Author's Note: I do not own W.I.T.C.H., etc.
This story takes place after issue 74 in the comics.
Chapter One – Returning Darkness
The night of the Karmilla Concert, there is a quiet calm afterward as Will Vandom walked home. For the first time in a long while, she looked at Matt radiantly on stage as he strummed his guitar like the legendary guitarist that Will always knew him to be.
Despite this wonderful feeling, she was exhausted from all the energies she used in the final showdown with Folkner. At last, it seemed that the last adventure was finally over and everything was settled. Yet Fate has a way of dragging you where you need to be.
She opened the door to the apartment and walked inside. Her mom and Dean were already asleep, Will sighed for she wanted someone to talk to. But that not being the case, she walked to the bed, flopping down on it with her head meeting her pillow. Knowing that Matt was back in town for the next few days, this made for a rather interesting prospect.
"Matt, I want to dream of you. You couldn't hold me because of the concert and you left at the backstage party before we had the chance to talk. Please, Matt, meet me in the land of dreams."
She closed her eyes and hoped for a wonderful dream. This was not to be for destiny was now turning toward her next adventure.
Images bombarded her mind as she stirred in her sleep. She heard countless voices and could barely make any of them out. Then after awhile, the voices faded as only two remained.
"No…" One of the voices pleaded desperately.
"Elyon?" Will asked, recognizing the voice.
"No…don't do this…" She saw the frightened young Queen of Meridian, "…let go of me!"
A sinister voice chuckled, "You know you always wanted this."
"Let go!"
The seams of her dress ripped open and the mysterious stranger pinned her to the wall.
"Don't touch me!"
"Why? I thought I was your friend? Hahahaha!"
The image faded and a new one took its place. The Fortress of Kandrakar was burning as the many members of the congregation ran around panicking.
Endarno began giving orders, "Secure the Oracle! Guardians, we need you to hold back the intruders! Guardians? Where are you?"
An explosion came from one of the hallways. Moments later, Cornelia walked out of the smoke with Taranee, who was supported by having an arm across her friend's shoulders. Both of them were cut and burnt in several places, but only minor. The main concern was the cut above Taranee's left eye that made only one eye useful for the time being.
"Guardians of Earth and Fire, where are the others?"
Cornelia snorted, "We have names you know."
Taranee coughed before she spoke, "Will, Irma, and Hay Lin are fighting the intruders. What I have gathered so far, they seem to be a well-organized faction consisting of six members. They called themselves, Darkling Generals."
"So, who is fighting on the other side of the Fortress?"
"What? There is fighting there, too?"
"Ten…creatures walking around. They are slaughtering all they come across. They called themselves, the Cultists of Shadow."
"We will meet them."
"In time. Right now, we are busy transporting the Oracle to the Tower of Mists where he will be safe until this matter is resolved. Go to the Oracle and aid in his transport."
"Where will you be?"
"Getting my armor and sword, it will help us in the battle to come."
They went their separate ways and the image seemed to blur again. Will wondered if this was a dream or the future? The scene changed to the Congregation Hall…she could barely see anything as the mists that permeated the area were blocking the image. Then a piece of the vision became clear, she saw herself in Guardian form, eyes closed, sprawled on the floor in a large pool of her own blood.
She gasped and took a step back. Seeing herself dead was more than a cause for fear. All the images stopped and the mists vanished as a voice echoed in the darkness.
"Will…" The voice sounded perched and weak.
"What? Hold on, that voice is familiar."
"Don't…trust…m…m…"
Will sat up in her bed, waking with a start.
A voice whispered, "Psst…Will."
She screamed as she saw a mysterious figure sitting on her windowsill.
"Will, it's me."
"Haritus, what are you doing here?"
"I need your help."
"Okay…But what time is it and why are you glowing darkly?"
His fiery shadow aura stood out even in this total darkness, his eyes black with golden irises, and the tattoo on his face had two more lines on the outside leading up and curved on the forehead, just stopping before they could touch.
"It is about five in the morning and about the new look, I'll explain later."
"I got school in three hours, why are you here exactly?"
"Levanos desperately needs your help."
"Huh? I thought your Order was hunting you."
"Well…They were, but…Listen, I will explain everything on the way. Please, Will, every second we are here is one more second he could be dead."
"Fine, fine, I'll assemble the others!" She brought the Heart of Kandrakar in front of her.
He reached out and clenched her hand firmly, "No!" She paused and looked at him suspiciously, "Sorry…it is just Levanos, I'm worried about him."
She saw the worry in his eyes, "Okay…but I'll have to be back before school starts."
"Not a problem." He stepped down from the windowsill and held her shoulders softly. He brought his head back and closed his eyes. His shadow wrapped around both of them and they vanished from her room.
Will tried opening her eyes, but the swirling shadows made it hard to see. This explained why Haritus always had his eyes closed during Dark Shifting. The shadows faded and she saw them standing on the barrens of Veluria.
"Welcome to my world."
"Is it always like this?"
"Only the northern coast of the Western Continent, then its plains and forests until a desert on the southern end, here is where we need to be at the moment." He pointed toward the large cluster of mountains behind her.
"Wow, never seen mountains up close like this before."
"Follow me and I will explain like I promised."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the mouth of a cave.
"So, your Order stopped hunting you?"
"At the aftermath of the Attunement, I achieved the ultimate power over shadow. It was difficult, but the Order accepted me back into the fold after I taught them all the balance of light and shadow."
"And Levanos helped you because…"
"This cave is one of legend, but it had traps. When he explored further in, a door slammed and closed him off. If we don't hurry, he'll die."
Will approached the door and remembered the voice, "Don't…trust…m…m…"
"Wait…" She turned back to him, "…why couldn't you Dark Shift him out and why isn't the Shade speaking?"
"This place suppresses shadow magic and since the Shade is a being of shadow, he too is suppressed."
"If this place suppresses shadow, then why are you here? You said you achieved ultimate power over shadow."
His voice tightened slightly, "I am still human in nature and so I cannot be suppressed. Why all the questions?"
"I received a vision before you arrived. It warned me of something that would happen."
"You think I would put Levanos, my favorite teacher, as an excuse? I thought I could trust you, Will!"
She gave him a long stare into his concerned and slightly faded eyes and sighed, "Okay…" She looked at the inscription on the door. "…I can't read Velurian."
"It's not Velurian. It's written in Shavar, the language of Shadow."
"Can you read it?"
"It says…Only one of pure Heart can open this door. That is why I thought of you."
"But…I'm not of pure heart."
"Your courage, determination, selflessness, leadership, and heroism…these are all the traits that define a pure heart and those that define you."
She smiled, "Thanks, but how do I open the door?"
"All you need to do is touch it and it will open."
She walked up to the door, she could see the details of the architecture more clearly and was amazed at it. Haritus smiled with satisfaction until the Heart of Kandrakar glowed brightly.
"What? You're trying to warn me?"
"Shad Dovos!" He pointed a hand at her and she was hit in the back by a bolt of shadow. Her body fell upon the door and the etched runes glowed bright white. After they faded, the door slid down into the ground and revealed the next door down the corridor.
Haritus laughed evilly, "Two doors down, four to go."
Will coughed as she turned toward him, "Haritus? I thought I could trust you?"
"You guessed wrong, guardian girl. In fact, I should thank you for you made me one step closer to achieving my goal."
Will growled as she felt nothing but rage at this betrayal.
He stood over her and pointed an open hand to her face as it glowed a fierce black, "And as a reward, I grant you the gift of eternal peace."
Mwahahaha! Next Chapter, explanations are given from another familiar figure.