Night had fallen upon the Kingdom of Meridian the darkness seeping in around them consuming them until daybreak. The villagers slept peacefully knowing their Queen now sat at her rightful place upon the thrown and her light would always protect them from the shadows that had once plagued their world. Sadly they were mistaken.

For within the castle walls everything was not yet at peace.

Glass shattered upon the thrown room marble floor as a young woman flung the first thing she could get her hands on to the ground trying to vent some of her frustration and anger.

"Cornelia you must calm down" Another girl spoke softly from where she sat upon the thrown.

Queen Elyon watched on as her closest friend broke down in front of her. The young Guardian no older than herself was troubled that much she could see but about what she was unsure.

Cornelia however ignored the Queen and continued to vent her rage by destroying anything and everything she could get her hands on.

"Why Elyon! WHY!" She finally screamed spinning to face her childhood friend her long blonde hair flying around her distorted face making Elyon almost cringe in disgust at the deranged look that had consumed Cornelia's features.

"Cornelia please talk to me" Elyon pleaded as she stood from her thrown descending the steps so she was now level with her friend "Explain to me what is troubling you"

"It is meant to be mine!" Cornelia snapped and even though Elyon knew her friend was not angry with her per say she almost sighed as she realized that said anger would no doubt be taken out on her anyway until her friend came to her senses.

"What is?" She asked calmly knowing that one of them needed to be the levelheaded person in the discussion.

But instead of answering her question Cornelia just continued on with what she had obviously wanted to say for quiet some time now.

"He told me at the beginning that I would have my chance to prove I was worthy. A chance to show them what I was capable of! But time and time again I have gone and presented myself in front of the council to only be turned away each and every time! It is meant to be mine Elyon! I can feel it calling to me… its power is like nothing I have ever felt before and to have it so close but yet so far away is torture!"

Elyon watched as her best friend collapse in front of her looking more defeated than she had ever seen the strong earth Guardian. Hurrying forwards she knelt in front of her and tilted her head slightly so she could see Cornelia's face.

The dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach that had appeared when Cornelia first returned from Kandrakar and stormed into her thrown room in such a rage had started to grown with every word that left Cornelia's lips.

She could feel the darkness inside her friend growing but at first she had ignored it refused to believe that her oldest and closest friend was being influenced by power and greed but with these turn of events she was starting to see the cold glint in her friends eyes all to familiar to the one she had once seen in the eyes of her brother Phobos.

"Cornelia… I don't understand, what is meant to be yours?" Elyon was scared she already knew the answer to her question but she prayed to the gods that she was wrong.

Cornelia slowly raised her head to stare her friend straight in the eyes.

"The Heart of Kandrakar of cause"

"Cornelia" Elyon gasped standing up quickly and taking a step back to put some space between them "How could you say that!"

"You don't know what it's like Elyon to only have a limited amount of power coursing through you veins. You have all the power in the world! You control everything that is good in this world… you are the light in a world of darkness. Is it so wrong of me to not want that too? Is it wrong that I want to be able to feel such raw pure power at my fingertips? We are Guardians without a Keeper… So much power wasted because some silly little girl is yet to be born"

Elyon took several steps back as she watched her friend the cold sadistic look that again she had only ever seen on her brothers features take over Cornelia's once beautiful ones.

"You are not destined to be the Keeper of the Heart Cornelia, you know this! The Heart will only serve the chosen one and for that to happen this world must be cast into complete darkness. All hope and light must be taken from this world first… the Heart is not something that can be simply possessed it is born into the very child that is chosen… it is the beating heart of the Chosen one… The Oracle has told you this I know he has! When he told you that you would have your chance to prove yourself worthy he did not mean that you would be rewarded with the Heart, he meant that you would step into the role as the Guardians leader until the day comes that the chosen one is ready to take her rightful place as leader and protector of this world" Elyon prayed her words would reach beyond just the ears of her friend she prayed that they would reach Cornelia's very heart and soul because right now both needed saving.

"Are you telling me that he lied to me?" Cornelia snapped pure hatred dripping from her voice

"No! Of cause not!" Elyon rushed to explain, "You have simply misunderstood the Oracles words. There has not been a Keeper for over two million years Cornelia; this world has simply not been in enough despair that the Heart has deemed it fit for a Keeper to be born out of its essence. That is why the Oracle presented you along with Irma, Hay Lin and Taranee with the gifts of the four elements to protect this world and help keep the peace. The birth of a Keeper is not to be taken lightly it only happens when the Oracles chosen Guardians are unable to complete their jobs. You will never posses the Heart Cornelia… it just isn't possible"

Elyon's words did reach as deep as she had hoped but not in the way she had prayed for. Cornelia could feel the greed begin to build inside her once again, it was now a familiar feeling but this time hope had been mixed in with it. If the only way for the Heart to be born into a child was for this world to be plunged into darkness like never before then she knew exactly what she had to do.

Forcing her features to slip into a calm and happy mask she let her eyes shin bright as she smiled at her friend who instantly look relieved.

"Your right Elyon" She said as she began to move forward "I was being silly"

"I'm so glad you understand" Elyon sighed happily as she stepped forward to meet her as they embraced into a hug.

"I thought I had lost my best friend for a moment there" Elyon whispered

Cornelia however just held the girl tighter as let her earth Guardian powers spark in her right hand that was held slightly away from the Queen. A large thick dark purple vine appeared in her hand the tip as sharp as a blades edge. Deadly to anyone cut but its tip.

"You have" She whispered only just loud enough for Elyon to hear but it was to late as the Queen tried to remove herself from her arms the tip of the wood had already pierced into her back sinking deep within her flesh.

Dropping her blood covered hands to her sides Cornelia took a step back as she watched the light begin to fade from Elyon's eyes.

"Oh no that will not do" Cornelia smiled "Such power we mustn't waist it now should we"

Stepping forward she placed her hand on Elyon's cheek from where she now lye on the marble floor gasping for air.

"Why?" Elyon gasped out blood trickling from her lips to only join the blood that now stained the white marble floor seeping from the wound in her back.

"Power my dear… it was always about power" Cornelia whispered as her hands lit up with pure green energy feeling Elyon's light energy grab at it desperate for somewhere to go.

"You wont win" She croaked out as the warmth, colour and light began to drain from her skin as the girl she once saw as her sister stole the very powers that were keeping this world alive.

"Sadly my dear friend you wont be hear to see me prove you wrong" Cornelia whispered as the final bit of light faded from Elyon's eyes leaving her as cold as Cornelia's very heart.


Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H or any of its Characters