Cough. Cough. Hack. Cough. The shadow boy coughed and shivered uncontrollably on a rock bench in the gloom cave.

"I cannot believe you disobeyed me like that, son! I told you to spy on them, not fight them!" The boy hung his head. The man with the silver hair kept speaking. "But, I will give you another chance. We need the Heart of Candracar. Capture their leader, and take the Heart from her!" The boy grinned mischievously and teleported to Earth.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bring!The school day was over for Hannah, Ella, Ami, Rose, and Tammi.

"Ooh! Did you see Drake?" Ella cooed. All the other girls sighed. "He is SO cool!" Ella was SUCH a boy addict! She liked every

They had decided on daily trips to the river to practice their powers. So off they went, running through meadows and paths. Finally, they could see the river, with clear, sparkling water.

"Guardians, UNITE!" Hannah yelled. Swirls of magic swept the five girls off their feet, and into their own globes of essence.

"Water!"

"Fire!"

"Earth!"

"Air!"

"Quintessence!"

HEART stood in a disorganized way, bunched up together and all, and started to combine their powers. Hannah, Ami, and Tammi clasped their hands together and formed a circle. Rose made a plant shaped like a person, like shadow boy. Hannah, Ami, and Tammi flew in circles, faster and faster, until they formed a single, glittering ring. And from that ring, a tremendous power emerged, blowing the plant into smithereens. Shadow boy, who was hiding behind a brick pillar, shuddered at the sight of such power.

"Well, hello ladies," he sneered. The girls gasped as Shadow boy leaped out from behind the pillar. "Hand over the Heart NOW! Or, would you like me to FORCE it from you?" He conjured up a bubble prison, and launched it straight at Hannah, cackling. Tammi knocked Hannah out of the way, and redirected the bubble at the shadow boy with a gust of air. "Ahh!" he screamed, as the bubble encased him. Ami thought for a moment. Then, she sent a heat wave to the bubble, heating up the inside. The boy pulled back his hood, and the girls gasped. Then, he disappeared with a zing!

"I-I-I-I can't believe it!" Rose screamed. "I won't believe it! I-I-I-It just can't be him! It can't be!" Rose recognized the boy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HEART sat around a table in the Silver Dragon's kitchen, talking about their latest battle. Rose still could not believe the true identity of shadow boy.

"Look, Rose, we all saw who he was, and, well, we can't believe it, either, but we have to!" Ella told Rose. The other three looked at her annoyed. "What?" Then, they sighed.

"Look," Hannah said. "It doesn't matter who the heck he is. If he messes with one of us, he messes with all of us, and if he messes with all of us, he's gonna pay." Rose frowned.

"I won't believe what I saw. It was probably an illusion. And if being a Guardian means destroying innocent people, I QUIT." Rose stomped off, throwing the doors open, and storming home. The other girls gaped. It brought Hay Lin memories of W.I.T.C.H., and when Cornelia stated that she was quitting. They quickly patched things up: but during an attack from Meridian mudslugs!

"Guys, how do we get her back?" Ella asked. Hay Lin sighed. She would have to explain.

"I remember when Cornelia decided she would quit being a Guardian. She came back to us during a battle with mudslugs! I'll bet she just needs some time to cool down!" The girls turned away from her.

"Mrs. Lin?" Hannah asked. "Can we really fight Shadow boy WITHOUT Rose?" They all gaped at her. "What? Y'all were probably thinking the same thing! But I had the nerve to say it! Humph!" Hay Lin looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but the answer is no." Hannah shrugged. "Divided, you are all weaker." Then, the girls silently sipped their tea, with worried looks on their faces.

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GUARDIAN OF EARTH

NAME: Rose Vandom-Olsen

AGE: 13

BIRTHDAY: April 30

BIRTHSTONE: Diamond

CONSTELLATION: Taurus

FAMILY: MOM: Will DAD: Matthew BROTHER: Tony SISTER: Dakota

GUARDIAN POWER: Earth, Telekinesis

GUARDIAN OUTFIT: She wears a green vine that wraps around her arm. She has a tight pink halter top, with a loose, ankle-length purple skirt, and knee-high pink boots.

HOBBIES: Controlling and leading, skating, and getting things done.

FRIENDS: Hannah, Ella, Armilla, Tammi, and Donna

DETAILS: Long, auburn ponytail and light brown eyes. Always lived in Heatherfield, and always went to Sheffield.