S is for Self REWRITTEN
[A/N] Also, when you see Matt while the rest of the text is not in italics, it's meant to be Shagon glamoured as Matt. If you see it in italics when the surrounding text is also in italics, it means the boy himself.
Part 1
*How will we do this?*
It was the question Shagon had asked before they would have gone to sleep. How would they contact the Guardians without Nerissa knowing? The first option was to have Shagon, glamoured as Matt, but that was out of the question. The Heart, nor any of the Guardians would believe him if he told who he was. But trying to pull one of them aside in a battle could give away that they no longer followed Nerissa's orders.
*I know how.*
There was a smirk on Zafyra's face, which was now revealed. She indeed looked like Will, though her hair was longer and her face resembled Susan's more than Tony's as in Will's case. Shagon raised an eyebrow. His mask was gone as well and showed he resembled Matt, perhaps when he was older. He had a goatee and his black hair was still in the same fashion while his cheekbones were more visible than with Matt.
*How?* He asked, not sure if he wanted to hear her idea.
*Nerissa said we could do anything we wanted to.* Zafyra said with a grin. *And I fancy going to school.*
Shagon sighed as he thought of it. He, along with Matt and Will, had been trying to talk it out of Zafyra. Though Will's primary objective was just to skip school and was quickly persuaded by Zafyra to take her side. Matt wasn't exactly willing because it would be a too big of a risk and Shagon agreed. Yet, in the early hours, there she was. Zafyra wasn't glamoured like Will, though she said she would do that to gain the Heart's attention. Instead she had the height of Will in Guardian form, with long, flowing black hair and admirable green eyes, similar to Susan. A casual backpack hang on one of her shoulders as she brushed her hair over it.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Can't talk you out of this, can I?" Shagon tried, getting a malicious grin from Zafyra.
"Nope."
"Then...yeah." He relented.
The two teletransported away, leaving the cold cave of Mt. Thanos. What they hadn't known was that a certain Angel of Despair had been watching them. Fire burned in her eyes as Ember walked to her chambers. Zafyra was trying something and she would find out what. Not only that, but she would make sure Zafyra would fall from grace. And then Nerissa would appreciate her and perhaps Shagon would realize how weak Zafyra truly was.
Sheffield Institute, Heatherfield
The next day came and the girls all grouped up in the hall. All except for Irma, who was supposed to be early in school for the morning reports, and Hay Lin, who had been searching for Eric the moment they stepped into the school. But all of them were happier. Why shouldn't they be? Will had left them a message, which meant she was there…Somewhere. They were discussing ways of locating Will, now having more hopes of finding her than before. After cancelling the options of actually pummelling Nerissa into submission or staking out just outside Mt. Thanos, another surprise showed up, in the form of Irma.
Irma saw the surprised looks and shushed them before they could ask anything.
"Wait for it…"
"Wait for what?" Taranee asked, confused.
"Me." Irma said with a smug grin.
She pointed upwards and immediately her voice rang through the school and its hallways.
"Alright, Sheffield! Listen up!"
"Pre-tape me." Irma informed before her tape recording continued.
"K-Ship presents, the Battle of the Bands! If your crew rocks, then get your act together and sign up today! Winner gets… Okay well nothing, but a top-talent scout will be there! So dooooon't miss out!"
Meanwhile Irma hang up a poster with a pencil and watched as people approached the board.
"Bess, Courtney, Uriah, contest statistics meeting at 3 P.M. Mandatory." Irma said as those people neared.
She looked in surprise as Alchemy signed up while the Grumper sisters mocked her.
"Nag-atory." They chorused with a grin, causing Irma to role her eyes.
At this the other girls also took a look at the board and Cornelia couldn't believe what she was reading.
"Alchemy and the Grumpers?" She asked, sarcastically as well as surprised.
"Wait!" Uriah said, taking the pencil from Alchemy's hand and shoving her aside. "The Grumps get to skip work to play, then my band is playing too. The…uhmm…. Dunnsters. Yeah! That's it."
"You got a band?" Kurt asked.
"Without us?" Clubber added surprised.
"You're in the band, remember?" Uriah said, giving the two a meaningful glare to which his two henchmen caught up.
"Uhh, right! The band!" Kurt said before pulling Clubber away before he could blow Uriah's plan.
"Do you guys even play instruments?" Taranee asked with a raised eyebrow.
Uriah rolled his eyes and grinned smugly at 'Will', Cornelia and Taranee.
"Ah, hello…" He said smugly. "I'm a genius on the guitar and Kurt started playing the drums when he was six!"
The girls rolled their eyes and were ready to argue about it when a new distraction came by, now in the form of Nigel.
"Sweet!" He said, walking up and signing in. "Too bad Wreck 55 is gonna obliterate the Dumpsters."
"That's Dunnsters." Uriah growled at him, while Nigel smiled friendly in return.
Uriah walked away, annoyed by Nigel, while the others watched him go. Nigel shrugged and waved at the others, Taranee in particular, before walking off as well.
"I'm going to talk to Matt." He said.
Taranee had returned the wave and continued waving until Nigel was gone. Then she turned around and glared darkly at Irma, who took a step back. She'd never expected Taranee to look like that.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" Taranee yelled, clearly frustrated. "You know Shagon is posing as Matt, Wreck's lead singer. What if he tries to play some evil…I don't know! Guitar of Hypnos?"
Irma swallowed. She hadn't thought of that and now that Taranee mentioned it, she was giving Nerissa a chance to turn the whole school against them. She smiled sheepishly at the Fire Guardian.
"There is no such thing as a Guitar of Hypnos." She said, though she gave a pleading look to the Heart. "I'm sure of it… Uhm… Almost… Okay we're doomed."
The Heart smiled at her and Irma caught herself wishing it had been Will instead of the Heart. Granted, the Heart had been there for them, keeping them standing and keeping the hope up. But Irma missed Will and no one could replace her.
"There is no Guitar of Hypnos." The Heart stated, relieving Irma and Taranee of the tension.
"And besides, Shagon is here to spy on us, not blow his cover in the public eye." Cornelia said with a shrug.
"Still, better keep a public eye on Shagon." Taranee muttered darkly.
"I always do." 'Will' replied darkly, glancing at the boy who was now in a conversation with Nigel.
If Shagon had noticed her staring, he didn't show it. Not that it mattered, because seconds later a new group arrived to enter the Battle of the Bands. The group consisted out of four girls, each around the age of 17. One of them was Asian, with her hair in a similar fashion as Will with eyes as grey as rainclouds, and dressed in simple jeans and a white shirt with a black vest. Another had red hair, not as red as Will more orange like, tied in a ponytail while some bangs hang freely next to her face. She had blue eyes. She wore marine blue shorts and a white T-shirt with a Pikachu on it. She wore a cap and had a necklace in the shape of a moon. The third girl had shorter brown hair, which curled at shoulder length with one green eye and one brown. She wore a white blouse and a long brown skirt. She also had a bracelet with flowers. The last one was an African-American with curly black hair and brown eyes. She wore an orange blouse and a white skirt.
"Ehren, are you sure that's a good idea?" The African-American asked. "We still don't have a singer."
"It's just for the fun of it, Ilana." The girl with the red hair replied.
'Will', Irma, Taranee and Cornelia watched as the small group discussed before finally signing up. As they left Irma took a peek at the poster.
"G.E.N.I.E. Strange name for a band." She said with a grin.
"Who are they anyway? I don't think I've seen them before." Taranee said, raising an eyebrow when a guy wolf-whistled at the group.
"They're new students. They moved here during our last vacation." Cornelia said, apparently not too happy that these students were taking the attention of the boys. "I believe they're called Ehren Masters, Edeline Anderson, Ilana Russell and Georgiana Kazemaru."
"Do you know everyone who walks these halls?" Irma asked surprised while shaking her head. "I swear Corny, you should work at Intel when you're older. I've never met someone who knew that much about other people."
"If you listened once in a while around you, you would know more than what's for dinner." Cornelia quipped back. "And don't call me Corny!"
The two resumed their bicker while Taranee and 'Will' smiled at each other.
Meanwhile outside, Hay Lin was sitting on a bench while Eric was playing his saxophone. He was really good and Hay Lin felt herself being swept away by the music he made. But it was cut short when Uriah called for Eric's attention.
"Hey new kid!" He said, ignoring Hay Lin's glare. "You hear about the Battle of the Bands?"
Eric, looking surprised students were talking to him (male ones, seeing that he'd seen enough girls. Not that he minded Hay Lin, seeing that she was shy and cute instead of bossy and pushy like the rest), grinned sheepishly.
"Uh… Yeah?" He asked, wondering why they'd ask him.
"Well, the Dunnsters will be taking no prisoners. And you could be the fourth Dunnster!" Uriah said smugly.
Eric felt rather honoured. He was a new student after all and being asked to play in a band so soon. Now he knew these guys were the bullies of the school. He'd seen their handy work before, but he loved playing the sax. And perhaps he could prevent them from harming other students.
"Yeah right, there's no way…" Hay Lin started to say, but Eric interrupted her.
"I'm in."
"Wow, Eric!" Hay Lin said, immediately alarmed. "You don't know these guys."
Eric smiled at her. He knew she was protecting him, but it was better to figure things out on his own, right? So he shrugged and smiled reassuringly at her.
"I just want to play." He said, while Uriah placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And play you shall, my man." Uriah said with a grin.
"When do we rehearse?"
"Dude, don't sweat it." Uriah said laidback. "I'm a genius on the guitar and Kurt started to play the drums when he was six."
Hay Lin watched, with a lot of annoyance, how Uriah took her boyfriend? Did he count as a boyfriend after one date? Had it even been a date? Hay Lin shook her head, focusing on the threat that was Uriah. She knew she couldn't boss Eric around, not that she wanted to anyway, but she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy with the thought of him jamming with Uriah.
The school bell rang, telling her it was time to go to class. Hay Lin sighed and ran into the school, finding Irma and Taranee on her way in and going to math, while Taranee was berating Irma about the Battle of the Bands. Would Eric win or would he fall to petty cheating thanks to Uriah? Hay Lin decided that it would be a good idea to keep an eye out, just in case.
While Hay Lin was wondering about Eric, Cornelia and 'Will' were doing several exercises for science. Cornelia had trouble with several of the exercises and asked 'Will', who then proceeded to explain. Yet while she was doing so, Cornelia felt a new stab in her chest. The Heart looked like Will and sounded like Will, but that was where all resemblances ended. She missed Will's humour or her inappropriate blushing, or the way she would glare when Collins joked on her expense.
The hand of the Heart on hers made Cornelia wake up from her thoughts. She could see the sadness swimming in the eyes of the Heart and a guilt filled her. The Heart had been here to give them support. Will had always claimed it was alive and only now did Cornelia realize it as well as appreciate it. Without the Heart, Cornelia was certain she would have cracked weeks ago.
"We…We will find her." She whispered, surprised of her own voice.
The Heart merely smiled, but sadness remained in those eyes. Were they because she knew she would disappear when Will returned? Or because she too was cracking? Cornelia didn't like either option, but if she had to chose, she hoped for the first one. At least then she could convey her appreciation before the Heart returned to being a crystal and even then she could talk to it.. Even if it would make her feel like a fool.
"I know…" The Heart whispered in return. "I'm just so scared we find her too late."
This statement scared Cornelia. The Heart had never shown much despair or anger, not counting its first days as Will or the breakdown she'd seen when the Heart returned from her visit to Will's father. It frightened her to know that the Heart carried fears. Did Will also carry fears when they went into battle? Cornelia's shocked face must have been obvious, because the Heart looked guiltily at her.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "But I needed someone to convey my fears and I know you're the most grounded of all of them."
Cornelia's eyes softened and she smiled, softly squeezing the hand of the Heart.
"I'm sure we will find her in time."
After that, their conversation dropped and they continued on their tasks. The rest of the day continued normally and at the end the girls were grouping at Taranee's locker, discussing new ways to find Will and Matt. The Heart listened only half when Irma started with a new theory, already too idiotic to work, when she noticed something. Did she just saw a mob of red hair?
She started to walk, apologizing her from the others with the excuse of going to the toilet, and again saw a flash of red. It disappeared into a hallway and the Heart followed quickly, her heart racing. Her eyes had to be deceiving her, seeing that she didn't feel the familiar magic, but why was she following? Was she really so desperate to find her Keeper?
She could just see how a flicker of red went into the women's toilet and she followed foolishly. Her breath stopped in her throat when she looked at the back of her Keeper. The looks were exactly the same, from the untidy red hair to the rundown sneakers.
"K…Keeper?" She found herself stuttering.
Her heart started to pound harder as the person turned around, revealing the Keeper's face. The only thing that seemed off was how she looked. A grin was plastered on her face and she had her arms crossed. The Heart took a step back when Will closed in on her. She raised her hand to dispel the glamour and tears came up when she found that it was Zafyra and not her Keeper, walking up to her.
Zafyra walked to the Heart, while Will was berating her for being so creepy. But even Will couldn't argue the logic that she still had to play the bad guy.
*Are you sure you'll manage?* Zafyra asked Will, who was now charging her magic.
*Well, if it doesn't work, we just have to convince her.* Will said through gritted teeth, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Zafyra looked worried at Will. There was a barrier around them that prevented the Heart from sensing Will. If they could break it… Then the Heart would know the truth.
*Good luck.* Zafyra said, getting a nod from Will.
Zafyra reached for the Heart's shoulder, who was too stunned and perhaps too angry to react. The moment Zafyra touched the shoulder, Will released her magic. It collided with the barrier and Zafyra felt how a sudden charge left her, but it never reached the Heart. It disappeared the moment it had left her, never touching the Heart.
The Heart's eyes widened in surprise and suspicion, before pulling back, her back against the wall.
"What do you want, Zafyra?" She snarled, visibly angry. "Are you here to torment them? To torment me?"
*Damn it! It didn't work!* Zafyra cursed before turning to Will.
Will lay knocked out on the ground and Zafyra gently helped her to sit up. She sighed and concentrated back on the outside world.
"Believe it or not, but that's not why I'm here." She said, seeing sparks arising around the Heart.
"And I have to believe that because?" The Heart replied, more sparks flying around.
Zafyra raised her hands as a sign of surrendering, but the Heart stayed offensive. Telling her she was Will…And that Will was inside her, wouldn't work now. She was way too hyped up to listen. But perhaps if she could get the sympathy of the Heart…
"Because I know where the Keeper is." She said quickly, which caused the Heart to blink surprised before levelling a glare at her.
"What do you mean?" She growled. "The Keeper wasn't at Mt. Thanos or Zamballa. Meridian was also void of her presence."
Zafyra smiled, though it wasn't meant to taunt the Heart. If she'd known how many times she and Will had been at an arm's length.
"I've blocked her magical signature." Zafyra said, partially telling the truth, seeing it was a barrier made by Nerissa to do just that.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Zafyra looked at the Heart, carefully watching for any sign of an attack. But now she seemed to shiver. Shiver in either fear or anger, which one Zafyra didn't know and seeing that she still didn't feel any hate, it couldn't be that terrible.
"I'll free your Keeper, if you will help me." Zafyra said, gaining an icy glare.
The Heart turned red. Zafyra felt the hatred flow from her but did not try to absorb it. She had to prove to the Heart that she was speaking the truth. Unfortunately, the Heart didn't seem so eager to speak with her.
"How dare you!" She bellowed. "My Keeper is not an object you can freely trade! Don't think I'm falling for your miserable tricks!"
With that she stormed out of the toilet, leaving Zafyra alone. Zafyra cursed loudly and looked into the mirror, while returning to her mindscape.
*What happened?* Will asked.
*The Heart likes you a lot.* Zafyra muttered annoyed. *She pretty much walked out before I could even ask her to help me.*
Will raised an eyebrow.
*What did you say?*
*Just that I knew where you are and that I would return you if she would help me.* Zafyra replied with a shrug.
*Would you listen if someone asked you that?* Will replied, clearly annoyed.
Zafyra remained silent, causing Will to sigh in annoyance. She went with her hands through her hair and turned around.
*And then you say I'm rash!* She muttered annoyed.
*You would have done the same thing!* Zafyra argued. *She was sparking!*
Will sighed again and turned around. She was biting her lip and her eyes were set on something invisible and Zafyra recognized it as her thinking look. She just couldn't believe she looked so childish doing it.
Will's eyes lit up and a she nodded. Zafyra raised an eyebrow and Will just shrugged.
*For now, let's follow them. And let me do the talking next time.* Will said with a sigh.
*Fine.* Zafyra said with a huff.
Zafyra sighed darkly and checked the mirror. She still looked like Will and decided she could better avoid to any strange gossips and suspicions and glamoured into the same girl she was glamoured as yesterday. She nodded at herself, pleased with her glamour and stepped out of the toilet, only to be caught by the Guardians. All of them had a dark glare on their faces and they made sure she couldn't retreat back to the toilet.
"I think we need to have a talk, Zafyra." Taranee muttered, flames flaring up in her eyes.
"About proper ways of conduct within enemy territory." Cornelia added, cracking her fists.
Zafyra had to admit that she was impressed by the sense of loyalty the girls had and she started to feel slightly intimidated, even if she knew she was safe as long as someone was in school. She glanced over the heads of the girls, hoping to find a way out and grinned at them when her prince came.
"Will! Taranee! Lisa!"
The group turned around and found Matt and Nigel approaching them. Nigel gave Taranee a hug and a kiss on her lips, causing her to smile before throwing one heck of a dark look at Matt when he teasingly placed a kiss on the lips of the Heart. She could see how Zafyra raised an eyebrow but then grinned at Matt and Nigel.
"Nigel, this is Lisa." Matt introduced, pointing at Zafyra. "She's my friend from kindergarten who moved years ago."
Zafyra nodded with a grin, shaking Nigel's hand. Taranee was already preparing to burn Zafyra's fingers off, but the two let go and the Heart placed a hand on her shoulder, calming her a bit. The two shared a dark glance but hid it when Nigel took Taranee's hand.
"Wanna come hear us practice for the battle in two days?" He asked, causing Taranee to blush. "Will and Lisa are invited as well."
"I...I don't know..." Taranee stammered, glancing at the Heart for guidance.
The Heart seemed to think of it, but any option was thrown out of the window when Lisa hang her arms around Matt and 'Will', grinning fondly.
"Why thank you...uhm...?"
"Nigel."
"Thanks Nige, I think I'll come." Lisa said with a grin.
Both 'Will' and Taranee gave her a stare of death, while she looked challengingly at them.
"We'll come too." 'Will' said, pushing Lisa's arm off of her.
"We'll join in as well!" Irma said, getting nods from Cornelia and Hay Lin.
"Wow!" Nigel said, leaving Taranee's side and standing before Irma. "I'm sorry girls, but it won't be a surprise if the whole school comes along. Besides, Irma, you're one of the judges."
"But..." Hay Lin interjected.
"Don't worry Hay Lin." 'Will' said a bit darkly. "We'll be fine. See you tomorrow."
"Ta-ta." Matt said, waving at the three remaining girls, who glared death and murder at him.
As the group walked away, with 'Will' and Taranee glaring discreetly at Matt and Lisa, Cornelia turned alarmed to Irma and Hay Lin. The two, who had been glaring at the backs of Lisa and Matt, looked surprised at their friend.
"Something wrong?" Irma asked cautiously. "Aside from what just happened."
Cornelia looked back and bit her lip. This got Irma frowning. Cornelia Hale did not bite her lip.
"That girl Zafyra is glamouring as." Cornelia said slowly. "I know it's not the appearance of a student from our school."
"So?" Hay Lin asked, not exactly getting what Cornelia was implying.
"That would be stupid of her to do so, cause if someone recognized her it would be game over." Irma replied rationally.
Cornelia shook her head, paling as she now remembered clearly.
"I've seen her before." She urged. "She was standing behind us the day we were attacked by the Knights and Nerissa."
"The day Zafyra appeared way later than the rest?" Irma said, paling as well.
"The day you said where Kadma is hiding out?" Hay Lin stuttered.
Cornelia nodded and looked concerned at the other two. It was true she hadn't noticed anything different about Kadma, but that didn't take away she was different.
"I need to go."
[A/N] End of part 1. Wow, did I just see 4/5 of G.E.N.I.E.? Yeah, I think I did. Now you may wonder why the hell I did that, or why Natasha isn't with them. Well... I'm thinking of even continuing to a third season with this and I need them for it. But other than that, you will find out.
Review and on to part 2!