Q is for Quarry REWRITTEN

Part 1

Fire rained down on the only stone building in all of Zamballa. The reason for that? The Knights of Destruction were trying to weaken Queen Kadma, though with little success. Every attack Ember fired was easily parried by the Queen and so the others decided to help, as it had been Nerissa's order to make the fight as believing as possible. Shagon shot at Kadma, while Ember tried to fire another fireball at the Queen, though Shagon's attack completely missed, thanks to which Kadma had enough time to see and block Ember's attack. Khor tried a sneak attack but Kadma rose a wall to stop him and hide herself from long ranged attacks. Tridart flew up and shot his ice beams at the Queen, which seemed to work.

Zafyra shot at glance at Shagon, who didn't seem to be paying attention, and sighed annoyed. She then gestured the others to surround Kadma and they all prepared a new attack, only for Kadma to dodge it by teletransporting out of the ice. Roots reached for the Knights and bound them, making them wriggle in their place.

"Are you really the best Nerissa has to offer?" Kadma questioned as she came floating down on a big purple leaf. "We are told your powers are only fuelled by fear and negative emotions. Fighting us, you must be running on empty."

Zafyra looked up, seeing a cocky smile on Kadma's face. She tried to teletransport out of the roots, but found those powers were blocked. She growled inwardly and again looked at Shagon, who didn't even seem to notice that vines were strangling him. She was actually worried about him and it slightly annoyed her.

"You do seem to have too much fun for me to stomach." Zafyra muttered annoyed.

She focused on her powers and used her lightning on the vines, only to see that her attack was conducted to the ground.

"Shagon!" She snapped. "Snap out of it!"

Shagon seemed to return to Earth and looked bewildered around him. He used his eyebeams to cut himself loose from the vines. Just before the vines could reach for him again, he raised his hand, showing that he was wearing the Sorcerer's ring now.

"Nerissa! Save your knights!" He said.

As if she'd heard him, Nerissa teletransported behind Kadma. Kadma glanced back, knowing Nerissa was standing there. She smirked while returning her attention to the Knights.

"Are you finally ready to fight your own battles, old friend?" Kadma said smugly.

Nerissa merely glared at the former Earth Guardian.

"Not yet, Kadma." She said before raising the Heart of Meridian.

She teletransported the Knights away and quickly followed after them. Kadma merely floated in the air.

"But soon Nerissa." Kadma said smugly. "Soon..."

Stone quarry, Zamballa

The Knights arrived in the quarry, where Ember angrily threw a fireball at the ground.

"We were soundly defeated." She said. "Kadma must be very proud of herself."

Nerissa came walking and slowly retreated to the cave in the quarry.

"Then everything is going according to plan." She said with a smirk. "But now, rest. Kadma's ego is almost at the point I want her to."

The Knights nodded and watched how Nerissa retreated. Ember's eyes went to Shagon, who still seemed to be in a daze but the moment she saw Zafyra, she turned around and walked to Tridart. She'd learned her lesson and was now less prone to taunt the other Angel of malice.

Zafyra saw Ember walking away and grinned behind her mask. At least she'd learned her lesson. Her gaze went back to Shagon. He'd been out of it ever since the Guardians stopped their first plan. Her host had calmed down and told her that she and Matt had talked and Zafyra had the feeling that whatever her host and Matt had discussed, was what was troubling Shagon now.

"Shagon?" She asked, getting his attention.

Shagon looked at her and shook his head gently. He motioned for her to follow him and flew away. Zafyra felt a moment of annoyance before taking off after him, not bothering to answer to Tridart's or Ember's protests. They flew a bit away from the camp and hovered between the trees, hoping not to be spotted.

"What's wrong with you lately?" Zafyra asked annoyed. "You've been this strange ever since the Guardians intercepted our first plan!"

"Do you think Nerissa is using us?" Shagon said, interrupting Zafyra's rant.

Zafyra sighed. They'd discussed this a lot of times before. Though ever since the Guardians had foiled the mistress's first plan, Zafyra had started to doubt once again. Nerissa had shown a different side when the plan was foiled. A side Zafyra, and Zafyra alone, seemed to faintly remember. The manipulative side that turned her once against Will.
Next to the fact that her host had been speculating out loud what Nerissa was planning to do with the former Guardians. They were too old to fight the current generation. One of them was even dead. So why did Nerissa collect them?

"I don't know..." She finally uttered, now once more thinking about the arguments her host had been saying. "But we're human beings...In a way. So we're not using her life energy..."

Shagon chuckled a bit.

"Strange. I thought you would say that the only path would be the mistress's path, like last time." He said.

"Yeah, well times change." Zafyra snapped back, getting annoyed.

"Don't you think that... She will use our own life energy to make the old generation younger?" Shagon then said, hesitating with every word.

Zafyra growled softly, remembering how her host had started to blabber the same nonsense. But Nerissa wouldn't kill them, right? They were loyal to her. Not like Cassidy back in the day. She shook her head, random thoughts popping up or fading away. Her mind was a mess now and it didn't help with her host creating an even bigger one.

"I don't know, Shagon!" She said annoyed. "I'll just follow her until I find out otherwise! And I suggest you do the same."

With that she flew away, her thoughts going rampant.
Shagon watched as she went and sighed. For the first time he felt threatened by his own thoughts.

*I suggest following her advice.*

Shagon turned to look at his host, who had his arms crossed and a pensive look on his face.

*Your former suggestion was to ask her.* Shagon replied annoyed. * And that didn't help either.*

Matt shook his head.

*It did. The last time you asked her, she truly believed in Nerissa. But now she was doubting. You could hear it in her voice. Which means that she isn't so sure about her allegiance to Nerissa.*

Shagon grumbled, not intending to tell his host that he thought the same. He'd actually hoped his host would deny his thoughts, not affirm them. He sighed.

*Fine. I'll wait.* He said grumpily, getting a grin from Matt. *But don't think this will continue!*

Matt shrugged, walking away unharmed, without Shagon shooting at him.

*Well I think we're making progress.* He said. *See ya later bro.*

With that he vanished.

Tony Vandom's apartment building, pool, Heatherfield.

Water. One of the five elements that created her and one of her favourites. Here in the water she could come to rest, sort out her thoughts and think of a plan. A sad feeling filled her when she realized her Keeper felt the same about the element.

She made a powerful stroke and turned in the pool, losing count of the rows she made. Her thoughts kept drifting to her Keeper. What had Nerissa done to her? Where was she now? And why did she get such strange vibes from Zafyra?

Those thoughts had been spooking in the Heart's head for quite some time and even the water couldn't help her clear them out. Things weren't adding up. She knew Nerissa was hunting the previous generation, which meant that she was planning on using the life force of both her Keeper as her boyfriend to make the older generation young again. But Kadma was now on Zamballa and according to Caleb, Will was not on Mt. Thanos. And the Heart couldn't think of another place to imprison the Keeper, for hiding her on other planets would be strange and perhaps even stupid, for if the Keeper was freed, she may find yet another planet to create an alliance with against Nerissa.

The Heart took a breath and as she looked over the water, she saw the Keeper's father swimming as well. She then remembered he'd asked her for a race. She halted near the edge of the pool and grinned as Will's father slowly made it to the same edge.

"Will Vandom wins!" She yelled at him, knowing he'd expect something like that. "No contest. Only one question remains. Will the pool evaporate before Tony Vandom finishes the race?"

Will's father came to a halt next to her.

"Hey, I'm not that slow." He said with a grin.

"I know." The Heart answered, getting the same cocky feeling her Keeper would feel as well. "I am just sooo fast."

"Your times are incredible." Tony Vandom agreed. "You know, I haven't forgotten that my little girl dreamed of swimming in the Olympics."

The Heart looked down, again regretting that she was the one hearing the praise for something her Keeper should receive.

"Yeah..." She said, almost downhearted.

She then noticed the strange look Tony was giving her and quickly hit it with an awkward smile.

"Dream's still there." She said. "But right now, I'm just happy to spend some quality time alone with my dad."

'With my Keeper's dad.' She corrected herself in her mind, regretting she ever said yes to joining him in the pool.

Tony Vandom gave her now an awkward smile in return.

"Yeah, alone..." He said awkwardly. "Uhh.. See that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

'Will' heard footsteps and turned her head, looking straight at a darker skinned woman with long brown hair. The woman smiled gently at her, while 'Will' smiled in return before turning back to Tony.

"Dad, it's okay." She said slightly confused. "I know this isn't your own personal private pool."

"Hi." The unknown woman said, again gaining the attention of the two in the pool.

"Ah, you're a...You're early." Tony said, making 'Will' look confused at him.

"But we said..." The woman said, clearly a bit confused as well. "Never mind..I'll come back later."

"No no no no! Just..." Tony said as he helped himself out of the pool and stopping the woman.

"Uhm.. What's going on?" 'Will' asked confused, looking at her, Will's, father.

"Uhm.. I guess that I...Lost track of time." Tony said, reaching the woman and smiling at her. "But I..I.. Will, this is Serena Sanchez. She's my friend... Uh, girlfriend. Fiancé. We're getting married."

No. No, no, no, no, no! She could not cope with this. Not now her Keeper, the one who should actually worry about this, was not even here! How could this man spring a fiancé on her while she was worrying about her Keeper like this! For just a second the idea sprang to mind that this Serena could also be Nerissa, but with a quick energy check did she find out that Serena was just an ordinary human.

Her face must have shown a shocked expression, because Tony looked rather uncomfortable. Serena seemed willingly to try and recover some of the damage Tony did and the Heart actually felt troubled. Should she be happy for Will's father or not? She didn't really feel like smiling. Crying was more near the surface now.

"Hi Will." Serena said friendly. "I've really been looking forward to meeting the other woman in Tony's life."

'Will' did smile at Serena, hopefully looking happy, but on the inside she was a mess. She needed to get out. To get away. Just away. She took a dive and swam to the other side of the pool, getting out as quickly as possible.

"Will... I didn't mean to blindside you, really." She heard Tony say.

'Will' gritted her teeth, trying to stay in control of her emotions. All of them. She dried herself with the towel, while trying to formulate sentences.

"No... It's just..." She muttered. "I-I have to get going. I'm sorry."

She took the bag and glanced at the crystal, at herself, for mere moments, hoping to get the same tranquillity she so often gave to her Keeper.

"O-Okay." Tony said, walking over to 'Will' and making her stop for a moment.

'Will' looked up, trying to keep the tears from her eyes.

"But we all get together soon, right?" He said.

The Heart felt another jab of pain when he said that. He meant her Keeper and the two of them, not her. Her Keeper was missing her life and she was faking it. She was failing. It was true the Keeper had to protect the Heart, but the Heart should do the same for her Keeper.

"Sure dad." She said though she looked away. "And it was nice to meet you to..uhm.."

The name of the woman had escaped her mind, because the only name which kept repeating itself in her head was 'Nerissa'. Because Nerissa had taken her Keeper away. Because it was her fault Nerissa became that way. All because she longed for some contact. And because of her own trivial need, she didn't only bring one generation of Guardians in danger by accidentally making Nerissa crazy and killing Cassidy, but also bring her new Keeper, who had been trying to contact her for so long, in great danger.

"Serena." Tony said, snapping the Heart out of her train of thoughts.

"Serena." 'Will' repeated. "Right."

She saw how her crystallized form shone for a brief moment, helping her remember that she was only a crystal, nothing more. But she was not the only one who'd noticed.

"Oh Will, what a lovely necklace." She praised. "Is it a family heirloom?"

A sudden shock filled her, but she then realized that Serena was merely interested as anyone else would be. A small grin spread on her face.

"You could...Say that yeah." She said, knowing that the Guardians were a family on their own.

Yeah, a family which she managed to break apart. Twice. New regret filled her and she looked away, trying to keep her tears down.

"Will?" Tony asked concerned.

"I need to go now." 'Will' said. "Hay Lin asked me to help her with some homework. Bye!"

She didn't even look back and dashed away, her tears now freely flowing down her cheeks.

Silver Dragon, Heatherfield

Hay Lin had seen the face of the Heart and had let her in. Cornelia was already in the basement, but Irma and Taranee were late. When she'd seen the tear-streaked face, she had asked the Heart what had happened, but the Heart only shook her head and asked drearily if she could get some water. With a heavy heart Hay Lin gave her the water. After which the Heart had asked her to go and fetch Taranee and Irma. Hay Lin wanted to protest, saying that they could also be contacted telepathically, but the Heart's begging eyes had convinced her to go. Perhaps the Heart wanted to have a talk with Cornelia.

The Heart watched as Hay Lin left before walking into the basement. Perhaps it was strange for her to ask advice of the only person who never believed in her or in magic, but she was also the only one with experience about this, so the Heart hoped Cornelia could help. As she entered the basement she heard the annoyed sigh of the Earth Guardian.

"Hay Lin, that took you some...time...?"

'Will' looked at Cornelia, who looked surprised at her. This was the first time Cornelia had seen Will's face like this, tear-streaked and broken. It was a strange sight to see, because Will normally looked serious or humorous, but never broken. She didn't show that emotion. And Cornelia couldn't believe she'd actually thought that Will didn't have that emotion. It took her a couple of seconds to remember that she was looking at the embodiment of the Heart, which made it only feel more surreal. The Heart had shown emotions like anger, but she'd always said that those would have been Will's own feelings. So why was she crying now? Had something happened?

"Heart?" Cornelia asked with a quivering voice, not sure what to say.

The Heart gave her a quivering smile and went to sit on a stool, a cup of water firmly clenched in between her hands.

"What happened?" Cornelia asked, knowing that there was a reason for the Heart to act like this.

The Heart shrugged.

"It's nothing really." She said, her voice sounding so surreal. It was high-pitched yet and did not sound like Will's at all. "I only found out that my Keeper's father is engaged."

Cornelia gasped in surprise, seeing that she hadn't known about it and she knew that it would have been a real shock for the real Will. She looked at 'Will', who kept glancing at her cup of water. Suddenly tears dripped into the cup and Cornelia looked right into the eyes of a lost girl, not into those of an all knowing being like before.

"Hea-"

"Is this how you felt?" The Heart suddenly asked, confusing Cornelia.

"What do you..."

"When Elyon was kidnapped." The Heart continued. "Did you feel this helpless? Did you often wonder that it should have been her who'd experienced it instead of you?"

Cornelia then realized that the Heart was breaking. It was truly missing Will, perhaps even more than she or the other girls did. It was strange to see a crystal missing somebody, but then again. Cornelia had seen it act like a real human being and she no longer thought of the Heart as just a piece of jewellery with some nice tricks. More like a soul, who know felt terribly lost.

"Heart...I ..." Cornelia said concerned, wondering if she should hug her or not.

The Heart clasped her head with one hand and more tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I don't know it anymore." She sobbed. "I'm lost. This is the first time my Keeper disappears for so long. I'm scared that I killed her for just choosing her to be my Keeper! I can't seem to do anything right! I'm more of a harbinger of doom than a crystal of bala..."

Cornelia couldn't take it anymore. She didn't care if she would literally hug a crystal. This girl needed support and she would help her, not caring that she was no actual person. She took the Heart into a hug, making her spill the water from her cup. Cornelia could feel how the tears were wetting her light blue sweater.

"Calm down." She whispered soothingly. "I know how you feel. This is the second time for me."

The Heart cried in her, accepting the support Cornelia gave her. Cornelia felt tears coming up as well. If the Heart was starting to lose hope, then how could she keep it? She remembered when Elyon had been kidnapped. She'd been in a major fight with Will, who in the end apologized and asked her to return. And whenever she felt hopeless, Will would give her an encouraging smile, telling her things would end well.

"Do you know how I got over it?" She asked gently, smiling as she remembered Will's determined face.

The Heart shook her head. Cornelia grabbed the shoulders of the girl and looked right into her eyes. She could see that the Heart truly hoped that she could soothe the pain and the uneasiness.

"Will told me that everything would be alright." Cornelia said, though more tears came in the eyes of the Heart.

"But she's not here!" The Heart bellowed, semi angrily.

Cornelia shook her head.

"That's true, Will's not here at the moment." She said, sounding sad as well. "But do you know why I, or any of the other girls haven't broken down yet?"

"Because I give you the false security." The Heart muttered, angered with herself. "Because when you see me, you think you see my Keeper."

"Yes, but not because of your appearance." Cornelia admitted. "But because we can feel her."

The Heart looked quite shocked at Cornelia. She'd always thought that only the Keeper could feel the bond between the Guardians. Not that the others could feel it as well.

"Will told us that she could feel us and that was what made her strong during battles." Cornelia explained. "And now that I think about it, I never felt alone, even if I was sent out. Because I knew Will and the others were always near."

The tears had stopped and Cornelia had thought the Heart would feel better when new tears fell down. Had she made it worse?

"Thank you." The Heart whispered. "I'd forgotten the bond."

Cornelia took her again into a hug.

"Don't worry." She said to the Heart as well as herself. "I'm sure Will's safe. She's too stubborn to die without us."

The Heart let a choked out laugh and the two separated again. The Heart wiped her tears away and took the cup from the ground. The two sat down again and looked at each other. Cornelia gave her an encouraging smile, to which the Heart responded with a similar one. They sat like that in silence and waited for Hay Lin to return with Taranee and Irma.

Stone quarry, Zamballa

Will's heart had been aching a lot and even tears had formed in her eyes, yet she couldn't understand why. She'd been hiding from Zafyra, not wanting to get taunted because of it, and had been wondering why she felt so hopeless, so powerless. But there was also a fear inside her. A fear she could not understand.

*What's wrong with you?*

Will got up and wiped her tears hastily away. She then turned to Zafyra but she noticed something strange. A few water drips fell down Zafyra's chin and Will looked incredulous at her. There was no facial expression, but Will had the feeling she could see the same strange feelings in Zafyra's eyes.

*What's wrong with you?* Will countered, but Zafyra merely shrugged.

*Nothing.* She replied. *I was just preparing to continue with Nerissa's plan..*

*To get us killed.* Will finished annoyed.

*How'd you know?* Zafyra snapped back, equally annoyed. *You always yap about that.*

*You know it's true!* Will countered. *Nerissa has killed Cassidy and even went that far to break a taboo and get Cassidy's soul back to this plane! And you've seen her after the Guardians foiled her first plan. She set the forest on fire!*

*So?*

*That forest is the same as a gigantic city. And the talking trees are its inhabitants. She was planning to commit a genocide for the Heart of Zamballa!* Will said angrily. *Why would she keep us alive?*

*To use us as a battery.* Zafyra muttered shocked, though it was too soft for Will to hear.

*What?* She asked.

*Keep it down squirt!* Zafyra snapped back, feeling once again terribly confused.

Who could she trust? Why did she even bother to converse with her host? Why was she doubting?

"Zafyra, the mistress wants to explain the plan again."

Zafyra looked at Shagon, who was waving his hand in front of her eyes. She stopped him and sighed irritated.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming." She told him.

"Got you at a wrong moment?" He asked her.

Zafyra merely shook her head and walked towards the cave. Shagon sighed deeply annoyed, wondering why women were this difficult.

Silver Dragon basement, Heatherfield.

Taranee, Irma and Hay Lin had entered to find Cornelia and the Heart sitting calmly in silence. They noticed the wet spot on Cornelia's sweater, but she told them that the Heart had tripped and accidentally spilled the water over her sweater. As Irma helped Cornelia from the wet spot and Hay Lin sighed in relief, for she'd told both Taranee and Irma that she'd thought something bad was going on with the Heart because of how she looked before she left, Taranee stayed suspicious. The Heart noticed it but gave her a small shake of the head, telling her she could ask her question later.

"Heart, how come you looked so sombre when you arrived?" Hay Lin asked, getting the attention of the rest.

'Will' shrugged and smiled a bit.

"My Keeper's father got engaged and I had to act my way out of it." She lied, though there was an evident reaction on the faces of the Guardians.

"He got engaged?" Taranee gasped. "Will's gonna freak!"

"Wow! Nightmare thought here!" Irma said with a gasp. "Caleb said his dad got tricked into falling for Nerissa. What if Will's dad..."

"Do not even continue." The Heart said, interrupting Irma's doomsday prediction. "I already checked. There is no magical presence around Serena."

"Remember when Will had convinced us that Collins was some beast of Phobos?" Hay Lin said with a giggle.

"We nearly W.I.T.C.H.'ed the guy into a hospital." Cornelia said as she shook her head.

The rest sighed, all knowing very well that Will wasn't there with them. The Heart scanned their faces. Even though they all looked sad, they also looked reassured. Did they really have such trust in their leader? A smile graced her face. Perhaps she'd finally chosen a great Guardian team.

Though her attention had gone once again to the Fire Guardian. She saw a suspicious look on her face and wondered what she was thinking. She could simply go and read the Guardian's mind, but ever since she had gone posing for her Keeper, she'd learnt that peeking into the minds of others was not exactly tolerated. Perhaps she would find out later on.

"By the way Irma, Serena couldn't be Nerissa." Hay Lin said, gaining the attention of all but Taranee. "We know she's on Zamballa now, hunting former Guardians like Queen Kadma and grandma... Right Heart?"

"Right." 'Will' confirmed. "And it's better if we fold there now. And next time, be on time."

The last sentence was directed to Taranee and Irma, who gave her an awkward smile in return. 'Will' took the crystal out and raised it.

"Guardians unite!"

After the transformation 'Will' immediately folded to Zamballa, where Caleb, Blunk, Yan Lin, Ironwood and Queen Kadma welcomed them. Cornelia immediately ran at Caleb as Hay Lin hurried to her grandmother.

"You okay here grandma?" She asked concerned.

Yan Lin smiled fondly at her granddaughter.

"Kadma is a wonderful hostess," She said with a smile. "but she can't cook worth beans. She can't even cook beans."

The last part was whispered, getting a snigger from her granddaughter. The Heart went to Kadma to get the latest news.

"Any news on Nerissa?" She asked.

"Her knaves attacked but they were no match for us." Kadma answered, though it was clear she saw no authority in the Heart.

In fact, the Heart even wondered if Kadma actually believed she was the embodiment of the Heart. But then again, Kadma had always been stubborn in what she believed. Even more so than the current Earth Guardian was.

"Still Nerissa won't rest until she has captured and corrupted Yan Lin and our self." Kadma continued, before turning to the other Guardians as well. "We must turn the tables and make Nerissa the Quarry."

"Spring our own trap! I like that." Irma said with a grin. "Cause all this being hunted by evil minions is getting old."

The Heart nodded as well, agreeing that perhaps it was time to hunt Nerissa down and find her Keeper.

"Will has the Heart of Kandrakar." Kadma said, clearly telling the rest that she had a hard time believing them. "We have the Heart of Zamballa."

"Which means we've got two Hearts." Taranee said with a nod. "Which means we've got the advantage."

"We can free Elyon if we do this right." Cornelia said with a glimmer in her eyes. "And get that old hag to tell us where Will is."

"And Matt." Hay Lin added.

"We're in." The rest chorused, all holding hope in their eyes.

Ironwood placed her hand around Yan Lin, surprising Hay Lin in the act and looking defensive at the big tree.

"My arboreal warriors will protect Yan Lin while you search." Ironwood said calmly.

"And you don't mess with the foliage around here." Irma added, persuading Hay Lin to come with them instead of guarding her grandmother.

"Okay... Then I'm in too." She said, though still hesitating.

"Blunk in too...Arrgh!"

Before Blunk could actually get the attention, he was pulled away by Taranee, who took him apart.

"Actually Blunk, I've got a special job for you." She whispered to him. "I need you to spy on the fiancé of Will's father. I don't trust her. The chance is just too high."

Blunk nodded and saluted before running to the Heart.

"Uh...Leader lady. Can Blunk go to Earth? Blunk want treasures." He asked, getting a gentle smile from the Heart.

She nodded and opened a fold for him, leading right into the dumpster across the Silver Dragon. Blunk jumped into it and managed to fish out an old coat and detective hat.

"Blunk P.U. ... Uh. P.I. Always get his man... Uh... Woman." He said as he placed the hat on his head. "And look good doing it too."

[A/N] End of part 1. So...Never thought this would happen, huh? I actually never gave you even a glimmer of the Heart being afraid she would lose her Keeper forever, or that the Heart apparently has something to do with Nerissa going crazy. Will we get more answers? Perhaps we will. Also, Zafyra seems to be doubting again. But why did she have a reaction to the Heart, just like Will? Something strange is going on here. That's for sure.
On to part 2!