Chapter 11:

Once at the village, Elyon saw that there were a small army of Shadow Creatures that took the shapes of different creatures. Knowing that her friends back at the palace might be in danger, Elyon quickly went to work fighting the Shadow Creatures in the air, while Caleb, Raythor, and Aldern fought the Shadow Creatures on the ground along side the other soldiers.

"I wish Gargoyle and Sandpit were here to help!", Aldern said as he cut down a wolf Shadow Creature.

"Can't be helped!", Raythor said as he took down a Man-size rat Shadow Creature. "They're with Drake guarding a village that was attacked the other day!"

"We can do this!", Caleb said after taking down a man-size snake Shadow Creature. "These Shadow Creatures are easy to take down!"

"Easy, yes!", Raythor said. "But there sure are a lot of them!"

Up in the air, Elyon was blasting away at the Shadow Creatures that flew around her. There were from birds to man-size flies and even a few griffins. But what got Elyon's attention was the fact that they were easy to take out.

"I wander?", Elyon questioned as she hovered in the air.

Elyon then gathered a large amount of energy around her, in an attempt to take every and all Shadow Creatures out!

"I hope this works!", Elyon said before releasing a powerful wave of energy that not only hit the Shadow Creatures in the air, but the ones on the ground. Once it hit the Shadow Creatures, they all were destroyed and were turned into puffs of smoke. After seeing what happened, the soldiers cheered for Queen Elyon as she landed in front of Caleb, Raythor, and Aldern.

"You okay, Elyon?", Caleb asked Elyon as he walked up to her.

"Yeah.", Elyon said as she wiped her forehead. "I'm just not used to doing attacks like that."

"That was remarkable, your majesty!", Raythor said in amazement.

"Thanks, but now we have to tend to those who need any medical help.", Elyon said.

"Um... that may have to wait, your majesty.", Aldern said as he pointed towards the sky. "Look!"

Everyone looked up to see a large, swirling, dark purple cloud in the sky. They then saw the puffs of smoke that was left behind by the Shadow Creatures flow into the cloud.

"It seems that the Shadow Creatures have one of card to play.", Raythor said.

Suddenly, flashes of purple light flashed within the cloud followed by the sound of thunder. Thinking quickly, Elyon put up a force filed around the whole village. She did it just in time as a bolt of dark purple lightning came from the cloud, hitting the force field. Soon more bolts of lightning began to strike the force field, but Elyon was holding her own. It was then that Caleb figured what was going on.

"This was his plan to whole time!", Caleb said. "While we're stuck here, Targas can go after Will and the others!"

"And with them in the state they're in, it may not take long for Targas to get what he wants!", Raythor said. "There must be a way to get to the palace!"

"You three go through there!", Elyon said to Caleb, Raythor, and Aldern as she made an opening in the force field. "Get to the palace and help our friends!"

Wasting no time, Caleb, Raythor, and Aldern got on their horses and headed through the opening and towards the castle. Once they were through, Elyon closed the opening she made as more bolts of lightning hit the force field.

'I hope they make it in time!', Elyon thought to herself as she kept the force field up.

Meanwhile, at the palace, our heroes and those fighting along side them, were holding their own against the ten human shaped Shadow Creatures. But, the Shadow Creatures had the upper-hand, seeing as the Guardians and Defenders were lacking the power needed to kick butt.

"How you holding up, Yoh?", Eric asked as he blocked a punch from one of the Shadow Creatures.

"Not bad!", Yoh said as he kicked a Shadow Creature. "These guys are tough.

"It's just like old times!", Kevin said as he slashed at a Shadow Creature cutting it in half destroying it, turning it into a puff of smoke. "I still got it!"

"It's nice to know that you've never changes Scott!", John said as he hit a Shadow Creature with a electric charged fist destroying it turning it into a puff of smoke.

John then dropped to one knee feeling the drain from using his powers, without being connected to an Auramere.

"Forgot how much that can drain me.", John said as he got to his feet.

"You okay, John?", Roberto asked.

"I'm good!", John said. "Just forgot how much using my power will drain me."

"Well at least you took out one of those creatures!", Roberto said as he took out a Shadow Creature. "And now there were seven!"

"Make that six!", Yoh said as he ran another Shadow Creature through with a spear.

"Five!", Eric said as he and Hank took another one out with their battle axes. "Nice work son!"

"Thanks, Pop!", Hank said.

Next was Tim and Rosseta who took down a Shadow Creature with their spears.

"That wasn't easy.", Rosseta said.

"You're telling me!", Tim said. "I don't know how our old men do it!"

"Training, boy!", Kevin said as he took down another one. "Man, that felt good!"

"Seven down, three to go!", John said as he and the others surrounded the last three Shadow Creatures.

"Let's finish this!", Eric said as they closed in on them.

Just then, the puffs of smoke left behind by the seven fallen Shadow Creatures became one big ball of dark purple smoke and floated above the last three Shadow Creatures.

"That doesn't look good.", Tim said.

"I think you're right, son.", Kevin said.

Suddenly, three streams of smoke shot out of the ball of smoke and went into the three Shadow Creatures. The three Shadow Creatures then began to grow a bit bigger. Their hands got larger as well as their upper body. When they were done growing, they looked like very large apes ready to do some pounding!

"Now that's not right!", Eric said.

"Never a dull moment!", John said as he held his sword firm. "You all ready!"

"Ready as we'll ever be!", Yoh said with his spear at the ready.

They all then charged at the three Shadow Creatures hoping to take them down. Meanwhile, Angelo and Will had just opened a fold and got everyone to Kandrakar, just in case Targas got into the palace.

"That's everyone.", Will said as the fold closed behind them.

"This place is huge!", Lillian said as she looked around the room the Council of the Known Worlds met when the need arrived.

"Is this your headquarters, Irma?", Chris asked as he looked around the room as well.

"I guess you can say that.", Irma said after thinking about it.

"Hey! This place is floating in the sky!", Julie O'Flannery said as she and her brother, Jeff, looked out from one of the balconies of the fortress.

Chris and Lillien ran out to the balcony to see the clouds flow by at eye level.

"Coooool!", Chris and Jeff said.

"I forgot Jeff and Julie never been here before.", Carol O'Flannery said.

"I remember my first time here.", Luke Smith said. "It totally blew my mind!"

"Same here.", Mai said. "I though that Tibor was Santa Clause!"

"With that beard of his, you'd think he was.", Yan Lin said with a grin.

"This sucks!", Ricky said getting everyones attention. "If only we had our powers, we'd be back there kicking some butt!"

"Your father will be okay, Ricky.", Helen said to her son. "He hasn't done all that training for nothing."

"I know, mom.", Ricky said. "But I'm still worried about him."

"There must be something we can do.", Taranee said. "I mean we have some of our powers."

"Keyword being 'some'.", Cornelia said. "It would take at least five of us to beat one of those Shadow Creatures!"

"But at least, we'd take one or two of them down!", Irma said.

"Irma's right!", Angelo said. "I say we go back and help! Full power or not! Who's with me?"

The other Defenders and Guardians all nodded ready to go, when the Oracle entered the room.

"I'm glad you all are here.", the Oracle said. "We have finished connecting you back to your Aurameres."

"So we can transform?", Hay Lin asked being hopeful.

"Yes.", the Oracle said.

"How did you pull that off, anyway?", Sho asked.

"Do you remember the energy Alfor took from Frost and the boys when they were the Dark Guardians?", the Oracle asked.

"Yeah.", Tommy said.

"Well, the Council and I added that energy to your Aruameres.", the Oracle replied.

"Is that safe?", Angelo questioned. "I mean that energy came from Necra and company."

"Energy is energy, my friends.", the Oracle said. "It's the person who uses it that turns it light or dark. And seeing as we removed the darkness from the energy your enemies put in it, it is now safe for you all to use."

"W.I.T.C.H. and S.T.A.R.S. are back!", Hay Lin said happily.

"But, you all should know that you will only be strong as you were when you first became Guardians and Defenders.", the Oracle said.

"So, that means no lightning for me and Angelo?", Will asked.

"The Veil was up when you first became Guardians and Defenders.", the Oracle said. "But, now that it is not up, you will have all of your powers, but they will not be as strong."

"Then let's go kick some butt!", Scott said.

"Before you go.", the Oracle said as he raised his hands.

Once he did that, the Guardians and Defenders were wearing long white robes, like the ones the council wore.

"What's with the robes over our clothes?", Hay Lin asked.

"For when you grow back to your normal age.", the Oracle said.

"Huh?", Irma asked.

"The kid clothes we have on will rip off of us you know.", Will said.

"Oh.", Irma said. "Good call, Oracle."

"Works for me!", Angelo said as he and Will held up their hearts. "Defenders...", Angelo said.

"Guardians...", Will said.

"United!", they both said.

Once the words were said, Will was covered in a ball of pink light, while Irma was in a ball of water, Taranee in a ball of fire, Cornelia in a ball of green light, and Hay Lin in a ball of air. They then floated in the air as they began to transform into their Guardian forms. At the same time, beams of energy hit each of the boys as they were covered in their element. Scott was covered in fire, Tommy was in a small twister, Angelo was in a thing of lightning, Ricky was in a thing of ice and water, and Sho was in a twister of the dust in the room.

Scott- "Fire!"

Tommy- "Air!"

Angelo- "Quintessence!"

Ricky- "Water!"

Sho- "Earth!"

The elements then faded away to show the boys in their Defender forms.

Irma- "Water!"

Taranee- "Fire!"

Cornelia- "Earth!"

Hay Lin- "Air!"

Will- "Quintessence!"

Once the the light faded, the girls were in their Guardian forms.

"Wow! You guys look like super heroes!", Chris said as he looked at the Defenders.

"You look so cool, Scot!", Jeff said to his brother.

"Thanks, Jeff. But, something feels... odd.", Scott said as he looked at his hands.

"You do look cool, Scott, but Taranee looks cool and pretty!", Julie said as she walked around Taranee.

"Thanks, Julie.", Taranee said with a smile before looking at her hands. "But, Scott's right. Something does feel odd."

"You look like a pretty fairy, Cornelia!", Lillian said as she looked at her sister with a happy look on her face.

"Thanks!", Cornelia said smiling as she looked down at herself. "Hey! Wait a minute!"

"Something isn't right here guys.", Hay Lin said.

As the ten of them looked at each other, they saw that they weren't the way they were supposed to be. Yes, they did look older than they were. But they looked like they were Thirteen!

"Aw, come on!", Irma yelled. "I thought what Targas did to us would be reveresed once wh trancfromed!"

"I'm sorry young ones, but you must destroy the gems that changed you to undo what Targas did to you.", the Oracle said.

"Then let's go kick his butt!", Will said as she opened a fold to Metamoor. "Boy, it feels good to do that again!"

The ten of then then flew through the fold to go help the Defenders family members that were fighting the Shadow Creatures, and then find Targas and take him down. As the fold closed, the Oracle felt someone tug on his robe. He looked down to see Jeff, Julie, Chris, and Lillian looking up at him.

"Will our brother and his friends be okay!", Julie asked.

"They will be fine, children.", the Oracle said with a kind smile. "For they have each other. And that makes them a force to be reckoned with."

Hearing that brought a smile to their faces, as well as the others there. But the older family member still prayed and hoped for their safety. On Metamoor, the Defender's fathers and older brothers and Uncle John were doing their best to take on the super-powered Shadow Creatures. But with their size and strenght, they were proving to be a problem as on knocked John Vanders and Roberto Fernandaz against a wall.

"Well, this is going just great!", John said as he and Roberto got to their feet. "Just when we had the upper hand, these guys get an upgrade!"

"We've been through worse.", Roberto said.

"True.", John said with a grin. "Remember those slime creatures on Lortha?"

"I do!", Yoh said after dodging an attack. "We froze then and shattered them."

"That would be a good thing to do.", Eric Smith said as he and his son, Hank, slashed at a Shadow Creature, only to have it jump away from them. "If we had our old powers back!"

"Then we'll just have to fight them the way we are now!", Kevin O'Flannery said as he and his son, Tim, both slashed at one of the Shadow Creatures. "See! They're not so tough!"

"Um... dad!", Tim said getting his father's attention.

Kevin looked to see the Shadow Creature's wound heal.

"You've got to be kidding me!", Kevin snapped as he and his son took their fighting stance.

"These creatures are getting the best of us!", Yoh said as the three Shadow Creatures lined up in front of them.

"What are they doing?", Tim questioned as they Shadow Creatures held their arms forward.

Before they knew it, the Shadow Creatures fired powerful beams of energy at them! The attack sent them flying back as they landed on the ground. They then looked up to see the Shadow Creatures walking towards them slowly.

"I'm not about to let these, monsters beat us!", John said as he got to his feet. "We can beat them, fellas!"

"I am with you, my friend!", Yoh said as he stood by John's side. "We fight until we can fight no more!"

"I'm not about to let these THINGS get the best of us!", Kevin said as he held onto his battle axe.

"I'm with you, dad!", Tim said as he stood by his father's side.

"Then let's show these creatures our Scottish and Irish pride!", Scott said to his son who nodded to him.

"You ready, son?", Eric said to his son.

"You bet, pop!", Hank said. "I've always dreamed of the day I'd fight by your side like this!"

"Then let's give it our all!", Eric said to his son.

"Let us win this and return to our families!", Roberto said as he stood tall.

The Shadow Creatures were ready to ponce the brave men as they stood ready to fight, but were halted as bolts of lightning struck the ground in front of them, followed by two twisters that pushed them back. They men looked up to see the Guardians and Defenders flying down towards them.

"You guys okay?", Angelo asked as they all landed in front of them.

"Yeah!", John said as he got a good look at them. "Why aren't you all..."

"Long story short. We have to get the gems Targas used to turn us into kids!", Will said.

"So we'll take care for these guys and go looking for Targas!", Scott said as he cracked his knuckles.

"Payback time, boys!", Irma said as she called forth a large ball of water.

Irma then, threw her ball of water at one of the Shadow Creatures. Hay Lin then blew a freezing breath that froze the Shadow Creature that Irma hit with a water-ball. Taranee and Scott each threw a fireball at the frozen Shadow Creature shattering it into a puff of smoke.

"We may not be at full power, but we can still kick butt!", Irma said the four of them did a group high-five.

Next was Tommy and Ricky who combined their powers to freeze another Shadow Creature. Angelo and Will fired bolts of lightning at it, and shattered it into a puff of smoke.

"And that's how you kick some shadow butt!", Angelo said as the four of them pounded fist.

And finally, Cornelia made a set of vines shoot up and wrap around the last Shadow Creature and tied it up. Sho then made two chunks of rock come together and smash the Shadow Creature turning it into a puff of smoke.

"And it only took two of us to bet one!", Cornelia bragged with a smile as she rested her left arm on Sho's shoulder while doing a peace sign with her right hand.

"Glad to see you all back in action. So to speak.", Hank said.

"Yeah, but we still have to find Targas and undo his handy work.", Ricky said.

"I just wish we knew where he was!", Hay Lin said.

Just then Raythor, Caleb, and Aldern came running in from the palace gates.

"You guys are transformed!", Caleb said until he got a good look at them. "Sort of."

"This is the best we can do until we find Targas.", Cornelia said.

"Som where's Elyon?", Taranee asked.

"Holding up a force field over the village.", Raythor answered.

"What?", Scott questioned.

"Once Elyon saw the the Shadow Creatures we were fighting weren't all that strong, she took them all out with a powerful attack.", Aldern explained.

"Cool!", Irma said.

"But the puffs of smoke they left behind became a cloud the is hovering over the village firing blast of lightning at the force field, Elyon has up.", Caleb explained.

"She sent us here to help fight anything that came after you all.", Raythor. "But I guess you're alright now. Sort of."

"Yeah, and now we're going to help Elyon!", Will said.

"But how do we stop a cloud like that?", Ricky said.

"I don't think me and Hay Lin can blow it away.", Tommy said.

"Why not combine our powers and take it out.", Hay Lin suggested. "It is made from dark energy after all."

"That just might work!", Taranee said. "If we call upon our full power, it might work."

"Then let's give it a try!", Angelo said as they took to the air and flew towards the village followed by Caleb and Raythor on horseback.

"Good luck, kids.", Yoh said as he watched them fly off.

"They'll be fine.", Eric said. "Just fine."

"I hope you're right.", John said.

A/N: Well W.I.T.C.H. & S.T.A.R.S. are back in action! Sort of. They have their powers but only are as strong as they were when they first became the heroes they are now. But they still were able to save their loved ones that were holding their own for a while. And now they're going to help Elyon. Let's hope that they can get rid of the dark cloud and find Targas so they can become themselves again.

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