Chapter XII:
Soon Matt was at the city of Yaga and heading for the palace. But instead of going through the front, he flew right for one of the windows of the throne room. Namely the one that had a balcony. Once there, he landed on the balcony and marched inside and towards Angelo who was on his throne. Also there were Micheal, Renna, and Nesson who were discussing something with Angelo. That is until Matt suddenly barged in.
"We need to talk, Angelo!", Matt said as he transformed back to normal only for Micheal to stand in his way.
"Seriously?!", Micheal asked. "You just come flying in here and demand to speak with the king like this?"
"Get out of my way, Robertson!", Matt demanded.
"Or what?", Micheal asked. "You already made things bad for Will! You want to keep it going?!"
"How did you...?"
"Orlande contacted His Majesty and told him what happened.", Micheal explained. "Not to mention showed him a video of what happened. What were you thinking man?!"
"That those people need to show the Guardians a whole lot of respect!", Matt snapped. "Now move or I'll move you!", he said as he transformed into his Regent form while glaring down at Micheal.
"I doubt that you'll be able to do that.", Angelo said getting Matt's attention. "But it would be fun to see you try.", he said with a smirk.
"You think you're funny, don't you?", Matt asked as he glared at Angelo from behind his golden mask. "Well while you're here in your palace, sitting on your comfy little throne, Will is getting treated like crap by some of your citizens!"
"I don't think getting dirty looks is getting treated like crap.", Angelo said. "I talked to Orlande who told me what happened. From what he told me, Will said that she was okay with the dirty looks. She said that she's able to take the dirty looks as long as she was able to help. It's you that has the problem!"
"So what are you going to do about them?", Matt asked.
"Nothing.", Angelo said.
"Nothing? Nothing?!", Matt asked surprised by Angelo's answer. "You're going to do nothing?!"
"Did I studder?", Angelo asked. "What would you have me do, Matt? Demand that everyone has to be nice to the Guardians because they're my friends? Yeah! That'll go well!", he said with a grin. "I told all the Battle Warriors to arrest any the citizens that try to attack you or any of the Guardians before you all started to help. Dirty looks and saying mean things does not count."
"Are you serious?!", Matt asked getting mad. "How can you sit there and let your people be this way to us?! I thought we were your friends!"
"Oh! So now we're friends, Olsen?", Angelo asked Matt who was confused. "Orlande showed me a video of what happened. And in it, you made it pretty clear that you and I weren't friends."
"Well as of late, you haven't been treating the Guardians like the heroes they are.", Matt said.
"You mean giving them missions that allow them to be seen as all powerful heroes to the people.", Angelo said. "Sorry but no. I asked them and you to do things that will help them connect more with the people. But you just made that pretty hard for Will with your actions. You know what? Why am I even talking to you about this? Orlande fired your butt! So do the Guardians a favor. Don't come back here for a while. Go back to Earth, stay there and do some training before you have to go train with Tibor. Will doesn't need you here messing things up for her and the other Guardians."
"Why you...!", Matt snapped as he marched up to Angelo.
"Bad move, Olsen.", Angelo said calmly as Matt walked passed Micheal.
As he walked passed Micheal, Matt suddenly felt himself get heavy as he walked towards Angelo. With each step he felt himself get heavier and heavier.
"What's... happening... to me?!", Matt asked as he dropped to his hands and knees.
Matt tried to get up only to stay on his hands and knees as Micheal walked passed him and stood in front of him. Matt looked up at Micheal and saw that his right hand had a dark green aura around it.
"What did you... do to me?!", Matt asked.
"Stopping you from doing something stupid.", Micheal said. "I raised the gravity around you by twenty times. It won't kill you. Just keep you at bay."
"Now listen and listen good, Matt.", Angelo said as he got up from his throne and walked towards them. "I get it. You really don't like me right now. If that's how you feel, fine. Don't like me. But don't you dare hurt Will! She's been one of my best friends for a long time and I will not let you or anybody else hurt her. Understand? She's trying to do some good and I will not let you hinder that! So go home and rest. And do not come back here until you have truly cooled off.", he said as he opened a fold under Matt just as Micheal returned the gravity around him back to normal allowing him to drop through the fold safely.
Once through the fold Matt saw that he was in Heatherfield Forest. He tried to go back through the fold only it closed before he could get to it.
"NO!", Matt shouted. "You'll pay for this, Vanders! You'll pay!", he shouted.
"That was... interesting.", Nesson said surprised by the actions of the Regent of Earth.
"Are the Regents of Earth like that normally?", Renna asked.
"No.", Angelo said. "He just angry that things didn't go as he wanted."
"You know that he'll try to come back tomorrow.", Micheal said.
"Which is why I'll talk to Will when she comes here later.", Angelo said. "Now tell me about this idea of yours."
"Well it's like this.", Micheal said as he explained his idea.
Later that day after doing some hard work, the Guardians had gathered in the courtyard of the palace ready to go.
"Hey! Where's Matt?", Hay Lin asked.
"Hopefully on Earth where he can't cause any more trouble.", Will said.
"What are you talking about?", Irma asked. "What happened?"
Will was about to tell what happened when Nara came up to them.
"Pardon me, Guardians.", she said getting their attention. "His Majesty, King Angelo, would like to speak to you before you leave for Earth.", she said before she turned and headed for the palace doors.
"Now what does he want?", Cornelia asked in a annoyed tone.
"I think I know.", Will said as they followed behind Nara.
"Is it about Matt?", Taranee asked.
"I think so.", Will said as they entered the palace.
Soon they were in the throne room where Angelo was sitting on his throne with Micheal standing on his right.
"The Guardians of Kandrakar, Your Majesty.", Nara said before bowing.
"Thank you Nara.", Angelo said before Nara took her leave. "Do they know what happened?", he asked Will referring to Matt.
"Not yet.", Will said. "I'd like to apologize for Matt's actions. I don't know what came over him."
"What is this all about?!", Cornelia asked. "What did Matt do?"
"Open up a link, Taranee.", Will said to which the Fire Guardian opened up a telepathic like between the five of them.
Once Taranee did this, Will showed the girls what went down. From Matt going off to him grabbing Daren and Orlande telling him to leave.
"Whoa!", Irma said after seeing all that happened.
"I can't believe that happened.", Taranee said as she cut the link between them.
"Well it did.", Will said. "I wanted him to let it go, but he just had to go off the way he did."
"Well can you blame him?", Cornelia asked. "He's just mad that the people have been giving you crap."
"The worst they've done was give dirty looks.", Micheal said. "That hardly counts as giving some one crap."
"That's easy for you to say! You're not the one getting the dirty looks!", Irma said.
"Maybe not, but we've been to worlds where we got a lot worse.", Angelo said. "It sucked but we powered through and did our job. Now when it comes to those dirty looks, Will was okay with it so long as she was able to help where she could. Am I right, Will?"
"Yes. I was.", Will said.
"And what if one of those citizens attacks any of us?", Irma asked.
"Then they'll be arrested.", Angelo said.
"So where is Matt?", Taranee asked.
"I sent him back to Earth and told him not to come back until he's cooled off.", Angelo explained. "Maybe after some training with Tibor, he'll see things more clearly."
"I take it that he didn't go freely.", Will said.
"Nope.", Angelo said. "He tried to step to me, only for Micheal to stop him."
"Unbelievable!", Will said. "What is wrong with him?!"
"I have no idea.", Taranee said.
"I have a question.", Cornelia said. "What are you going to do about the citizens working in the forest? Mainly that Daren guy."
"Nothing.", Angelo said.
"Are you serious?", Cornelia asked. "He may try and attack Will if he gets the chance!"
"Bad enough that some of them give us dirty looks and talk carp to us.", Irma said. "It's starting to get old!"
"So you think I should punish anyone that gives you dirty looks and talks mean to you?", Angelo asked.
"Well... You could tell them to be nicer to us.", Hay Lin said.
"Really, Hay Lin?", Micheal asked.
"Look. All we're saying is that a little respect from the people would be nice.", Cornelia said.
"Well you can't win them all.", Anglo said. "Some of the people will like you while others won't. That's just how it is. Not everyone in the kingdom likes me, but I push forward and do what I can for the kingdom. Now it's getting late and I know that you want to get home."
"You have no idea.", Will said with a yawn as she opened a fold. "See ya tomorrow."
"See ya.", Angelo said as the girls headed through the fold.
"Do you think all of them will return tomorrow?", Nara asked as the fold closed.
"They'll be back.", Micheal said. "All five of them will."
"Of course they will.", Angelo said. "And if I'm right, Will is going to have a nice talk with Matt.", he said just as a guard entered the throne room.
"Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes, Your Majesty.", the guard said.
"Thank you.", Angelo said as he, Micheal, and Nara left the throne room and headed for the dining hall.
As for the girls, once back on Earth, they teleported to their HQ where Will texted Matt telling him to get to where they were fast.
"Can you believe Vanders?", Cornelia asked. "He's actually going to let that Daren guy get away with what he said to you, Will.", she said just as Matt teleported there.
"Well I say that we go and teach this Daren guy some respect.", Irma said.
"Now you're talking!", Matt said.
"No!", Will said. "That's the last thing we need to do!"
"Don't worry, Will. We'll be glamoured as regular people.", Irma said. "That way, the people will see fellow citizens standing up for the Guardians and will start showing us some respect."
"No, Irma!", Will said. "We have to earn their respect the right way."
"Will's right.", Taranee said. "By taking those dirty looks and any insults while working with them, Will is showing the people that she is truly there to help."
"And your actions didn't help.", Will said to Matt.
"Well excuse me for wanting to defend you!", Matt snapped.
"I didn't need you to defend me, Matt.", Will said. "I was doing just fine until you went off at them."
"You can't be mad at Matt for standing up for you, Will.", Irma said. "I mean they're the ones giving the dirty looks."
"And that's all it was. Dirty looks.", Will said. "Looks that hardly got to me."
"You still don't deserve it.", Matt said. "None of us do!"
"Got that right!", Irma said.
"In time things will be okay.", Taranee said. "Of course now that may be longer with what happened today."
"Okay. I get it. I screwed up.", Matt admitted. "I should of kept my cool."
"Yes. You should have.", Will said. "But what's done is done. We just have to work extra hard to gain the respect of the people."
"I'll keep my cool from now on, Will.", Matt said. "I promise."
"Sorry, Matt, but you won't be coming with us tomorrow.", Will said. "Actually, not for a while."
"What?!", Matt asked.
"Angelo made it clear that he didn't want you back there until you've cooled off.", Will said. "Orlande also made it clear that he didn't want you there as well."
"But Will..."
"Plus, you need to be ready for your training with Tibor.", Will said cutting him off. "Remember?"
"Yeah. But I don't want to leave you alone there with those people.", Matt said.
"I'll be fine, Matt.", Will said. "Wella will be with me while I'm there."
"I don't know her that well.", Matt said.
"Well I know her well enough to trust her.", Will said. "And that should be good enough for you Besides. There's the other Mystic Battle Warriors there as well."
"Okay. Fine. Just be careful.", Matt said before Will gave him a kiss.
"Okay. Can we get past this?", Cornelia asked. "Cause I thought of something we can use for when we go after the Drakken Kingdom."
"What do you mean?", Taranee asked.
"How many places have you been to, when making your deliveries, Hay Lin?", Cornelia asked.
"A lot actually.", Hay Lin said.
"Did you get a good bird's eye view of them?", Cornelia asked.
"Totally!", Hay Lin said.
"What are you getting at, Cornelia?", Will asked.
"Here's the thing.", Cornelia said. "If I know His Royal Lameness, he's having all of the towns, cities, and villages built with some pretty good defenses and security to deal with not only bandit attacks, but attacks from Lurdens, Mogriffs, and other kinds of dangers."
"Probably.", Matt said.
"Well if Hay Lin had a good enough camera to take some picture of the places from the sky.", Cornelia explained. "While invisible of course."
"Pictures that we can use to plan our attacks on when we begin our invasion of the Drakken Kingdom.", Taranee figured.
"Bingo!", Cornelia said.
"We'll have to take over the Meridian Kingdom first.", Matt said.
"That all depends on Caleb getting most of the people on his side when we do this.", Will said.
"Let's hope Rebel-Boy can pull it off.", Irma said.
"Of course he can!", Cornelia said. "He's the hero of the people! Those truly loyal to him will join him when the time comes."
"I hope you're right, Cornelia.", Hay Lin said just as Taranee read a text on her phone.
"I just got a text from Peter.", Taranee said as she put her phone away. "He said that he and the guys want to talk to us about something and to make sure Caleb is here."
"Okay.", Will said as she opened a fold to Metamoor. "Wonder what's going on."
"Who knows. But if they need Caleb here, it must be important.", Cornelia said as she and Will went through the fold to get Caleb.
About ten minutes later, Will and Cornelia returned with Caleb just as Peter, Joel, Danny, and Uriah showed up.
"So can we do it?", Caleb asked Peter.
"They said yes.", Peter said. "I'm still surprised that they said yes."
"Hey! As long as they said yes, I'm happy.", Caleb said.
"Okay, fellas, what's going on?", Will asked as she closed the fold.
"Okay. It's like this.", Peter said. "Rubis told us that we need to work on our bond and teamwork to be a powerful Battle Warrior team. Which means that we need to bond as a team."
"That makes sense.", Taranee said.
"Glad you agree, sis.", Peter said. "Because the five of us will be spending the next few weekends in our family cabin, in Heatherfield Forest."
"I'm sorry. What?", Taranee asked.
"We need to train together as well as work on our teamwork and trust before we even get our powers.", Caleb explained. "So me and the guys came up with the idea to go to Heatherfield Forest to bond and become a better team. It won't be easy at first, but in time we can make it work."
"And you actually think this will work?", Irma asked not liking the idea of the guys being alone without them there to keep an eye on Uriah and Danny.
"Well look at you Guardians.", Joel said. "The five of you have your differences, but you're the best of friends and you're a force to be reckoned with.", he said making the girls smile.
"That's true.", Cornelia said feeling pretty proud.
"Having a great team is good.", Will said. "It won't be good going into this war half cocked. So if doing this weekend thing will help you guys, then I say we let them do it."
"Same here.", Hay Lin said.
"I agree.", Matt said.
"Me too.", Cornelia said.
"Me three.", Irma said.
"What about you, sis?", Peter asked Taranee.
"I don't like the idea of those two in our family cabin.", Taranee said as she looked at Danny and Uriah. "But... I guess it can't be helped."
"Relax, Cook.", Danny said. "We won't wreck the place. "You have my word."
'Like that's worth anything.', Taranee thought to herself.
"So when will we be doing this?", Cornelia asked with a smile looking forward to going with Caleb to the cabin.
"Sorry, Cornelia, but it's just going to be the five of us going to the cabin on the weekends.", Caleb said to which Cornelia's smile turned into a frown.
"What?", Cornelia asked.
"We can't have any distractions while we're up there.", Caleb explained. "And let's be honest. You can a pretty big distraction for me sometimes."
"But we can spend the night in front of the fireplace snuggled up together.", Cornelia said as she held Caleb's hands gently. "It'll be so romantic!", she said in a dreamy love-struck tone."
"Sorry, Cornelia, but no.", Caleb said as he backed away from his girlfriend. "The guys and I need to be focused and train if we're to be of any help to you in the coming war."
"But..."
"He's right, Cornelia.", Will said cutting the Earth Guardian off. "We all need to be ready for what's to come. And they need to bond as a team. And while they're doing their thing, we can be doing the same thing on one of the worlds we've been to."
"Aw man.", Cornelia whined wishing that she could go with Caleb to the cabin.
'Don't worry, Cornelia.', Taranee said to her fellow Guardian as she opened a link with her and her only. 'Let me talk to my parents. I'll try and get us to be going with them. No way I'm trusting Danny and Uriah in my family's cabin where they can steal who knows what!'
'Do your thing, girl!', Cornelia said as she hid her smirk.
"So will you guys be going up to the cabin this weekend?", Hay Lin asked.
"Yes.", Caleb said. "The sooner we start this the better."
"Question.", Irma said. "What about your duties in Meridian? I don't think you can just come here whenever you please anymore after what happened when you brought us to the ship before you got the okay."
"Already taken care of that.", Caleb said. "I asked Her Majesty if I could come here on the weekend to train Joel and Matt for whenever they come to Metamoor. While they in turn will teach me what I need to know about Earth and your many customs."
"And she said yes to that?", Cornelia asked.
"Well I did tell her that I would try to talk Peter into being more understanding about what Cassidy wants to do.", Caleb said.
"That'll do it.", Cornelia said.
"So this weekend will be the first of our bonding as a team.", Joel said.
"This will be fun.", Uriah said in a slight deadpan tone.
'Not as fun as you think it will be.', Taranee thought to herself knowing what she had to do.
Sometime later, they all left the bookshop they same way they came into it in the end it was just the girls who left last.
"So I know that we're not going to let them go to the cabin by themselves right?", Irma asked. "At least not every weekend."
"Nope.", Taranee said.
"You know that they'll be upset if we tag along.", Hay Lin said.
"They'll get over it.", Cornelia said.
"I'll just talk my parents into having Peter let us come with him and the guys.", Taranee said. "Nothing to it."
"Well good luck.", Will said. "We can't risk having Danny and Uriah rubbing off on the guys."
Watching them was Rubis who kept himself hidden from them.
"It seems that the Guardian need to learn to trust their allies more.", Rubis said as he floated in the air. "It looks like I may have to help with that.", he said as he floated away.
Later that evening, in the Cook home, the four members of the Cook family were in the living room watching TV after having a good meal. As the night went on, Peter decided to call it a night and headed for bed seeing as he had to get some things for the coming weekend. Once he left the living room, Taranee saw this as her chance to talk to her parents about going to the cabin with Peter.
"Mom. Dad. Can me and girls go with Peter and his friends up to the cabin this weekend?", Taranee asked.
"I don't know, Taranee.", Theresa said. "Five girls in the woods with Danny Ashcroft and Uriah Dunn. Not my cup of tea."
"I agree.", Lione said. "I respect Peter, Caleb, and Joel for wanting to help Danny and Uriah be better people, but I'm not ready to have any girls up there in the cabin with those two boys there. Especially when one of those girls is my daughter."
"I don't think they'll try anything with Peter, Caleb, and Joel there with us, dad.", Taranee said with a grin.
"That maybe, Taranee, but I think this is also a guy bonding kind of thing.", Lione said. "Which is why your mother and I agreed to letting Peter and his friends have the cabin on the weekends."
"Now if you and the girls want to use the cabin between Monday and Thursday, then that's fine. So long as one of the girls with you is 18 or older.", Theresa said. "Matter fact, we'll happily drive you and your friends to the cabin. But on the weekends, the cabin is all Peter's. Understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am.", Taranee said knowing that she wasn't going to win.
It was then that Taranee let out a yawn tired from the day and all she had done. So she excused herself while giving her parents a hug and kiss goodnight. But when she exited the living room, Taranee found her brother sitting at the center of the stairs with a look of disappointment at her for what she just tried to do with their parents. Taranee looked away from her brother not liking the look he was giving her. For it said plenty without him saying anything. Seeing as he got his point across, Peter went and headed up to his bedroom. Taranee soon went up to her bedroom and got dressed for bed. Soon she was in bed trying to get some sleep but couldn't as she was feeling guilty for going behind her brother's back and trying to get in on what he and the guys were trying to do.
'Crap.', she thought to herself still feeling guilty.
Now in Peter's room, he was laying on his bed when Rubis flew into his room through the window.
"I take it that Taranee tried to talk your parents into letting her and the girls go with you to the cabin.", Rubis said.
"Tried and failed.", Peter said low enough so only Rubis could hear. "They told her no saying that it was a guy bonding thing for me and the guys."
"You do know that they will still go up to the cabin with their teleporting.", Rubis said.
"Yeah. I thought about that.", Peter said. "And when they do, I'll have a few words for Taranee while Caleb will have a few for Cornelia. Nothing to harsh. Just a few things to get our point across."
"If you'd like, I can help you with that.", Rubis said.
"I'll take all the help I can get.", Peter said.
The next day, the girls met up at the book shop ready to head to Metamoor.
"So were you able to talk your parents into letting us go to the cabin?", Cornelia asked Taranee.
"Yes and no.", Taranee said confusing the girls.
"Yes and no?", Irma asked.
"Yes we can go to the cabin.", she said making the girls, mainly Cornelia, happy. "But only Monday through Thursday.", she said to which the girls frowned. "I tried, but they made it clear that Peter and the guys get the cabin on the weekends."
"We may not be able to go with them to the cabin and stay there with them, but that doesn't mean that we still can't go up there.", Will said. "All we have to do is teleport up there during the day a teleport back at the end of the day."
"Now that's a plan I can get behind.", Cornelia said. "The guys may be upset when we do this, but they'll get over it."
"They're going to have to get over it!", Irma said. "We'll just remind them of who's in charge.", she said with a cocky smirk.
"You know it!", Cornelia said as they high-five each other.
"Okay girls.", Will said with a grin as she opened a fold to Metamoor. "Let's head to Metamoor and get to work.", she said.
"You kow, it would be nice if we got paid for our services.", Irma said as they headed through the fold.
"That or get a few perks when we finish doing all of this.", Cornelia said. "Like getting our own private lounge in the palace or something.", she said.
"I don't see that happening.", Taranee said with a grin.
"Not with that attitude.", Cornelia said as they were now in the royal courtyard of Angelo's palace.
"One thing at a time, Cornelia.", Will said. "For now let's go get to work."
"And you be careful.", Hay Lin said to Will. "After what happened yesterday, you may run into some trouble."
"I'll be alright.", Will said. "Orlande has made sure that I'll be looked after."
"Even so, if you need us call us.", Taranee said.
"I will.", Will said. "Promise."
Nodding to each other, Will, Irma, Cornelia, and Hay Lin teleported to the places they worked at leaving Taranee at the palace where she would be working with Martin and some scholars in the royal library. Back on Earth, Matt was taking a jog in Heatherfield Park working on his stamina before he began his training with Tibor. He didn't know what Tibor had in store for him, but he did know one thing. That he was going to use all that training to help Will and the others in their fight against any who stood in their way in the coming war.
'We will win this war!', he thought to himself. 'And I will personally make the mighty Warrior King bow to us when it is over!', he thought as he continued to jog around the park.
As for Peter, he had met up with Caleb to talk about what happened last night. Needless to say that Caleb wasn't to surprised.
"You know, I'm not to surprised by what you just told me.", Caleb said. "And you know that they'll either teleport up there before we get there after we get there."
"That thought has crossed my mind. As well as Rubis'.", Peter said. "All I can think of doing is chewing them out for not trusting us enough."
"Works for me.", Caleb said. "We need to show them that they can't just go and change our plans to suit them. They have to respect us and what we're doing."
"I hear you, Caleb. I really do.", Peter said. "But how will we get them to leave?"
"Simple. We wait for them to say the right thing for us to turn the tables on them.", Caleb said. "After that, they will not be bothering us on the weekends."
"I hope you're right.", Peter said.
"Trust me, my friend.", Caleb said. "This will be the weekend that the girls will be respecting us a lot more than they normally do.", he said as they continued their way down the street. "Respect goes both ways. And they need to learn that."
"Now that I can get behind.", Peter said as they bumped fist.
Watching them from a distance was Rubis who was impressed with how things were going.
"Good. They are standing up for themselves.", Rubis said as he watched Caleb and Peter. "They will need that strength to win the coming war. This just may work out in the end."
Later that day, in the Drakken Kingdom, the girls were having no problems where they were working. Taranee was getting along with the scholars in the royal library while Hay Lin was making her deliveries without any problems. As for Cornelia and Irma, they weren't having any problems either. Yet for some reason, the two Guardians were keeping their eyes on the citizens that were there helping mix cement. Something that Mia and Cassidy noticed.
"What's with you two?", Cassidy asked the two Guardians. "You act like the people are going to attack you or something."
"After what happened yesterday, we're keeping an eye out for suspicious characters.", Irma said before taking a bite of her sandwich.
"What happened yesterday only happened at the logging area. Which is very far rom here.", Mia said. "I doubt that word of what happened there even got to here."
"Mia's right.", Cassidy said. "Besides. The events of yesterday wouldn't have happened had Matt not lost his cool."
"How did you...?"
"Micheal told me about it last night during dinner at the palace.", Cassidy said cutting Irma off.
"You're staying in the palace now?", Cornelia asked.
"Yep. It makes getting here a whole easier", Cassidy said.
"Well aren't you lucky.", Irma said.
"Back to the subject at hand.", Mia said. "You two have nothing to worry about here. The people of the Drakken Kingdom may not like you much, but the worst you'll get is dirty looks and maybe a few mean things said to you."
"And you think that we should just grin and bear it?", Cornelia asked.
"Do you really want to start something with them after all they've been through?", Cassidy asked.
"So you're taking their side in all of this?!", Irma asked. "Last I checked Guardians were suppose to stick together."
"No one is taking sides here, my friends.", Mia said. "But like Vallyza said, see things from the people's point of view."
"Yeah, yeah. We know.", Irma said. "We could of came to help after we defeated Cedric during that Winter Break."
"But we do have lives of our own you know.", Cornelia said.
"So did me and the girls during my Guardian days.", Cassidy said. "But when we went to a world and stopped the main trouble, we searched the rest of the world for any big trouble the next day or two later. Just in case."
"Didn't you have things to do back then?", Irma asked.
"Of course I did!", Cassidy said. "But I learned a long time ago that as a Guardian protecting the innocent comes first. That's just how it is. It's just like your dad, Irma. Even when he's off duty, as a cop, he has to uphold the law."
"Hey. You have a point there.", Irma said.
"Okay. I get it. We messed up.", Cornelia said. "But we're here to help now. That has to account for something."
"To some it does. While for others it doesn't.", Mia said.
"Yeah well I'd like to know why those others are giving us a hard time.", Irma said.
"Some may of suffered in Tarnas' prisons while others were forced to fight in his army.", Mia explained. "Some could have lost family members and friends.", she said which got Irma and Cornelia attention. "You may be here to help now, but as far as some of the people are concerned it's to little to late for them. Sure their views of you may change in time, but for now..."
"They want nothing to do with us.", Cornelia finished.
"That is why the king has you all doing things that don't have you walking around the cities, towns, and villages.", Cassidy said. "He doesn't want to see a fight break out that may do more harm than good."
"Not to mention there being some of Tarnas' followers in hiding.", Mia said. "All it would take is for a archer with good aim to fire an arrow at your head and it's , as you would say, game over.", she said to which Cornelia and Irma shivered thinking about it.
"Hey. What about those that Tarnas had running said cities, towns, and villages?", Cornelia asked. "What's happening to them?"
"Well until King Angelo can get to them, they are being held in their towns by the people.", Cassidy said. "And the people were told the no harm is to come to said captives and for them to be treated fairly."
"Why aren't they just brought to the palace to be judged?", Irma asked.
"Because the king is having a new prison made underground in the Infinite City just like the one we have in the Meridian Kingdom.", Mia explained. "That and not all of the followers of Tarnas were actually followers of Tarnas."
"Huh?", Irma asked.
"Some were posing as followers of Tarnas so they could feed information to the Drakken Kingdom rebels.", Mia explained. "General Nesson knows who was with the rebels and who wasn't. So when King Angelo does his tour of the different cities, towns, and villages Nesson will go with him to identify them.", she explained just as a loud whistle was heard.
"Time to get back to work.", Cassidy said as she and the girls threw their trash away.
'A tour of the kingdom, huh?', Cornelia thought to herself as she and Irma flew to their pit to mix some more cement. 'One of us needs to be on that tour!'
Now at the logging area, Will wasn't having any problems with the people there and was happy about it. Sure she may of gotten a dirty look or two but she was okay with it. She rolled the trees, that had their branches and roots chopped off, to the river where they would flow down to the lumber mill to be made into beams and boards that would be used to make house and docks and whatever else was needed. Now as Will was having her lunch, she noticed that Daren was sitting alone when a pregnant woman with long black hair came up to him. She was wearing a brown and white dress with black shoes. In her hands was a small basket that she figured had some food in it. She then saw how happy they were to see each other as they shared a loving kiss. Seeing them kiss made her think of Matt and how much she would like for him to be there, but knew that it was best that he stayed away. But Will also wanted to settle things with Daren from yesterday. So after taking a deep breath, Will got up and walked over to Daren.
"Whoa! Hold on now!", Wella said as she jumped in front of Will stopping her. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to apologize for what happened yesterday.", Will said.
"That's noble and everything, but right now, you're not Daren's favorite person right now.", Wella said.
"I know. I know. But it'll bug me until I do.", Will said.
"Okay fine.", Wella said seeing that Will wanted to do the right thing. "But I'm going with."
"Sure thing.", Will said as they both made their way to Daren.
As for Daren he and the pregnant woman were eating the food she brought with her when the woman noticed Will and Wella coming up to them. Daren saw this as well and was expecting trouble as he got to his feet ready for anything.
"Can I help you Guardian?", Daren asked showing no fear.
"Easy, Darean.", Wella said. "It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?", Daren asked.
"I... I've come to apologize for the actions of the Regent of Earth.", Will said. "It was wrong for him to do what he did. That's why he's not here with me right now. I don't want any trouble while I'm helping out here. I know that you and plenty of others aren't to happy with me being here when we could of been here a long time ago to help fight Tarnas, but my fellow Guardian and I are here to help now. It may not be much with all the help the king is providing, but it's all that we can do right now. I'll leave you to your lunch with your wife.", she finished as she turned to leave Daren with his wife.
"Wait.", Daren said stopping Will who slowly turned to face Daren. "I accept your apology for you are being truthful. But the Regent should be the one making the apology. Not you. As for you and your fellow Guardians not being here to aid us during our time of need, part of that falls on the leaders of the Meridian rebellion. They could of told you about us yet didn't. When it comes to Queen Elyon, we know that she had a lot to deal with after learning that she was not only the queen of a kingdom but also the Heart of another world. So I have no anger towards her. As you can see, I am married and about to be a father.", he said as he looked at his wife who smiled at him. "We would already have a child had it not been for Tarnas attacking our village two years ago. Marin was with child at the time and was injured."
"My child was lost.", Marin said sadly. "But now I'm being blessed with another.", she said with a smile as she rubbed her belly.
"Now I see why you don't like us.", Will said. "Had we been here to help, then you wouldn't of lost your first child."
"Maybe we would have a child, maybe we wouldn't.", Daren said. "A lot of us have lost loved ones over the years. But in the end, it was Tarnas who was the cause of our pain. But now he and his forces are defeated and any followers of his are either captured, being captured, on the run, or in hiding. We are working towards peace and it starts from within.", he said as he looked at Will. "You may have not been here to help back then, but you are here now. And that does count for something.", he said as he extended his hand.
"Thank you.", Will said as she shook Darens hand.
'Well that's one way to settle things.', Wella thought to herself glad that things were looking up.
Also seeing this were the other people as well as Orlande who was more than pleased by this.
'That's good to see. Now let's hope that the Regent of Earth doesn't come and screw this up.', he thought as he went to check on things else where.
Soon the day was done and the girls were ready to head on home. So as they've done the last few days, they've gathered at the courtyard of the palace ready to head back to Earth.
"You now, I wouldn't mind spending a night or two here.", Irma said as she looked up at the palace. "Take a look around the place. Find a secret passage or two that we can use in the future."
"Maybe find a spot to have our lounge.", Cornelia said.
"Again with the lounge?", Taranee asked. "I don't think the king is going to allow that.", she said as a soldier walked passed them.
"Well his reign is going to be short lived.", Cornelia whispered so only the girls could hear her.
"This isn't the place to be talking about that.", Will said as she opened a fold to Earth. "The last thing we need is for someone to overhear us talking about what we have planned.", she said as she headed through the fold.
"Don't sweat it, Will.", Irma said as she and the other girls followed Will through the fold that led to their base under the book shop. "No one will overhear us. And if someone does, I'll just hit them with my mind manipulating powers and make them forget."
"What if it's a Battle Warrior?", Hay Lin asked.
"Oh yeah. Them.", Irma said remembering that her powers don't work on them. "Crap!"
"And that is why we watch what we say on Metamoor.", Taranee said as Will closed the fold.
"Did I miss something?"
The girls turned to see Matt sitting on one of the couches that was in their base reading a book.
"And how long have you been down here?", Irma asked.
"Not long. I've been doing some working out most of the day to be ready for Tibor. I came here about twenty minutes ago to wait for you all to get here.", Matt said as he got up and walked over to Will. "How you doing? Did you have any problems with that Daren guy?"
"Yeah! I've been meaning to ask you about that.", Irma said.
"If he tried anything, I'll..."
"Relax, Matt!", Will said with a grin. "Nothing happened today."
"Nothing better not of happened.", Matt said as he clinched his fist. "If that guy tried something, I'd of..."
"Matt stop!", Will said stopping Matt. "You being like this is why things turned out the way they did yesterday!"
"Easy, Will. Matt is just worried about you. That's all.", Irma said.
"I get that, but things are okay with Daren now.", Will said.
"What do you mean?", Hay Lin asked.
"Well during or lunch break, I saw a woman walk up to Daren.", Will said. "She's his wife and she's pregnant."
"Okay. What does that have to do with things being okay with Daren?", Irma asked. "Oh wait! You went to the wife and got her to talk to Daren! Right?!"
"No, Irma. I didn't.", Will said. "I had went up to Daren to apologize for Matt's actions and..."
"Whoa! Hold up!", Matt said cutting Will off. "You apologized for me defending you?! Are you serious?!"
"Yes I did. What you did was wrong, Matt, and you know it.", Will said. "Now as I was saying, I had went up to Daren to apologize and make things right. He accepted my apology but also said that you should be the one to apologize.", she said to Matt.
"Yeah. That's not going to happen.", Matt said.
"Well I learned why he wasn't to happy with us.", Will said.
"And what was his lame excuse?", Cornelia asked.
"Two years ago Tarnas had Daren's village attacked.", Will said. "His wife was injured in the attack. She was pregnant at the time but lost the baby due to her injuries.", she explained surprising the girls. "Their first child never got to see the light of day and they never got to hold their child."
"Going through something like that would change anyone.", Hay Lin said feeling sorry for Daren and his wife.
"To lose your child without being able to hold him.", Taranee said. "Poor guy."
"Forget that!", Matt said surprising the girls. "He still was wrong for what he said to you, Will!"
"Are you... Are you for real?!", Will asked surprised by how Matt was acting.
"Look, Will, I do feel sorry about Daren losing his unborn child. Really! I do.", Matt said. "But that isn't an excuse for how he and the rest of them have been treating you all. The Drakken Kingdom may have suffered but that doesn't give them the right to do you girls the way they have been treating you. I mean you all helped saved that world more than once for crying out loud! You all deserve a statues or two for all that you've done!"
"Not going to argue with you on that, Matt, but we can't just go snapping at the people when they give us dirty looks or say something mean to us.", Taranee said.
"Besides. We've been to other worlds where we weren't welcome, but we stayed and helped and earned their favor.", Will said. "And we can do the same with the Drakken Kingdom."
"I still don't like how they do you.", Matt said. "They should be on their knees thanking you for saving their world from Phobos. Matter fact, Elyon and Angelo should have statues built in your honor! Other worlds have done this for you. So why can't they?!"
"Well, for one, they are rebuilding their kingdoms.", Will said. "The needs of the people come first."
"I know that.", Matt said. "I mean why haven't they talked about having it done later on?"
"We can talk about that later.", Cornelia said. "What we need to do is talk about is what we're going to do this weekend."
"Good question.", Taranee said. "Do we go up there before the guys or wait until after they get there?"
"Before they get there.", Will said. "We can clean up the place and have it ready for them when they get there."
"You sure you girls want to do this?", Matt asked. "I mean I can see why the guys want to go to the cabin to bond as a team. If it were me and I was given some people to form a team of Regents with, I would want to find a way to bond as well."
"And they can bond.", Cornelia said. "With us there to watch."
"You know that Caleb, Peter, and Joel won't be happy.", Matt said.
"Then we'll just have to remind them of who's in charge.", Irma said.
Watching them while keeping himself invisible to them, was Rubis who heard everything.
'Who indeed, Water Guardian.', he thought to himself as he floated through the walls of the hidden base. 'Who indeed.'
The next day, the girls along with Caleb had arrived in the Meridian palace on Metamoor where they found Alchemy walking with Drake holding hands.
"Well isn't that nice.", Irma whispered to Will.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were a bit jealous, Ms. Lair.", Will whispered to her friend.
"Me? Jealous? Of Ethel?", Irma asked in a whisper. "Yeah right!", she laughed.
"Fancy seeing you here, Al.", Cornelia said getting the attention of the couple as she walked up to them. "Shouldn't you be in the Drakken Kingdom doing... What do you do there anyway?"
"Right now, whatever is needed.", Alchemy said. "And right now, I am bringing Sir Drake and Sir Aldarn to speak with King Angelo on a certain matter."
"What kind of matter?", Hay Lin asked.
"Sorry but that is top secret.", Alchemy said.
"Come now, Alchemy. We're all friends here.", Caleb said. "You can tell us.", he said with a smile.
"Sorry, but I don't even know what this is about.", Alchemy said. "All I know is that it has something to do with the joint operation and that Queen Elyon is sending Drake and Aldarn to represent Meridian."
"It's true.", Drake said. "Her Majesty asked me and Aldarn the other day."
"Just you two?", Will asked.
"I was just as surprised. I figured that Her Majesty would of had Sir Julian and Sir Raythor representing our kingdom in this.", Drake said. "But the three of them talked about it with Princess Mia and the next thing you know, Aldarn and I were asked to go and represent the kingdom in this joint operation."
"We're going to meet up with Aldarn at the palace doors.", Alchemy said as she and Drake began to walk off. "Later."
"Hold up!", Cornelia said. "How come it's just you and Aldarn that's doing this?", she asked Drake. "Why isn't Caleb involved in this as well?"
'Good question.', Caleb thought to himself.
"You'll have to ask Her Majesty about that.", Drake said. "Now we must be off. Good day to you all.", he said as he and Alchemy walked off holding hands.
"We have to talk to Elyon about this!", Cornelia said.
"I agree.", Taranee said. "If we can get Caleb in on this operation..."
"I can bring you all in on it as well.", Caleb finished seeing where Taranee was going.
"Then let's go talk to Elyon.", Will said as they headed for the throne room.
Once at the throne room doors, Caleb stepped up to the guards there and...
"The Guardians of Kandrakar wish to have an audience with Her Majesty.", Caleb said to the guards who nodded before one of them went inside the throne room.
A few seconds later, the guard came back out and let them inside where Elyon was sitting on her throne with Raythor standing on Elyon's left and Mia standing on her right.
"Greetings, Captain Caleb. Guardians.", Mia said. "What brings you here this morning?"
"Well, Princess Mia, we just ran into Drake and Alchemy and learned about some meeting Drake ane Aldarn are having in the Drakken Kingdom.", Will said.
"Ah yes! The joint operation.", Raythor said. "It was decided that Drake and Aldarn would represent the kingdom in this joint operation."
"Well shouldn't Caleb be a part of this as well?", Cornelia asked. "I mean, he did lead the rebels. He should be apart of this operation."
"I believe that Aldarn and Drake are quite capable of representing our kingdom.", Mia said.
"We don't mean any disrespect to Aldarn and Drake.", Taranee said. "It's just that the people see Caleb as the hero of the people. Someone they look to in times of trouble. Perhaps it would be best if he were to be put in charge of this operation."
"And in doing so, bring you in on it as well.", Elyon said.
"Well as Guardian, we do help our allies when they ask for our aid.", Irma said with a hint of pride in her voice.
"And there lies the problem.", Mia said.
"Come again?", Will asked. "What's so wrong with us being involved in this operation?"
It was then that Elyon looked at Caleb and the girls and then let out a tiring sigh knowing that what she was going to say next needed to be said.
"I want to tell you a story. This happened about a few months before the Trials took place.", Elyon said as she stood up from her throne and began to pace back and forth. "I was going around the kingdom to see the many towns, cities, and villages. And in one of the towns, I met a soldier who lived there and did his duties well. And it was there that he told me a story of when there was an attack by some lurdens. They were fierce but the soldiers were able to fight them off."
"Okay. So what was the problem?", Hay Lin asked.
"During the attack, the soldier was escorting some people to the town hall where there were some soldiers there to guard the people while the other soldiers were fighting off the lurdens.", Elyon explained. "It was then that the soldier noticed how the people were looking to the sky. The soldier asked if they saw any mogriffs coming. They told him that they were looking to see when the Guardians coming to save them.", she said to which the girls smiled a bit. "You all are happy about this?"
"Well we are the Guardians.", Irma said. "And the people know to look to the skies for us."
"That may be, but when it comes to the heroes of the Meridan Kingdom, it's the brave soldiers that risk their lives every day and night.", Elyon said. "The people shouldn't have to look to the skies for the Guardians but to the horizon to see the soldiers coming to their aid. After speaking with that soldier, I spoke to some soldiers of other towns, cities, and villages and they told me something similar to what that one soldier told me. Which brings us to the joint operation. King Angelo and myself spoke about it and decided to let it be carried out by our forces. We believe that by doing this, it will show the people that they can depend on our soldiers and not always look for the Guardians to come and save them."
"And you really think that this one operation will do that?", Will asked.
"Not just this operation.", Elyon said. "There will be other operations I have in the works for my kingdom. Not to mention that I am having some of my soldiers being trained by some Battle Warriors to form an elite squad to take care of anything major that comes up."
"You know that you can always call on us for anything major, Elyon.", Cornelia said.
"Cornelia is right, Your Majesty.", Caleb said. "The Guardians have not only been powerful allies to the Meridian Kingdom but loyal friends as well."
"That may be, Captain Caleb, but the Guardians will not always be here to help fight our enemies.", Raythor said. "We must be able to fight our own battles when the time comes. Look at the others kingdoms."
"What about the other kingdoms.", Hay Lin asked.
"They may see us as weak for always calling on the Guardians when things get tough.", Raythor explained.
"Well I think that they're just jealous.", Hay Lin said.
"Well I believe that I need to rely more on my troops instead of you when things get tough.", Elyon said being serious.
"But we don't mind helping the Meridian Kingdom, Elyon.", Will said.
"That may be but I'm standing by my choice in this matter.", Elyon said. "This is for the best. Try to understand."
"We understand, Your Majesty.", Will said. "We just wish to be of help."
"From what I've been told, you five have done plenty for our kingdom.", Mia said. "But right now, the people need to see that they can depend on the soldiers to protect them now. For as the Guardians, you have your duties to not just our world but all the Known Worlds."
'Not this again!', Irma said to her fellow Guardians through their telepathic link. 'Let's get out of here, girls! I so don't need to hear this again!'
'No arguments here.', Taranee said.
'I hear you.', Hay Lin said.
'I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd actually rather be mixing some cement right now.', Cornelia said.
"You're right, Mia. We have our duties as Guardians to think about.", Will said ready to leave. "And right now we have to get to the Drakken Kingdom and get to work there. We'll see you later."
"Later.", Elyon said as the girls teleported away. "That could of gone better."
"Indeed, Your Majesty.", Raythor said. "You do not have to be a mind reader to tell that they did not like what you had to tell them."
"Maybe not, but it had to be said.", Mia said. "If they can not accept what we are doing then they are not the friends they claim to be."
"They only wish to help, Princess Mia.", Caleb said in the girls' defense. "They have done plenty for our kingdom."
"No one is saying that they haven't, Caleb.", Elyon said. "The Guardians have done a lot for our kingdom. But now, we need to show the people that they can rely on the soldiers in times of danger. Soldiers that you have been leading I might add."
"Of course, Your Majesty.", Caleb said with a bow. "I will not fail you."
"I'm glad to hear that.", Elyon said. "For we have a long road ahead of us before we reach our goal. A really long road."
'That road isn't as long as you think it is, Elyon.', Caleb thought to himself as he left the throne room. 'For soon the kingdom shall b taking a different path. One that shall make us the most powerful kingdom in all of Metamoor.'
As for the girls, they had teleported to the courtyard of Angelo's palace still upset about the talk they had with Elyon, Mira, and Raythor.
"Un-freaking-believable!", Irma said as she stood there still fuming. "Tossed aside just to make her soldiers look good! Can you believe it?!"
"Oh! I can believe it!", Cornelia said as she looked at the palace. "I also believe that she was talked into do this.", she said as she narrowed her eyes as the palace.
"Of course "HE" would have something to do with this.", Irma said. "Well I say that we have a little talk with His Royal Lameness about what's what! Right girls?!"
"Right on!", Cornelia said.
"Let's do it!", Hay Lin said.
"We need to have our say.", Taranee said. "Right, Will?", she asked as she and the other girls looked at Will.
Taking a deep breath, Will looked up at the palace and made her choice as she clinched her fist.
"Let's go!", Will said as she teleported herself and her fellow Guardians into the palace ready to confront Angelo.
As for Angelo, he was sitting on his throne with Micheal on his left and Nara on his right while he was talking to Aldarn and Drake along with Generals Nesson and Renna about something when the girls teleorted into the throne room surprising them all.
"Angelo. We need to talk.", Will said with a serious tone that matched the expression on not only her face but the faces of her fellow Guardians.
A/N: Well this should be good! W.I.T.C.H. is mad and ready to take it out on Angelo. But will they go and make things worse for them or will they find a way to get more involved in the operation? Find out in the next chapter!
Please review.
