The Bonds Of Friendship

By: Lexvan

Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. I watch the show cause, male or female, heroes that use the elements are pretty cool.

Summary: This story is a side story to TTigerz's "Everything Is Fair, In Love And War" story.

And now, on with the story!

Last time, in Chapter 6 of TTigerz's "Everything Is Fair, In Love And War" story...

'Caleb I hope..you'll find peace with your mother ', he spoke softly.

'I will father.', Caleb said with tears in his eyes.

'There is more.', Julian said. 'I also want you to find peace with yourself '

Julian let go of Nerissa's hand and managed to grab Will's. Will was too stunned to stop him as Julian used his last power to bring Will's and Caleb's hands together.

'I know that she will help you with that task ', he said softly before coughing up some more blood.

Caleb looked at Will and she saw the pain in his eyes. She wanted to help him but she couldn't. Instead she looked at Julian.

'Julian I ', she said but Julian stopped her.

He placed his hand on her cheek.

'You were always my favorite.', he said.

His hand fell on the ground and his eyes were closed. If it weren't for the blood stains and rips in his blouse, you would have thought that he was sleeping. Nerissa and Will hugged each other as they cried softly. Caleb felt his tears roll over his cheeks. He then noticed that someone tapped his shoulder. He looked up and saw Angelo looking at him with sorrow written all over his face. He helped Caleb up and Caleb cried in his shoulder while Angelo was patting his back. Taranee was crying in Andrew's chest, Cassidy in Joel's and Mandy in Andrew's. G.E.N.I.E. cried as well. That day the whole rebellion mourned.

And now: The Bonds Of Friendship

It's been a week since Julian's funeral and everyone has been mourning in their own way. G.E.I.N.E. mourned for a while and did some private training away from the rebel camp along with the Warriors of Erutan to give the other rebels their time to mourn. Will and Taranee, who knew Julian pretty well, were mourning the brave warrior's passing. Good thing Taranee had Nigel to comfort her and Angelo was there to comfort Will when she needed it, like a good friend should. Martin went to the rebels that knew Julian and asked each of them to write down some things they knew about Julian. He did this to make two small books to give Caleb and Nerissa to give them some comfort as well as something to show that Julian would never be forgotten.

As for Caleb and Nerissa, they were hurting the most. All Caleb did mostly, when he wasn't mourning with Will, was train alone with all the weapons he had. It was his own way of mourning. Everyone knew this and decided to let him be. As for Nerissa, Caleb had a tent put up for her once back at the rebel camp, in the Infinite City. Since then, she's hardly come out of her tent. She was in great mourning.

"Julian.", Nerissa said sadly. "We were together again. Only to have Vertex take you from me and Caleb. I miss you so much."

Nerissa then looked at her right hand, that was still metal. A constant reminder of what happened when Vertex took her over and used her to do all the evil things she's done. Fought with W.I.T.C.H. Turn Matt and his dormouse into Knights of Destrustion. Harm the people of the Meridian Kingdom. Hurt her son and... Julian.

"Julian!", Nerissa said softly, as her tears began to flow again. "I'm so sorry!"

Nerissa then curled up in her bed and began to cry again as she hugged her pillow, thinking about the man she loved and loss. Later that day, Will made her way to Nerissa's tent. Even though Will was still weak, she entered Nerissa's tent. She saw Nerissa crying while hugging her pillow. She could hear that Nerissa was saying Julian's name a couple of times. She slowly went to Nerissa but stumbled, due to the fact that she was actually too weak to move thanks to her illness. Nerissa heard Will's stumbling and looked up. Her eyes were red and filled with tears. She noticed Will and immediately got out of her own bed. She took Will in her arms while Will gave small stammers of protest.

"Will? What are you doing here?", Nerissa asked concerned as she took Will back to her own tent. "You should rest."

"I know.", Will said. "But I knew that you felt terrible about what has transpired. I wanted to help you resolve your feelings."

"Why?", Nerissa asked confused.

"Well, I'm the Oracle and have the task to help people." Will said, making Nerissa look a little sad. "But I actually came because I care for you."

"Why would you?", she replied. "I have done nothing but harm in my life."

"And yet you regret actions that weren't fully your fault.", Will pointed out. "You deserved a second chance Nerissa. And I wanted to let you see this. But not as the Oracle. But as a friend."

Nerissa smiled at what Will said as they entered Will's tent. Nerissa then carefully laid Will down in her bed.

"I appreciate what you want to do for me, Wil, but right now you need your rest.", Nerissa said.

"But...", Will began to say as she slowly sat up.

"But nothing!", Nerissa said in a kind yet stern voice as she gently pushed Will back down in a laying position on her bed. "Oracle or not, you're sick and need your rest. So, lay down and get your strenght back. The new Guardians need you to lead them and help them become stronger."

"The others can help them become stronger.", Will said in a weak voice.

"True, but you still need your strenght.", Nerissa said.

"I'm fine.", Will said as she looked up at Nerissa.

"Uh-huh.", Nerissa said. "Look you said that you wanted to help me. Right?"

"Yes.", Will said.

"Well, get better first.", Nerissa said with a kind smile. "Once you get better, then we can talk. Deal?"

"Deal.", Will said after letting out a tiring sigh.

"Good.", Nerissa said as she headed out of the tent. "Remember..."

"I know. I know.", Will said with a tiring smile. "Get some rest and get better."

"That's all I ask.", Nerissa said smiling as she walked out of the tent.

As Will laid there on her bed a thought came to mind.

'Cassidy was right.', Will thought to herself with a grin. 'Nerissa can be real convincing when she wants to be.'

As for Nerissa, she headed back to her tent and laid on her bed smiling to herself.

"I so didn't see that happening.", Nerissa said with a grin. "Maybe they do trust me."

With that thought, Nerissa slowly drifted off to sleep, hoping not to have anymore nightmares of the dark deeds that Vertex used her to do.

"Nerissa! Cassidy!", a male voice called out to them. "Open your eyes!"

"W-W-What?", Nerissa questioned as she opened her eyes.

Nerissa looked around to see that she was at Shell Beach.

"How did I get here?", Nerissa questioned.

"I was wondering the same thing."

Nerissa looked to see Cassidy in her Warrior form walking towards her.

"Cassidy?", Nerissa questioned as she walked towards her. "What's going on here?"

"No clue.", Cassidy said as they were face to face. "One minute I fall asleep, the next, I here a voice calling out for you and me. It said "Open our eyes!". I open them to see that I'm here on Shell Beach."

"The voice sounded a lot like Joe.", Nerissa said.

"Told you she'd remember my voice!", the voice said from behind them.

Nerissa and Cassidy turned around to see that it was Joe Vanders walking towards then, along with Kama and Halinor. All three were about the age of Cassidy and Nerissa.

"GUYS!", Cassidy and Nerissa cried happily out as they ran towards their friends.

Cassidy ran up and hugged Kadma and Halinor, who returned the hug while Nerissa hugged Joe who returned the hug.

"Oh, Joe!", Nerissa cried as she had tears running down her face. "I mssed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Nerissa.", Joe said as he held on to one of his best friends.

"I miss you guys.", Cassidy said as she was hugging Kadma and Halior.

"And we miss you, Cassidy.", Kadma said.

"Always.", Halinor said as they hugged each other.

Then Cassidy went and hugged Joe while Nerissa hugged Kadma and Halinor.

"I missed you, Joe-Joe.", Cassidy said as she hugged Joe.

"Same here, Cass.", Joe said as they hugged each other.

"I missed you guys", Nerissa cried as she hugged you two friends.

"We missed you too, Nerissa.", Halinor said.

"And we're gld you're free of the thing that made you evil.", Kadma said as they three of them shared their hug.

"Thanks. But wait!", Nerissa as they all ended their hugs. "If we're all here, does that mean we're... you know."

"Dead?", Halinor said before giggling. "No. You and Cassidy are very much alive."

"We just wanted to see you two before any major fighting began.", Kadma said.

"And there will be some tough battles ahead.", Joe said. "But we know you'll be okay."

"Thanks.", Cassidy said smiling.

"But we also wanted to tell you something, Cassidy.", Kadma said.

"What is it?", Cassidy asked.

"It's about the day you died.", Halinor said making Nerissa cringe thinking about that day.

"Don't worry, Riss.", Joe said as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We know it wasn't the real you."

"Thanks.", Nerissa said with a smile as Cassidy placed her hand on her other shoulder.

Nerissa looked to see Cassidy smilng at her. Nerissa then returned the smile. They then looked at Halinor as she was ready to continue.

"Now, as I was saying. The day you thought you died, you didn't die.", Halinor said.

"What?", Cassidy and Nerissa questioned.

"Easy, you two.", Kadma said. "Let us explain."

"Please do.", Cassidy said, as they all sat on the beach.

"Well...", Halinor began to say.

A/N: Looks like things are looking up for Nerissa. If Will and Cassidy can look past all that happened between them, then the others should too. And now Cassidy finds out that she really didn't die! Then what happened? Find out in the next chapter!

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