Collision Course Part 1

Nigel had settled onto his bed, fully intending to sleep until the weekend came, when there was a flutter of wings and Aesop landed on his shoulder. "Now what?" Nigel groaned.

"Sorry, I was just wondering if I could stay here tonight, since Eric's with his feminine."

"That's something that I've been meaning to ask- do you not have a sex?"

"Mm, not as you humans would view it. To create new life, we have to meet someone with compatible CSA and it doesn't have to be different genders . . . we also have a 'neuter' gender, for those that become plants and buildings." Aesop hoped onto Nigel's spare pillow, the one he used to smother his alarm clock in the mornings. "And we don't give live birth; we're incapable of it, so our sparkles are grown in tubes. Alectra and I aren't compatible partners . . . your view of siblings is different to ours as well." Aesop added at Nigel's look. "Siblings for us are those we choose to experience life with, I suppose you would think of us as childhood friends. It's rare for us to have lifelong mates as you humans do, we usually change every year or so, depending on our moon. I find our way of life much simpler than yours, especially with your cultures fascination with sex." Nigel choked. "We'll just have to agree to disagree on that." Aesop then bundled into the pillow.

"Aesop?"

"Yes, Nigel?"

"You have a different mythology than earth, right? Especially with elements . . . could you tell me more?"

"Of course. At the start of our world, the world was just a large metal sphere . . . with a moon and a sun that always circled, so light and dark sometimes shared the planet." Aesop shifted a bit on the pillow. "One day, a part of the metal bubbled, and a sentient sphere rose from the planet. That sphere turned the techno-organic world into a living one, after making a deal with the light and dark so that the three would work in harmony to protect their world. The sphere became our world's heart, and the light and the dark always stay with it." Aesop looked up a bit, "Arcgen, however, has only has three sentinels when danger and destiny collide. Most of the time, there is either light or dark with the heart's bearer, or even just the heart's bearer."

"You believe in destiny?"

"Yes . . . especially when it comes to magic." The conversation finally ended, and the two unlikely bedfellows fell asleep.


'What's this?' Alectra studied the book Martin had received from Jay.

"It's a book where you can write your own ending. See? The last pages are blank . . ." Martin trailed off, and glanced at the book of Arcgen. "I wonder . . ." He absently picked up alectra and walked over to the book. His Uncle Thom had given him an old fashioned inkwell and quill, and he had learned calligraphy in an attempt to impress girls. It hadn't worked out yet. Taking the quill, he dipped it in ink, and had barely put a drop of ink on the page when letters began to form. "Wow . . ." Before his eyes, illustrations appeared, of everything that had happened since their return to good ol' earth.

'Look at the book's spine!' Alectra saw the letters glow. Martin looked, and found the book to have changed its title. In golden letters outlined with black and tinged with purple, the title had now changed to The Sentinels of Arcgen. 'I have never seen magic like this!'

"Neither have I." Martin gave a small smile. "But there are still blank spots in the pages."


Hay Lin happily snuggled against Eric as the two lay on the roof of the observatory. The meteor shower wasn't supposed to pass by yet, but that was no excuse not to get some cuddle time. Glancing at the stars, Hay Lin put her head on his chest.

Eric, like Hay Lin, was happy with the cuddle time. It seemed he hadn't been able to get any lately, with his powers acting up and him trying to keep his new abilities a secret. He still cringed when he had been forced to ditch her at the spring dance when he'd been able to stop parts of his body from going all shadowy. Thankfully, she had bought the 'got really sick and wasn't able to tell her 'cause Granddad had whisked him to home.' Truth being Martin had helped him get home, and Aesop had coached him to change back. Smiling, he wrapped both arms around his girlfriend. Life was getting better. Hay Lin's head moved to look up at him, and the two kissed, starting to make out.

When they came up for air, they were both floating five feet above the roof. And both had similar thoughts running through their heads.

'The others are going to kill me.'


"What do you mean, Nerissa's prison was stolen?!" Luba growled, annoyed. Elyon kept her face blank. Strangling the Aurameres's keeper wasn't something a Queen should do.

"Just as I said, two unknown enemies kidnapped Julian, and took the jewel Nerissa is imprisoned in." Elyon repeated, looking at the oracle. "Have you seen them before?"

"I am afraid that I have not been able to completely purge Nerissa's influence from myself." The Oracle's arms folded into his sleeves. "It may take some time."

"We don't have time, if that sorceress is set free-"

"Easy Raythor." Elyon put a hand on his shoulder. "We're all aware of what may happen." She then glanced at the Oracle. "I have another question."

"I thought you might, continue, please." The oracle kept his face calm.

"With the danger of the unknown enemy, and the potential for Nerissa's return, I thought it might be . . . prudent for me to give some power to a select few. Much like the guardians or the regents of earth, but still retain power myself."

"That is a sound thought, your highness." Eldorne nodded.

"If you give some power away, even if you fall, Meridian will still be protected." Halinor smiled.

"Your decision is a sound one, but what is your question?"

"How do I do it?" Elyon gave a half smile.

"I will be able to help you with that." Kadma spoke up. She had been visiting Halinor. "Have you decided who shall receive your power?"

"Yes."


In Meridian, Aldarn rode up to Caleb and Sandpit. "Any luck?" Sandpit shook it's head and vanished down the hill towards a pond.

"No!" Caleb looked ready to hit something. "Where could that stupid, smelly-" He and Aldarn were almost suffocated as Sandpit suddenly slammed into them. "Sandpit!!" The sand formed into a dog like creature, adopting the pointing position. The two almost slid down the hill to find Blunk snoozing in the mud.

"BLUNK!!" Both Merdianites yelled, waking the passling.

"Blunky-boo didn't do it!" Blunk jumped into a rather pathetic defensive stance. "Oh, it's Caleb and Aldarn and Sandy-pit." He relaxed a hair. "Blunk thought you were girls."

Sandpit didn't react to that statement, but Caleb and Aldarn just shared a confused look.

"Where have you been Blunk? We've needed to get to earth for hours." Caleb chose to move past the questions that statement raised.

"Blunk been on earth. Pretty girl got mad at Blunk and flirty girl gave him a bath!" The second part suddenly registered. "Blunk not going back! They'll still be angry!"

"Okay, you don't have to go, but we do." Caleb frowned. "My father's been kidnapped, and we need the guardians!"

"Oh, that's different." Blunk blinked. He opened a fold, and the four quickly went through.

"Well, so much for sweeping the basement." All four sheepishly looked up at Yan Lin. "I take it there's an emergency."

"Yes, can you use the speaking device to call Will?"

"Will and Matt are on a date. You're better off finding Taranee." Yan Lin then got a hat and some clothes. "Caleb blends better than you, Aldarn."

"Blunk stay here . . . any soup for Blunk?" Sandpit also seemed inclined to stay with the elderly former guardian.

"Uh, Caleb, how do I put these on?" Aldarn stared at the strange clothes. Caleb sighed, and helped his friend. Sandpit picked up a broom and began to sweep some of his residual sand up.

A few minutes later, Aldarn and Caleb were walking towards Taranee's place.

"This world is so different from ours." Aldarn commented. "Especially those strange metal carriages."

"I know. C'mon, Taranee's only a few blocks from the swimming center." As they turned a corner, Aldarn collided with a person coming from the opposite direction.

"Oh!" The girl squeaked, her bag falling open. "Sorry!"

"No, it's my fault, let me help you." Aldarn helped her pick the stuff up. Caleb hadn't stopped moving when Aldarn had, so he was standing almost a block away, waiting. They both reached for the girl's compact at the same time, hands touching. Aldarn glanced up at her face, and she in turn glanced at him. She had big chocolate eyes and long jet black hair, she wasn't overly tan, but she wasn't pale either.


Mandy had been coming home from a swim practice gone slightly wrong. Shelley ("Smelly" as Will had whispered to her one day when Shelley had gone off on one of her 'pay attention to me' tangents) had decided to pick on her that day. Shelley was one of those girls that thought the world and everyone on it revolved around her. Will and Matt had been there, but the final cut had come when Matt and Will left a minute before her.

"You're so pathetic." Shelley sneered in the locker room. "Needing to try and steal another girl's boyfriend!"

"What are you talking about?"Mandy shouldn't have responded, but the words slipped out.

"It's so obvious! You're trying to steal Matt back from Will!" Shelley announced with the air of someone who knew everything.

"Wha- No I'm not! Matt's just my friend, and so is Will! I'd never hurt either of them like that!"

"Oh, I'm sure." Shelley practically purred. Mandy had made a quick bee-line for the exit, but she hadn't gotten out in time. She heard Shelley's next words. "Slutty Whore." After that, her legs carried her away from Shelley and her venom as fast as they could.

But even the distance didn't leave the hurtful words behind. Mandy could still hear them ringing after her . . . up until she collided with someone.

Now her eyes were locked with a slightly older boy's face, with kind eyes and a slight yellow tint to his skin. He must have Jaundice, mom said that turned the skin yellow. And some bandages on his cheeks. His hand was callused but warm against her own. He took her breath away. Then he blinked, and gently picked up her compact to hand to her, helping her up in the same movement. "Thank you . . ." She took her compact back.

"No problem, like I said, it was my fault for not looking." Mandy felt like melting when she heard him speak. "Are you alright?"

"Huh- oh, Yeah!" Mandy blinked, "Why?"

"You're, uh, still holding my hand." Mandy promptly turned a shade of crimson, and dropped the strange boy's hand. The boy's friend yelled at him to hurry up. "See you around?" But he was quick to take off.

"God, I hope so." Mandy began heading home, this time at a slightly slower pace.


"What the heck was that?" Caleb looked at his friend as they headed towards Taranee's.

"An earth girl." Aldarn blinked. "A pretty one." Caleb shook his head. "What?"

"Just focus for right now?" Caleb sighed. And so Aldarn reluctantly pushed the thought of the earth girl to the back of his mind.

Taranee glared at her ceiling. Her mom and dad were out at the courthouse, Peter was off dating Cassidy. Or, as he put it, a dinner between friends. That left her home, alone, and grounded. Going to the door that led to her balcony, she jumped a foot in the air as a face appeared.

"Taranee!"

"Caleb?" She opened the door, and was surprised when he and Aldarn came in. "What are you doing here?"

"My father's been kidnapped and Nerissa's prison was stolen! We need your help!"

"You mean, you need me to call everyone."

"If you want to put it that way, yes." Aldarn sighed.

'Guys, we've got a W.I.T.C.H. emergency.' Taranee ignored the grumbles. 'Julian's been kidnapped, and Nerissa's prison was with him!'

'Seriously? Why is it whenever we try to relax, something comes up?' Irma's 'voice' was annoyed and resigned.

'What?! I'm on my way.' Cornelia glanced at Irma. "At least we got halfway through the movie this time." Irma just sighed and got up.

'Then we'll meet at Taranee's house, alright?'

'Remind me I have to tell you guys something later.' Hay Lin glanced at Eric.

"I have to go."

"Why?" Eric looked a little confused. "We haven't-"

"Eric, trust me, it's important . . . it's related to my ability to fly." Hay Lin fidgeted. "I promise to tell you everything when I get back, okay?"

"Okay." Eric kissed her. "I'm holding you to it." She smiled, and turned invisible to fly off. " . . . We sure have a lot in common." He whispered. He glanced down, then closed his eyes. If he thought hard enough, maybe he could send to Nigel. Failing twice, he went with the tried and true method. He turned into a shadow and flew towards Nigel's house.

Nigel's peaceful dreams were rudely shattered by someone shaking his shoulder. Opening his eyes to give them a few curses and maybe a punch, he stopped when he recognized who it was. "Eric?"

"Yeah, we need to get Martin and Alectra, I think something's going down." Eric then pointed to the compass, which was going nuts again.

" . . . Great." Nigel muttered. "Like I need another excuse to get grounded." 'Martin, you up?'

'Yeah, Oh, and I figured out something about the book!'

'That's good Martin, tell us later, right now, we've got an issue. So meet us at the construction site, okay?'

'What kind of issue?'

'I haven't the faintest. We'll see you there, and you'd better bring Alectra.'


"Okay, we'll go to Meridian first." Will addressed everyone in the basement of the silver dragon. No one paid any attention to a dog rooting through the trash near one of the windows. "Cornelia, you'll have to talk to the plants. Especially those who were right there when the two kidnappers showed up. Blunk, You're taking Sandpit and Aldarn straight to the castle."

"Huggles and Napoleon are staying with Lillian." Matt added. "So I'm cleared to go with you." No one argued that. If Nerissa was back, they were going to need Matt close by.

"Alright, Matt sticks with Caleb. We don't need either of you to vanish right now." Will nodded, then held up the heart. "Guardians, Unite!" Matt powered up as well.

Outside, the 'dog' lifted it's head to watch them vanish. It's lips pulled back into a wolfish smile, then it took off.


"You flew with Hay Lin?!" Martin and Nigel looked at Eric in shock.

"She was flying too! I wasn't even helping her!" Eric held up his hands. "Then she cut short our date by turning invisible and flying off!"

"How can she do that?" Martin wondered aloud.

"I could tell you." All five whirled to see a wolf close by. As they watched it turned into Apate. "But that would be so boring."

"Apate, what are you doing here?"

"Mm, not much. My Lord's forbidden me to attack while I'm on earth . . . but he never said I couldn't meddle a bit." Apate sat on a makeshift bench, stretching her legs. "You'll find some answers on the world of Meridian." She formed a globe of sorts. But it looked different than Earth. "Go there . . . Oizys is attacking that world."

"Why should we touch you?"

" . . . My Lord has his agenda, I have mine. Your demise isn't part of it." Apate stood, and walked up to Nigel, he didn't flinch back when she put a hand on his shoulder. "I swear on the heart of Arcgen, I won't set you up to die." A pulse came from the heart, as if acknowledging her. "That better?"

" . . . It'll do for now." Nigel acquised. "We better go now."

"Take care." Apate took off.

"I really don't get it."

"Neither do I, but I can't really think of a loophole in her promise." Nigel held out his hand. The heart pulsed in his hand. "Sentinels, Awake!" As the group vanished through the portal, no one looked back to see Apate watching them.

"When the cats are all away, this little rat's gonna play." Smirking, she turned into Ms. Dea Eppson. "With some emotions . . ." She pulled out three yearbook photos. Three girls and one boy. Uriah and his paltry little group weren't much to work with, but these show promise. She glanced back at where the portal had once been. And you won't be able to do a thing to save them, chasing after my brothers, dear Sentinels. Apate looked at the address on the first photo. Now to start making their lives a living nightmare . . . So they'll willingly follow me to Nyx!

Sorry for the wait. But there were a few issues to hammer out . . .

Well, Apate's pretty much got Earth to herself, and four targets already picked out! And The Sentinels and are guardians are on a collision course to meet in Meridian . . .

Which will be next chapter and I can't garrauntee when I'll post it . . . might take a month, or it could take a week, I don't know. (College and work are kicking my ** all around town.)

So, and you know who you are, I'm not going to abandon this story ever, and I will update again, just chill.