piper glances down unapprovingly at Paige. Inside the cage, Darryl looks out at them. Dawn, Phoebe and Paige lift their hands in a double-thumbs up sign.
"You're doing great, honey." Phoebe said encouragingly.
Darryl turns around and sees Leo step out from the back of the cage. As Leo gets closer, Darryl takes a couple of steps back toward the edge of the bars.
"What the ..." Darryl said.
Leo looks at Darryl, then looks outside the cage where he sees Phoebe, Paige, Buffy, Dawn and Piper. Paige smiles and waves to Leo. Darryl and Leo start to circle each other inside the cage.
"Okay, I know how we're gonna save Leo but how are we gonna save Morris?" Paige asked.
Buffy shook her head, "I have no idea."
"That's why they call it 'winging' it." Phoebe said.
Piper hears them and leans forward, "What are you three talking about?"
"Nothing." Phoebe said.
Suspicious, Piper eyes Buffy, Dawn, Phoebe and Paige. Kara sits on the side watching them also. Inside the cage, Leo and Darryl continue to circle each other.
Freyja watches and grows impatient at the delay. "What are you waiting for? Attack!"
Leo glances at Phoebe, Buffy, Dawn and Paige. Seeing his opportunity, Darryl raises his sword and charges Leo. He uses his shield and swipes at Leo's helmet, sending him backward and knocking his helmet off his head.
Piper sees Leo."Leo?"
Kara hears Piper.
"What are we gonna do?" Dawn asked.
"It's Piper. Her pain is back, do something." Phoebe said as Piper stares at Leo.
"Uh, kill him!" Paige said.
Darryl stares at Paige. What?
Leo takes the opportunity. He jumps and kicks Darryl square in the chest sending them both to the ground. Leo scrambles on top of Darryl and the two wrestle. He leans over and whispers. "Take the fall."
"What fall?" Darryl asked.
Leo head butts Darryl. "Stay down." Darryl stays down as Leo gets up, raises his arms high above his head and grunts. "Yeah!"
An unimpressive fight. Mist rolls her eyes and looks at Freyja who is processing what she just saw. Kara also looks suspiciously from the cage to Freyja. Leo continues to walk around the cage, waiting for Freyja to make her decision.
Piper leans forward, "What is he doing here? What are we doing here?"
Dawn leans over next to Piper, "Piper, shh!"
"Ow. Someone do something." Phoebe said.
Paige stands up and looks over at Freyja. "We just wanted to apologize for sending you such a weak warrior. We can get rid of him for you."
"Get rid of him?" Freyja asked.
Paige nodded, "Yeah. You know, like ... send his spirit on to, uh ... the hereafter
... or something."
Leo watches Paige.
Freyja accepts the offer. "Very well." She stands up and leaves the cave. The Valkyries follow her out of the room.
Piper gets up from her seat and heads for Leo. "You left me, didn't you?"
Leo doesn't say anything.
"Potion, potion." Phoebe said.
Buffy takes out the vial and throws it at the cage door. It breaks the seal around the cage and the door opens.
"We gotta get out of here." Dawn said.
Leo turns around to get Darryl as Piper watches him closely, still waiting for her answer. He and DARRYL run out of the cave. They reach the clearing and Leo turns around and yells for the others to hurry up. "It's clear!"
Phoebe, Dawn, Buffy, Piper and Paige walk outside.
"I'll open the portal." Dawn said.
Phoebe groans and doubles over in pain ... Piper's pain. "Uh."
"Phoebe." Paige said.
Phoebe turns around and looks at Piper. "Its Piper. Her heart is breaking."
Leo steps forward, "Piper..."
Piper shakes her head as she stops him, "Don't. Stay away from me."
Leo continues towards Piper, "I promise I will explain everything when we get home but right now we need to go."
"Home? We don't have a home. You left us." Piper said.
"Leo, talk to her!" Buffy said.
Leo nodded, "I didn't have a choice. I became an Elder, it's not something that I wanted, it's something that just happened."
"Yes, see I know all of this. Why didn't I remember it?" Piper said.
"Because… I used my powers so you wouldn't have to. Your anger almost destroyed a city, and then your pain almost destroyed you. I wanted to help you so you wouldn't have to deal with it all at once." Leo said.
"So you took my feelings away?" Piper asked.
Buffy looked between Piper and Leo wishing Leo had done the same for her.
Leo shook his head, "No, never. I was gonna reverse the spell slowly so you could feel a little more every day but then somebody did to this to me, somebody put me here so I couldn't." Piper looks down and shakes her head, unable to hear what he's saying to her. "I'm sorry."
"Look, I don't wanna rush you two, but we have to go." Darryl said.
"I have to second that." Paige said.
Leo waits for Piper. Again, Piper shakes her head as Leo turns and heads back toward the clearing. As he passes Phoebe, she straightens and takes over Piper's emotions as Piper looks at her and their eyes meet.
Phoebe turns on Leo. "You bastard. How dare you do this to me. To our son."
"Phoebe?" Buffy asked.
Paige, Buffy and Dawn takes a step back as Phoebe continues to channel Piper's emotions directly toward Leo.
"We had a life together, a family and you destroyed it. You destroyed me!" Phoebe said as Piper takes a step back. Leo watches Piper as Phoebe continues to rant at him. "You left me alone to raise our son by myself. How could you do this? How could you do this!" She yelled it so loudly that the warriors in the training camp nearby heard her. "How could you!" She swings and hits Leo on the face and he takes the punch. She hits him again as Piper swallows her pain and doesn't move. "You bastard! You son of a bitch, you hurt me." She raises her hand to hit Leo again. Suddenly, she stops and she turns around to look at Piper.
Piper stares back at Phoebe, Paige, Buffy and Dawn.
"I don't feel Piper anymore." Phoebe said.
They hear voices in the distance.
"We have to go." Paige said.
Dawn grabs ahold of the pendant and opens the vortex. "Come on, Piper, we've gotta go."
"Go? Go where?" Piper asked.
"Home, hurry." Buffy said.
Piper doesn't move as at the far end of the path, the Warriors turn the corner and head toward them.
Phoebe glances back at Piper then gathers everyone toward the vortex. "We gotta leave her. Come on."
They all jump into the vortex just as the Warriors reach the clearing. The vortex is still open when the Warriors jump in and follow them through just before the vortex closes.
Three Valkyries run up behind them, but pause when they see Piper standing at the cave entrance. Freyja stares at Piper who stares back.