Fly With Me

"My heart skipped a beat, for it was Eric under the mask the whole time. He was the one who was fighting Phobos, he was the one protecting me and the other guardians, and he was the one who truly thought he could save the world."

Hay Lin, Guardian of the Air, has always known to keep love separate from work. That always meant family and her boyfriend. But when Eric finds himself in something much bigger than the both of them, can he take it anymore?

Rated T for language, crude violence, angst, sexual innuendos and some sensuality.

I don't own WITCH or any other characters…just the ones I created.

Doesn't Mean Anything

Heatherfield.

A normal city where normal people live. Although what normal people don't know…is that it is also a city of magic. It is true that people don't know about magic, sadly, for they will never know the joy and the rush it gives one when in the middle of it. Magic is inconceivable and no one can truly understand its nature, but it is also something immaculate. It is within all of us, whether we know it or not, and it has no limits or bounds. Magic is something amazing…

But alas, magic also consists of evil and destruction. For some, magic is the only option on their minds. It can selfishly consume their hearts and destroy them, till there is nothing but hatred. But that is why there are also good hearts in this world, filled with bliss and delight that stop this evil from conquering. They know what's right and wrong and protect innocent lives from this magic. For them, they protect this world, as well as many others.

So Heatherfield, ever so small compared to the vast universe, is a city of magic nonetheless.

On this rainy autumn evening in Heatherfield, a new adventure starts for our young guardians. It has been a year since Nerissa's defeat, and since that year nothing has been the same. Phobos has escaped…

The rain poured down heavily on the empty streets, as a single body walks down the lonely sidewalk. With an umbrella in one hand and her other hand tightly wrapped up inside her warm pocket, her feet slapped against the few puddles. A few cars pass by her quickly, waiting impatiently to get home to their families and warm houses. She breathed out deeply, seeing her breath in the cold air

Hay Lin couldn't wait to get home herself, still in thought of the festivities that happened earlier.

Hay Lin always loved parties in Meridian, but this one was just too long for her taste, even for her. Plus, her mother would rip her to shreds if she were out passed her curfew for the fifth time. As much as she would love to stay and dance with smelly Blunk, Earth was not going to stop spinning and she knew she had to get home.

Luckily, before she left, she could sense the precipitation in the air and brought an umbrella. What wasn't lucky was when Will opened the portal for her; she ended up in front of Will's apartment building, totally across town from the Silver Dragon. Guess dancing with Matt was on her mind more than anything else.

Nerissa's defeat had been a year ago, but until that time Phobos had escaped, and knowing that he was still out there on the prowl was unsettling. Since then, everyone's fear has been up on the radar. Phobos's powers have been growing exponentially, and no one could explain why…not even Elyon.

So the party was unexpected. It was Will's birthday, and even after all the recent events that had been happening, she thoroughly explained she didn't want one. However, for Elyon, Phobos wasn't grand enough to scare her, and insisted that Will had her birthday on Meridian. Hay Lin chuckled as she remembered Cornelia's face when Elyon never threw her a party for her birthday on Meridian. However, it probably only was because the recent events put a sad memory to everyone. They gained a member…and simply lost him in a blink of an eye.

Hay Lin couldn't stop thinking of their battle a week ago. They lost a good member. Well she couldn't say member, because he wasn't. A mysterious man had joined their group when Phobos abruptly escaped from his prison, along with Cedric, Miranda, and a large group of Lurdens. How he got out, no one could explain, but he did and that's all that mattered at the moment.

He said he could help the guardians with anything they needed...and eventually took him in as a friend. Trust just radiated off of him like waves, she remembered when she first met him a year ago, and she felt she knew him from somewhere before.

He lived in Meridian, and whenever the guardians needed help, he would be there. His graceful acrobatic moves and gestures were amazing to watch from the side. They called him the Warrior of the Stars. The stars were always on his side and he had the power to control them with a necklace he kept around his neck. He was always a pleasure to work with, even if he wore a hood over his head and couldn't see his true face. Yes, he also had an identity to keep secret, but that didn't stop the guardians from trusting him. But even with his hood, you could tell by his voice that he was a man in his early thirties.

His outfit was just as mysterious as him; black clothing, along with a blue cape and hood that covered the whole length of his body, showing no skin at all. The blue-jeweled necklace finished off the outfit nicely with a firm silver chain. He was a good person, and Hay Lin didn't know why, but she always thought she knew him from somewhere. He said to call him Albin…a name no one knew by in the village. Needless to say…he was a masked super hero…a secret identity kind of guy…

Hay Lin remembered the day he died perfectly and will never forget it…

Queen Elyon was going to make him an official Meridian knight. He was excited; you could hear it in his voice.

"I've always wanted to become a knight, even when I was a little boy," he said with a deep voice. Then he chuckled, "That sure was a long time ago."

"When? The 1950's?" Irma joked, winking at the tall man.

"I'm not that old Irma," he laughed.

"Still Albin, you finally get to be knights like Caleb and Matt," said Taranee, the guardians taking a look at the boys who were not really paying attention. Practically all of Meridian was invited…which added some envy to the boys. Matt was pretty cool with Albin, but Caleb couldn't help but be a little jealous, especially when your girlfriend sometimes flirts. But it wasn't their fault that people loved the Warrior of the Stars. And the guardians appreciated any help they could get. Will elbowed Matt's side as he grunted.

"Ugh! Oh um hey Albin, um great job, you really deserve this man," Matt said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. Cornelia also gave Caleb a look.

"Yeah…good job," Caleb said forcefully. Albin could sense the kids' disapproval. Cornelia usually was the one to occasionally flirt with the masked man, causing Caleb's jealousy to burn.

"Mathew and Caleb…I know you guys have been around for a long time now, and trust me…the rebel leader and 'Shagon' will always be on the top of the list…" Albin assured them. Matt couldn't help but smile as Caleb smirked.

"Then that means the Warrior of the Stars can go to the third spot on the list," smiled Elyon from behind.

"My queen," bowed Albin.

"Stand," Elyon raised her hand and smiled. "It is time for you to be knighted." A few moments later he became a knight, but the party couldn't last as long as he hoped. The windows crashed opened, as a surprise attack on Meridian had been unfolded by Phobos and his right hand man Cedric. Albin looked up and saw the stars, not knowing that would be the last time he ever saw them. Yes the necklace gave him agility, power, strength, the ability for a normal being not to have, but the stars gave the necklace power in the first place. So seeing the stars in the sky…made him smile, knowing that they were always on his side.

So this is where it comes to an end. After what seemed to be hours of pain, sweat, and exhaustion, the guardians found themselves trapped by Phobos. With poor Elyon unconscious and nothing that could stop Phobos from destroying the girls, someone had to react and quick. Phobos fired his deadly attack, only to see a sheer white shield go up in front of them. Phobos looked down to see Albin standing in front to protect the girls, flaring his shield with all his might. Phobos smiled evilly and directed all he had to Albin. Sure enough, his shield broke and Phobos's deadly ray of power struck him. He collapsed on the floor lifeless.

"Finally! The Pendant of Star can be mine!" Phobos reached for the dying mans neck, only Hay Lin found it in her to blast him with the strength of the air into a solid brick building. After tying Cedric into a knot, Matt flew down swiftly realizing what had just happened. He gasped at Albin's body.

"We need to move him before Phobos-," Matt was cut off by Phobos's screeching scream.

"You'll pay for that Air Guardian!"

"I don't think so!" Elyon screamed back, obviously awake now, hitting Phobos with one of her more powerful attacks. He fell back once more. Seeing Cedric defeated, as well as his other minions, he retreated. This obviously wasn't the end, because Cedric and his minions, the ones that weren't dead, vanished into thin air.

Everyone was now gathered around Albin, who was fading fast…literally. His body was slowly disappearing into thin air. Hay Lin was holding his hand before it could it could vanish forever. Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Taranee were crying. Cornelia was holding onto Caleb, as Will didn't let go of Matt.

"I couldn't let the guardians be destroyed. If that happened, Phobos would surely succeed," Albin whispered gently. "At least I got to be a knight." When he said this, Elyon began to cry as well.

"You can't go, you've been so much help to us…" cried Hay Lin.

"The stars are taking me now…but hear this…I may be gone…but my legacy won't die…there will be another," he stopped talking then. He was gone. Irma curiously tried to pull off his hood, but her fingers phased right through. Then he disappeared…the powerful necklace that came with it disappeared with his body as well.

So as the thunder made itself aware, Hay Lin continued to walk. She wasn't in a party mood after that incident. People tried not to think of Albin at Will's birthday, but it obviously couldn't be helped. In the end, it was a celebration that couldn't go unseen to the Meridian people…to celebrate Albin's bravery as well. Still, she couldn't help but think of his words the second before he died: "My legacy won't die…there will be another…"

What on earth did that mean?

She pondered this till she finally got in front of the Silver Dragon. It was good to be home. As soon as she got to her room, she'd call Eric and then start on her homework. If she got to her room…

"Hay Lin! Did you walk all the way here in the rain?" her mother, Joan, protested. The restaurant was open, but who would want to go out to eat when it was raining cats and dogs? "You could have called me to pick you up."

"Oh mom, I didn't want you to drive all the way to Will's just to pick me up," sighed Hay Lin, taking a seat at one of the tables. Yes she was soaked, but she also made sure the cold wind didn't touch her skin.

"I thought you were at Cornelia's?" her mother's eyes narrowed. Hay Lin couldn't help but gulp. She could never get her stories straight when it came to guardian time. Plus she hated lying to her parents.

"Oh…well we were, but Will remembered that she had something to show us, so we went down to her place instead," she smiled huge to get the point across. "It's no big deal, really." She could tell her mother was speculating.

"Fine, but march upstairs and take a hot shower. I don't want you getting sick," she directed. Hay Lin did what she asked. A hot shower, indeed, sounded pretty good right now.

He looked out his window, watching the rain sweep by. Today had been a horrible…a really, really bad day. He sighed angrily and he took off his tie forcefully and threw it on the ground. Being alone in his parents' room gave him comfort and relaxation. But he could still hear all the guests downstairs laughing and talking.

Eric Lyndon was upset.

Eric had always been easy going, fun, enjoyable, and rarely got mad at one simple thing. But today, the day he wished had never come, had indeed came and he was not enjoying it. Of course, earlier had been worse, but hearing the guests downstairs have a good time just made him sick.

Eric's uncle, Alex, had just passed away recently…and his funeral was earlier today. As the afterward party was still going on, he couldn't help but slip away to another room to be alone. When Charles, Eric's father, had gotten a call that his brother had a sudden heart attack, his world crumbled. Eric's uncle had been like a second father to him. They would always hang out when his dad or his grandfather weren't there.

Why?

He was in shape, he was healthy, he was a good person…why did his heart suddenly fail on him?

Why?

And hearing those people, those so-called people that loved him, laugh and share moments together? His mom told him that that's what people do after funerals; they come together and talk about a wonderful life he had.

Life? He was young and had a girlfriend that he was about to propose to…you call that a life?

Why?

A knock on the door broke his thoughts away…

"Eric, please come down stairs and join everybody, you're being rude," his mother spoke softly. You could tell she was crying, because of her smeared eyeliner, but you could also tell that she had been laughing. Eric just didn't get…

"Louise, I think the lad wants to be alone for a moment," his grandfather put a hand on her shoulder. She nodded, getting the idea, and walked off. Eric looked at his grandfather with an appreciative look. "I know it's hard boy…he was my son as well."

"I just don't get it grandpa. He was so…good," Eric couldn't help but sound defeated. Zacharias paused before continuing.

"I know he was," Zacharias felt the lump in his throat. He had to be strong for his grandson...even if it was this painful to endure. "But things happen to good people for a reason. It might not make any sense now, but it will someday."

"Yeah...sure," Eric put it simply, his gaze lingering on the raindrops.

"Look son, I know this is hard, but how bout after your school you help me collect some Alexander's possessions. I found some stuff of his and I need help taking care of it," Zacharias suggested, putting his hand on Eric's shoulder.

"Sure grandpa, I'll help," he sighed, looking back out the window. Zacharias sighed and left him, shutting the door behind. Eric was left in silence, other than the obnoxious guests down below. It was then his phone in his pocket began to vibrate.

Hay Lin was calling.

His face frowned. He hadn't told her anything about this. He told her nothing and he felt bad for it. He didn't want her to worry, and knowing her, that's exactly what she'd do. He couldn't bear to tell her. She would have been at the funeral right next to him, holding his hand and comforting him. Sounds pretty nice, right? So why didn't he do it? Why didn't he tell her? He let the phone go to his voicemail…he couldn't talk right now.

For the first time since his uncle died, he finally dropped to his knees and began to cry…

"Hay Lin! This is you friend speaking! Are you ready?" Irma yelled as if she was on a loud speaker.

"I'm right here, Irma!" Hay Lin ran out of her room, bouncing on one foot while putting on a shoe on the other.

"Oh sure…that's exactly why we've been waiting for ten minutes," Irma rolled her eyes once more.

"I think she gets it Irma," Taranee informed her, as the three exited the Silver Dragon and began to walk to school.

"Man Hay Lin! You should've stayed longer at Will's party! We taught the rebels how to do the limbo, and you should have seen the way they were doing it!" Irma and Taranee laughed, as Irma did one of the moves Caleb did. "And then Vathek couldn't even fit under it!" The girls laughed some more, while Hay Lin just smiled. She was glad that she was able to go home.

"Oh shoot! Don't we have a history test today?" Irma became fearful. Both girls rolled their eyes some more.

"Of course. You know how Collins likes to start the week off with a test," said Taranee.

"But you probably studied, I just kept thinking of the party all week long…" Irma made a long face, while Taranee smirked.

"Cheer up Irma, maybe it won't be that hard," smiled Hay Lin.

"Hay Lin, if I was as optimistic as you, I think my head would explode," uttered Irma, as they slowly entered the gates of Sheffield Institute.

"Irma, if you were as optimistic as Hay Lin, you would get an A on the test," laughed Taranee, as Irma pouted.

"Oh no, Irma's pouting. Someone call Andrew Hornby," smirked Cornelia, as she walked up to them.

"Careful Cornelia, I think your new shampoo is making your hair to heavy, even for that big head of yours," Irma teased back. Cornelia glared.

"Eight in the morning and already our friends are behaving," Will walked up, holding hands with Matt. "We have a lot to talk about at lunch. Elyon contacted me this morning. She just got some news on Phobos."

"Well let's just hope this day goes by fast…"sighed Irma, as all of them walked to their classes.

Lunch was always their favorite part of the day. Not only was it a time of no class, but it was also a time of W.I.T.C.H. talk and battle ideas.

"So Irma, did you fail the test?" Taranee asked, poking her mash potatoes.

"Of course, it's what I do best," she smirked.

"Ok, enough about Collins's test, we've got serious things to talk about," said Will, carefully avoiding the talk about Collins' test perfectly (she didn't know there was a test either).

"Ugh, of course we do…" commented Cornelia. Will ignored Cornelia and continued.

"While I was talking to Elyon this morning, she said from a reliable source that Phobos isn't resided on Meridian at all."

"That's why we haven't been able to track him," Hay Lin openly said.

"Exactly, Elyon told me that he's been hiding on Basiliade regaining his strength and keeping himself hidden."

"Makes sense, as long as you wear one of there funky ninja outfits, no one is gonna question you," chided Irma.

"Yes, but their people usually know what's going on. They have spies everywhere…don't you think they would've spotted Phobos? They know who he is," Will replied.

"Then he's obviously hiding somehow…" Matt was trying to think.

"He can't be there, there's just no way. Their people are warriors…no one can just hide in a cave and get away with it," Taranee spoke.

Meanwhile, Eric was getting his food in the lunch line. He turned around and saw her. Her hair was down today, just the way he liked it. He always knew she was unique, and that's what he loved so much about her. He suddenly felt bad about rejecting her phone call last night. He smiled as the thought of eating lunch with her filled his head. He was sure Nigel wouldn't mind at all. He bravely began to walk to their table. As he got closer to the table, he could tell that they were in an intense conversation.

"Still, Phobos can-," Cornelia stopped abruptly as soon as Eric was next to the table.

"Hey guys, what's up?" he put on a smile. The table remained silent. Their very important conversation had been interrupted. And the bad thing was Eric noticed. "Oh…am I interrupting something?"

Taranee began to talk to he girls telepathically. 'Ok, obviously it would be rude to just shoo him away.'

'Yeah but we were getting into the good stuff!' Irma said.

'Well we can't just leave him standing there!' Cornelia yelled.

'Hello! Girlfriend is right here! I'll just get up, go on a walk with him, and you guys can catch me up later…' Hay Lin said, as she was about to get up. The only thing that stopped her was Matt's voice.

"Oh of course not, sit down man," Matt smiled kindly, pulling up a seat for him. Irma's mouth flew open. It wasn't Matt's fault that he couldn't hear the girls' thoughts, but still! The guy still couldn't tell when they were having an important conversation in their minds? Ok, so it sounds insane, but this was Matt. Eric on the other hand, felt embarrassed. He felt he was intruding…this just wasn't his day.

The conversations after that were short and somewhat silent. He couldn't even talk to Hay Lin properly. He did always prefer to be alone with her instead of having a big group of friends around. But that's what you always got with Hay Lin; friends and family meant everything to her. If you wanted her, you got the whole package. So when the bell rang for the students to go to class, he couldn't have been more relieved.

A few more hours went by, and school was finally out. The observatory was far from the school, but he loved to walk. As he walked out of the school gates, Hay Lin and the group turned the opposite direction and walked to the Silver Dragon. Seriously, were they bonded together or something? Those chicks were inseparable. They literally did everything together. It hurt even more to see Matt there with them; why couldn't he be like him? He and the girls got along great, but whenever he was with them…it was just awkward.

That wasn't the only thing that bothered him. They were always so…secretive. Today for example, they totally stopped their conversation as soon as he walked up to their table…don't think he didn't notice. Eric was a very smart guy. What could they possibly be talking about, if they had to stop their conversation, for him to not hear it? What was so important? He just didn't get them sometimes. He wondered if Hay Lin kept so many secrets from him too.

He watched them until they turned the corner, then he began making his way toward the observatory, where his grandpa was waiting for him. That's right…he just remembered the reason why he had to go straight home in the first place. Sadness overcame him once again. He liked spending some time after school to talk to his friends, but no…his uncle's stuff was waiting for him to be packed away as if it never existed.

He sighed deeply as he entered the gates of the observatory. Why did he agree to this? The last thing he wanted to think about was his uncle right now. The funeral was all he wanted to endure…but now he had to pack some his possessions.

His grandpa, surprisingly, wasn't waiting for him when he got there. The first thing he did was go up to his room. It was strange living in an observatory. The main floor was for the public, while upstairs was like a house. Cornelia, in one of their very few conversations, once told him that he should have the biggest party in Heatherfield. Did she know how disastrous that would be? It wasn't a party house; it was an observatory for heaven's sakes.

He dropped his backpack and jumped on his bed. He smiled as he began to relax in his comfortable pillows.

"Well son, let's get to work!" Zacharias barged into Eric's room suddenly, causing him to jump.

"Grandpa! You could knock you know," Eric threw a pillow at his grandfather's face. He grumbled as he fixed his glasses properly.

"Eric my boy, we have lots to do, now lets go. I would also like it if I didn't have such padding thrown at my face lad!" Zacharias finished, walking out the door. Eric grunted, getting off his bed and walking downstairs, following his grandfather. He raised his brow when Zacharias was making his way down to the basement. His stuff wasn't down here, was it?

"Uh grandpa? Where are we going? This is the-."

"You'll see son," Zacharias stopped his grandson from speaking any further. Eric hadn't been this far down the observatory before. Sure he always knew the basement was deep enough to really creep someone out, but he never gone down far enough. He was lucky there were lights still lighting up the halls. Zacharias stopped and Eric almost bumped into him.

"Grandpa, I really don't think uncle Alex's stuff is down here," Eric sighed, getting freaked out by the dark halls and the low lighting. It was then Eric noticed his grandpa was staring at a wall. It was a plain wall, just as if the hallway ended. Eric was about to say more when his grandpa finally spoke. His body was still facing the wall.

"This is going to be a grave time in your life Eric…I never thought it would come to this."

"What did you forget a flashlight?"

"Eric lad…there's something I need to tell you…" Zacharias said solemnly, suddenly taking out a strange looking artifact out of his pocket…

Thanks for reading the first chapter…

So yes it is different and obviously would never happen in the actual show, but I really wish Eric was more part of the guardians' lives…And I know it was kind of weird having Eric have an uncle. I really don't know if he does or doesn't, but I created him anyway…the Lyndon family is going through some tough times right now.

Then I created Albin. Yeah totally fake too, but don't worry he'll come up later, he does have a purpose if you guys thought he was annoying or something. It will all be explained.

Oh and I don't know if you guys have seen their new transformations from Issue #76 to present, but they are WAY cooler. I won't use those transformations, just their regular ones, but I wish I could. You should check them out.

I'm sorry if I don't have all the information correct, but I will try my best. One thing is for sure though; some of this story will be like the show and some will be like the comics…but mostly the show. For example, Yan Lin…in Kandrakar, no weird twin and not working in the Silver Dragon, like the comics. If I missed anything, I'll let you in the next chapter.

R&R

Wtncgirl09