Chapter Twelve: Parole Meeting & A Hard Lesson

"Wow!", Alchemy said looking around the Throne Room. "This place is huge!"

"Never thought I'd ever be in a palace.", Mandy replied. "So are all the rooms as big as this one?"

"Some of them are.", Elyon said. "But the private chambers are a smaller.", she said as Raythor entered the Throne Room.

"Your Majesty!", Raythor said with a bow. "I heard a noise and came to investigate. I did not think you would be here so soon."

"Hello, Raythor.", Elyon said. "I figured that we would come here a bit early for Miranda's parole meeting. That way I could show the two newest Mystic Battle Warriors around before returning to Earth."

"As you wish, Your Majesty.", Raythor said with a bow. "I will gather together the generals that are here. I shall return with them as soon as possible."

"Take your time.", Elyon said. "There's no rush."

"Very well.", Raythor said a he turned to leave.

"Would Drake be one of those generals?", Alchemy asked.

"Yes.", Elyon said. "He should be back from his camping trip with Aldern and Tynar.", she said making Alchemy smile.

"Well she's happy.", Mandy whispered to Angelo who snickered a bit.

About a half an hour later, Raythor returned with Vathek, Tynar, Julian, Aldern, and Drake who Alchemy was more than happy to see. Alborn and Miriadel were there as well and welcomed Alchemy to their home world seeing as how they knew how she and Elyon were best friends. Once the greetings were out of the way, Alborn and Miriadel sat with Angelo, Alchemy, and Mandy on the side seats while the others sat at the large round table with Miranda sitting in the center opening in the table.

"Where is Caleb?", Aldern asked.

"He is still on Earth.", Elyon said. "He may not be coming to this meeting, so let us begin."

"Very well.", Vathek said. "This is the first parole meeting for Miranda. Former General of Prince Phobos. What have you to report of her progress on Earth, Your Majesty?"

"I am pleased to report that Miranda is adjusting well to her new home quite well.", Elyon reported. "She will be beginning her first day of school tomorrow where she will be under the watchful eye of not only the Guardians, along with one of Earth's Regents, and our own General Caleb, but the Battle Warriors, and myself as well. I honest believe that she will prove worthy of her freedom."

"Very well.", Vathek said. "Does anyone else have anything to ask or add?", he asked only to see that everyone was okay with everything. "Then I call this meeting over."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Miranda got up and joined her friends who glad that the meeting went well.

"What a relief.", Miranda said happy to not be going back to prison.

"On that we're all glad.", Elyon said with a smile that Miranda returned as Drake came walking up to them. "Hello, Drake."

"Hello, Your Majesty.", Drake said to Elyon. "May I ask why Caleb didn't come with you for Miranda's parole meeting?"

"It's a long story.", Elyon said. "One that can be told while I show my friends around the palace."

"Very well.", Drake said as he walked out of the Meeting Room with Elyon and the others.

As they were walking out of the Meeting Room, Alchemy made her way next to Drake with her hood down showing her face.

"You... look familiar.", Drake said looking at Alchemy. "You were the one dressed as a bear a few days ago."

"Ummmmm... Yeah.", Alchemy said with a slight blush. "I must have looked a bit silly, huh?"

"Actually... I thought it was sort of cute.", Drake said making Alchemy smile . "What was your name again?"

"Ethel Alchemy Ethel.", Alchemy said. "I'm one of the newest Mystic Battle Warriors."

"I see. The queen has mentioned you a lot", Drake said. "I'm glad to finally meet you.", he said as they shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, too.", Alchemy said with a smile before she, Angelo, and Mandy transformed back to normal, which like the other Battle Warriors and Guardians wasn't much of a height difference.

Drake said nothing as they continued walking down the halls of the palace. But he couldn't help but see the kindness in Alchemy's eyes. It was the same look Elyon had in her eyes. It was something that he respected. Just as much as he respected Elyon and her kindness. But he also knew that like Elyon, Alchemy had a strong spirit. One that made her worthy of being Battle Warrior. But there was something else that caught the young warrior's attention about Alchemy as she walked next to him dressed in a pair of blue form-fitting jeans with white sneakers and a yellow blouse as her shoulder length hair swayed side to side a bit.

'She is kind of cute.', Drake thought to himself as Elyon began to show Alchemy and Mandy around.

Back on Earth, W.I.T.C.H. and Matt teleported down to the Mystic Battle Warriors' HQ with Caleb, Joel, and Peter in tow in hopes of talking to John Vanders, Joe Vanders, and Patrick Tubbs about Angelo banning them from their HQ. And as luck would have it, the three men in question were there along with someone Hay Lin never thought she'd see there.

"Aunt Jun!?", Hay Lin questioned in surprise.

The woman turned around to see her niece there in the Battle Warrior HQ. Jun Lin was in her early forties, like John. She had gray eyes and black hair that went down to the center of her back. She was dressed in a blue thin-strapped dress with matching shoes while John Vanders was dressed in a pair of black pants and shoes with a blue dress shirt and tie. Joe and Patrick were dressed in tan pants, brown shoes each. Joe had a light blue shirt on while Patrick was wearing a gray shirt. Both also had canes as well. Granted they didn't need them much.

"Hey, Hay Lin.", Jun Lin said to her niece with a smile.

"What are you doing here?", Hay Lin questioned.

"You didn't tell her?", Jun asked John.

"Wasn't my place to tell her or the others.", John said.

"Tell me what?", Hay Lin asked.

Jun then held up her right hand to show a familiar type of ring on her index finger.

"Y-Y-Y-You're a Battle Warrior!?", Hay Lin questioned in shock.

"Sure am.", Jun said with a smile.

"Jun here is the Rush of my team.", John said. "That's where we started our on again, off again relationship."

"But after a while we each met somebody else.", Jun said. "Sadly though, our signigfigant others passed away years ago from Cancer and well, we ended up getting back together again."

"Wow!", Hay Lin said. "That's..."

"Great!", Irma said with a smile.

'Sure is.', Taranee said to the girls through their telepathic link.

'Yeah!', Cornelia said. 'With your aunt here, Hay Lin, we have a better chance of getting them to lift Angelo banning us from their base.'

'Worth a shot.', Will said.

'I guess.', Hay Lin said.

'Let's do it!', Irma said before Taranee cut the link.

"So what brings you kids here today?", Patrick asked before he noticed Peter and Joel. "And who are they?"

"This is my brother Peter, Mr. Tubbs.", Taranee said introducing her brother.

"And this is Joel Wright, Sir.", Matt said introducing Joel. "He's a part of Wreck 55."

"So you all just decided to bring them down here without telling the others?", Patrick questioned.

"Come now, Pat. They wouldn't do something so foolish.", Joe said. "Oh wait. You did."

"How did you...", Will began to question.

"You do realise that we have cameras in here right?", Jun asked them.

"I have footage of you all teleporting down here showing Peter and Joel around the place like it was yours.", John said. "Which let's me further know that you didn't ask Angelo and the others about bringing them down here."

"And we also know that you all went behind their backs and told these two everything about all of us.", Joe said.

"Ummmmm...", Irma began to say.

"And one more thing.", Jun Lin said. "What happened Friday night?", she asked causing the teens faces to pale a bit. "Uh-huh. Looks like it was something big."

"From the surge of power we felt coming from there, I should say so.", Patrick said. "Care to explain what happened?"

At first, none of the teens said anything not knowing what to say. I mean they knew what happened, but they were afraid of getting in more trouble than they already were in.

"Well?", Joe said while tapping his foot. "We're waiting."

So, taking a deep breath, Will stepped forward and.

"Well, it's like this.", she said. "Some of us figured that Angelo wasn't being honest about Peter, Caleb, and Joel not being able to become Battle Warriors.", she began to explained. "So, on that night ..."

"You all decided to go and try to prove him wrong about it by taking three of their rings and letting these three try and use them.", Jun finished while looking at Joel, Peter, and Caleb in which Will nodded.

"You have got to be kidding me!", Joe said while rolling his eyes.

"What were you thinking!?", John questioned.

"I don't think they were thinking at all.", Patrick said.

"The damage you could have caused would have been like a nuke or two going off!", Joe said scaring the teens. "How did you get their rings anyway?"

"Ummm... I took them.", Hay Lin said softly.

"You, Hay Lin?", Jun questioned. "How could you... How were you... Let me guess. You went invisible and snuck in their rooms."

"How did you...!? You told her about me being a Guardian!?", Hay Lin questioned in shock while looking at John.

"And Angelo and the others were mad about us telling about them.", Cornelia said.

"First off, I didn't tell Jun about any of you.", John said.

"Mom told me about you and your fellow Guardians.", Jun said.

"Grandma?", Hay Lin questioned.

"Yes. And she won't be to happy about what you did, young lady.", Jun said.

"Aw, man!", Hay Lin said knowing she was in big trouble.

"Look. We're sorry about what happened.", Caleb said.

"You should be.", Patrick said. "What you did was just plain dangerous."

"We know that now.", Will said. "That's why we came here to talk to you."

"About what?", Joe questioned.

"Well, after what happened Friday night, Angelo had us leave the next morning.", Irma explained.

"Can you blame him?", Jun asked them getting a glare from the Water Guardian. "Don't you give me that look, young lady!", she said in a way that made check herself.

"What else did Angelo do?", John asked. "Cause something tells me there's more."

"He went and banned us from here.", Will said.

"Hehehehe!", Joe said with a smirk. "That sound about right. Good on him!"

"What?", Matt questioned.

"Would ou of liked the alternative?", Jun questioned. "I know you were told of what they could have done to you all."

"The Elders? Yeah. They told us about that.", Hay Lin said. "But..."

"You think Angelo was being harsh with banning you all from here.", Joe figured getting nods from the teens.

"So you decided to try and talk to us hoping that we would go and lift the ban and allow you to come her again.", Patrick figured.

"And I'm guessing that the others agreed with Angelo seeing as they're not here with you.", Jun figured.

"And you, Will, figured that me and my father would agree to lift the ban seeing as we have history.", John figured. "Smart thinking. But no."

"No?", Cornelia questioned.

"No.", John said. "My nephew was being nice when he banned you all from here."

"Very nice.", Jun said looking at her niece who held her head down in shame.

"His call was fair and I'm going to allow it.", John said.

"But we said we were sorry!", Matt said. "I mean we know what we did was wrong!"

"Do you!?", Patrick snapped. "Did you really learn from anything from what you almost caused!?"

"Easy, old friend.", Joe sad while placing a hand on Patrick's shoulder.

"What's his deal?", Cornelia questioned.

"I'm going to show you something.", John said as he opened a fold. "Come with me. All of you."

"John? Are you sure?", Jun asked him.

"They need to see this, Jun.", John said. "It's the only way they'll learn.", he said while going through the fold.

"You heard the man.", Juin said. "Move it!", she said pointing to the fold.

Not saying a word yet very curious about what was on the other side of the fold the teens went through the fold followed by Jun leaving Joe and Patrick alone in the Battle Warrior HQ.

"Think they'll learn from this?", Patrick asked his good friend.

"If they don't, then they're plum crazy fools!", Joe said.

"So you up for something to eat?", Patrick asked.

"I could go for ham and swiss sandwich with a cup of coffee.", Joe said.

"Turkey and swiss for me.", Patrick said before the two of them teleported out of the base.

As for John and the others, they were standing on a cliff that over-looked a large city. But the city looked like a war zone. There was no life in the city as the whole area was dark. Buildings were in ruin, while the streets were cracked with many potholes. Any vehicles that were there were mostly turned over on their sides or tops. But they saw that the city wasn't the only thing that was ruined. The land beyond it was just as ruined. The land was bare with no life what-so-ever. Seeing this the teens wondered what happened to this city and what was the cause of it.

"What happened here, Uncle John?", Will asked.

"What almost happened to Heatherfield and beyond Friday night, Will.", John said earning a gasp from Will and the other teens. "Someone played with fire and this whole city got burned."

Back on Metamoor, in the Meridian Kingdom, Elyon had shown Alchemy and Mandy most of the palace. And right now, they along with Angelo, Miranda, and Drake were in the Royal Garden.

"It's so beautiful.", Mandy said looking around at the garden.

"Ironically, my brother grew all of these flowers.", Elyon said. "At first, I was going to have them all moved to a field somewhere. But then I thought why should I get rid of the one good thing that my brother did here."

"So you decided to keep the garden as is.", Alchemy figured.

"Yeah.", Elyon said with a smile. "I know it sounds weird, but it is a nice garden.", she said as she bent down to sniff a rose.

"If only our brother treated or kingdom the way he did this garden, the people wouldn't have suffered so much.", came a female voice.

Alcemy and Mandy looked with the others to see a young woman in her early twenties. She had sky-blue eyes and long black hair that went down to the middle of her back. She was dressed in a gown like Elyons only it was light blue.

"Hello, sister.", the woman said with a kind smile that Elyon returned.

"That's your sister!?", Alchemy questioned.

"Alchemy. Mandy. This is my sister, Mia.", Elyon said introducing her older sister.

"Greetings, friends.", Mia said with a smile and a curtsy. "It is a pleasure to meet you.", she said before looking towards Alchemy. "Elyon has told me a lot of good things about you. You truly are a good friend to her."

"Ummmm... Thanks.", Alchemy said with a smile that Mia returned. "Say! Why don't you come back to Earth with us? You can stay with Angelo and his family. They have plenty of room. Miranda is staying there, as well."

"It is quite nice.", Miranda said. "I'm sharing what they call an apartment with Cassidy."

"I'd like to, but I'm not sure if I'd fit in.", Mia said.

"Now wasn't it you who wanted to come to Earth?", Angelo questioned.

"You did say that.", Elyon said with a smirk.

"I only wish to visit Earth.", Mia said. "Not stay there."

"Earth isn't so bad.", Angelo said. "It's not like Metamoor, but it's okay."

"Granted, you'll have to get use to some of the customs there.", Elyon said. "But once you do, you'll love it!"

"And trust me when I say that there are a lot of customs there.", Miranda said.

"I don't know.", Mia said as they exited the Royal Garden.

"Tell you what, Mia.", Angelo said. "You know how you run the kingdom when Elyon is on Earth during the week?", he asked getting a nod from the Meridian princess. "Well, how about we do this. When you're done with all of your royal duties, and if you're up for it, you come to my place on Earth and we can teach you most of what you need to learn about Earth. And on the weekend, while Elyon is here attending to things while learning more about Meridian and Metamoor, you can come to Earth and continue to learn more about it as well as do a bit of shopping with Cassidy and anyone we know that we can trust will help you shop for clothes for you to wear."

"That... sounds fair.", Mia said.

"Plus, there are plenty of book that you can read.", Elyon said making Mia smile a bit as they all walked down the halls of the palace.

It was then that they all picked up a foul order. One that Elyon, Mia, Drake, Miranda, and Angelo knew all to well. But for Alchemy and Mandy, they almost gagged from the smell.

"What is that smell!?", Mandy questioned. while holding her nose.

"That would be Blunk.", Elyon said as the little Passling came walking up to them.

"Hello, Queenie! Hello, Queenie boyfriend! Hello, Queenie sister! Hello, Drake! Hello, Spider-girl.", Blunk said to them before turning to Alchemy and Mandy. "Who you? You new!", she said with a smile.

"What is that!?", Alchemy questioned while holding her nose.

"That's Blunk. He's a Passling.", Angelo said. "They have a... unique order."

"That's putting it mildly.", Mandy said. "How can you all stand the smell?"

"You get use to it.", Mia replied. "Besides. Their foul smell is something of a defence for them. Plus, they're some of the best trackers on the planet."

"That's nice.", Alchemy said as her eyes began to tear up from the smell along with Mandy. "Okay! That's it!", Alchemy said as she used her powers to form a bubble force field around Blunk.

"Didn't see that coming.", Angelo grinned.

"That's one way to cut the smell off.", Miranda said with a grin.

"Ooooooo!", Blunk said as he poked at the force field he was in. "Blunk like!", he said as he began run around with the force field. "Blunk be nice and safe in here."

"Looks like you made a new friend, Al.", Elyon said with a giggle.

"Oh goodie.", Alchemy said as they continued to walk down the hall with Blunk following them in his force field bubble.

As for W.I.T.C.H., Matt, Caleb, Joel, and Peter, they were in shock at what John had told them about the ruined city and beyond.

"How did this happen?", Taranee asked.

"This city was the capital city of this world.", John began to explain. "It was a beautiful place with many beings living here. And like most worlds, they had a few teams of Mystic Battle Warriors that helped defended it. But the king of this world wanted to have his elite warriors to be made Battle Warriors to keep this world safer. But the elders told him that the three teams of Battle Warriors they were good enough to do the job."

"I'm guessing that the king didn't accept that.", Caleb said.

"No, he didn't.", Jun said. "The king figured that would take the rings from the Battle Warriors of his world and give them to warriors of his choice. But the Battle Warriors fought back telling the King that it would be a mistake if he were to try what he wanted to do. But the king didn't listen and took their families and held them for ransom in exchange for their rings."

"I'm guessing that they gave them up.", Peter figured.

"Wouldn't you for your family?", Jun questioned with her back turned to the young warrior.

"Anyway, when he got the rings, he gave eight of his warriors a ring each while he kept four for himself making him the strongest.", John continued telling the story. "His son tried to talk him out of doing what he was about to do, but the king didn't listen. The king and his warriors tried to activate the rings and a chain reaction happened that left the city like this. But, as you can see, it wasn't just the city that was effected. Almost half th kingdom was ruined by the king's actions. Lucky for all of them the Mystic Battle Warrior Elders stepped in and teleported the people away before any harm could be done to them. The king and his warriors were protected by the rings. But once the king saw the damage that was done, he knew he was wrong for what he done."

"What happened to the king?", Joel asked.

"His son demanded the crown claiming that his father put the people in grave danger with his actions. The king surrendered the crown without a fight.", Jun continued to explain. "As for the prince turned king, he lead the people to another part fo the kingdom where another palace was and they all worked together to build a new city where they all live now peacefully. The Battle Warrior rings were returned to the true Mystic Battle Warriors."

"And no one has ever been back here since?", Irma figured.

"Some come here with children to show them what could happen if you play with powers that you know nothing about.", Jun replied. "We older Battle Warriors do the same with new recruits to show them what could happen if someone who can't be a Mystic Battle Warrior tries to use the rings."

"That is why Angelo and the others were so angry with you for what you did.", John said. "All you love and care for could have been wiped off the face of the Earth. That's why Angelo banned you all from our HQ. And I will not be lifting it.", he said giving the teens a stern look.

"But, Uncle John..."

"Not. Lifting. It.", John said cutting Will off giving her an even sterner look making her back down. "So when we go back to Earth, you all leave. No ifs, ands, or buts about it."

No words were said as John opened a fold for Earth for them to go through. The nine teens went through the fold with a better understanding of why Angelo did what he did, yet still wished he didn't ban them from their base. Once through the fold, they saw that Joe and Patrick were gone, yet Nigel, Eric, and Martin were there going through something on their computer that had a large flat screen for a monitor.

"What are you guys doing here?", Eric questioned when John and Jun came through the fold.

"Easy boys.", Jun said. "They're with us. And we know what happened."

"Which was why we took them to planet Zarren.", John added. "I figured they needed to see why Angelo did what he did when he banned them from our HQ."

"So now you see why we were so upset with you all.", Martin said as the fold closed.

"We get it. Really, we do.", Matt said. "But..."

It was then that another fold opened in which...

Moments earlier, on Metamoor, in the Meridian Kingdom, Angelo, Elyon, Alchemy, and Mandy were in the Throne Room, ready to return to Earth.

"Well, it was great seeing you, Mia.", Elyon said as the two sisters shared a hug. "I'll be back to see you tomorrow after school. And thank you for all that you are doing for me here."

"Think nothing of it, Elyon.", Mia said as they ended their hug. "You still young. You have a right to live your life until you are ready to completely assume the throne."

"And as for you!", Alchemy said as she removed the forcefield bubble from around Blunk. "Please take a bath!"

"Blunk no take bath!", Blunk said. "Passlings hate water!", the little Passling said as he ran off.

"Wow! He must really hate water.", Mandy said as she watched Blunk run off.

"You have no idea.", Miranda said as Angelo opened a fold for Earth.

"It was nice meeting you.", Mia said to Mandy and Alchemy.

"Same here.", Mandy said. "Maybe, when you come to Earth, we can hang out at the mall."

"Oh! That'll be so much fun!", Alchemy said. "We can do some shopping and then hit the food court where you can try out some of the food there!"

"Looks like they have your first day planned out already.", Angelo joked getting a small laugh out of Mia.

"Until we meet again.", Mia said with a smile that they all returned before going through the fold. "My sister has some interesting friends.", she said as the fold closed. "But they are good people.", she said as she headed out of the Throne Room and headed to the Royal Library to read a book.

As for Angelo, Elyon, Miranda, Alchemy, and Mandy, they had came through the fold that lead to the Battle Warrior HQ. And what they saw surprised them and made Angelo mad.

"What the heck!?", Angelo questioned as he saw W.I.T.C.H., Matt, Caleb, Peter, and Joel standing there.

A/N: Now they know why Angelo did what he did when he banned them from the Battle Warrior HQ. Let's hope they actually learn from it and not try to get him to lift his ban. But right now, they may be in bigger trouble due to them being in the base right now. Find out what happens in the next chapter.

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