"Brother…Why are we doing this?" Miranda asked as she followed closely by her elder bother through the darkening streets of Heatherfield. She had to admit that she loved the city so far despite it's many levels of strange.

"Because Miranda, we don't have a choice." Cedric sighed, he didn't like this idea either but he was loyal to his prince. Sometimes though he wondered why he bothered but then the prince would show the kindness that first made the shapeshifter to admire him. The only thing was the only people the prince showed that kindness to was the people closest to him which made Cedric believe in him. Phobos wanted what was rightfully his, the powers the princess had that by birthright should have been Phobos's but somehow the girl had received them

Phobos was more than happy to help his prince gain those powers and screw the rest of the kingdom. He hated them for their stupidity, Phobos could do so much to help them if they would only give up this stupid rebellion of theirs. It was a waste of time, the only reason Phobos was punishing the people like he was because of their stunts that they kept pulling and the reason the kept pulling them was because of the punishments. It was enough to give him a headache.

Then came the guardians, they had no idea what was going on and did what they were told. They didn't belong in Meridian putting their collective noses where they didn't belong. They were foolish children and while he hated going against children he hated them even more for keeping the war going.

"I still don't like it but I guess we don't have a choice." Miranda sighed as a dark haired woman got out of a vehicle with a man with lighter colored hair. Cedric recognized the man as a teacher from the school where the guardians attenended.

"Hi, do you know Will?" The woman asked, a sad look on her face. It almost looked like she had been crying.

"Red head about yay high?" Cedric asked holding out his hand about the same height of Miranda. "Are you her mother?"

"Yes, have you seen her?" The woman asked quickly.

"Ye s…Actually I know where she is." Cedric said smiling at the woman as Miranda got a worried look in her eyes. "If you want I can take you to her."

"Thank you." The woman said with relief though Cedric could see protectiveness in the man's eyes as he moved closer to the woman.

"I don't know if we can trust him, Susan." Dean whispered in the woman's ear while giving Cedric an odd look.

"If he knows where Will is then I have to go." Susan sniffed.

"Then I'm going to." Dean said sternly.

"Then if you two are ready lets get going." Cedric said turning on his heel heading back toward the park where the portal was. This was too easy but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. They were soon in the park nearing the portal when Dean started acting worried.

"Where is Will?" Dean asked as Cedric turned around to face him with a cold smirk.

"You will find out soon enough." Cedric growled as he changed to his monstrous form towering over the two humans.

"What are you?" Susan gasped as Dean stood protectively in front of Susan but Miranda also changed and wrapped Susan's upper body in webbing as she pulled the woman with a strand of it toward her. Dean started to jump toward the two to save Susan but was knocked out by Cedric.

"DEAN!" Susan screamed struggling to get away.

"Pastling, I know you are there, I can smell you." Cedric grinned, "Tell the keeper of the Heart that we have her parents in Meridian. If she wants them back then come alone with the Heart and she can have her parents back unharmed."

"Cedric, what's going on?" Vathek asked joining the group just before they went through. Miranda covered Susan's mouth with webbing quieting the woman's protests.

"Phobos requests the presence of these humans." Cedric growls picking up Dean by the back of his jacket. He noticed the bandage on the side of his friend's face and asked about it.

"I got into a fight with a human with a gun, bastard shot at me and for the most part missed." Vathek grumbled as Cedric shook his head. "I beat the fool unconscious after that and seeing him hurt the Water Guardian."

"Vathek, your honor and strange obsession with that girl is going to get you in trouble." Cedric grumbled, "I know you don't have feelings for her but you need to stop seeing Aria's face every time you see the water brat."

"Whatever, I'll escort you back." Vathek grumbled in annoyance.

WITCH

"Will!" Blunk's voice called out pulling Will from her thoughts as she walked tiredly toward the park. She couldn't go home, she couldn't give up the Heart and become a nothing again. She couldn't go to Irma's and talk to her she already hurt her family enough. The other three girls were possibilities but she didn't know if she could talk to them about her past. She still wasn't sure what to think about Irma knowing whatever the girl did know and in a way it angered the redhead while at the same time reliving her of the fears of Irma abandoning her when finding out.

"Blunk, what's wrong?" Will asked looking up to see the rank smelling creature with a decent heart if a strange one.

"Snake man kidnapped your mother and teacher friend, says come alone to Meridian." Blunk panted.

"Do not tell anyone." Will sighed, "I've caused them enough trouble as it is. Where is the portal?"

"In the park." Blunk said after regaining his breath as Will stormed past ignoring his protests in search of the portal.

WITCH

"You should be proud of your daughter." The blue man called Vathek said with a gentle smile to Susan who was being forced to walk with the group through the streets of the village just south of what could only be the castle they kept saying they was going to. She was scared to death but Miranda had finally removed the webbing from her mouth thanks to Vathek because she couldn't breathe. Cedric was carrying the unconscious form of Dean in a fireman's carry.

"What are you going to do to us? To my daughter?" Susan asked trying to be strong as she kept looking around seeing the obvious struggle the villagers was going through to survive. Many of the buildings were close to collapsing as the people looked half starved to death. Even the children who ran playing in the streets looked starved though many looked better off than the adults. Some looked like they were normal humans while the others looked like monsters to her but they seemed to be just trying to have a life like anyone else.

"I won't let you be hurt if that is what you are worried about." Vathek said smiling gently. Susan wanted to hit him for saying that while being one of their captors but the look in his eyes seemed out of place with his actions. Despite having a hard quality to them there was also a gentleness and honesty to them. "All we want is the Heart so we can stop this foolish war, its gone on long enough. I hate having to stoop to such methods but it is our Prince's wish, he wants to end this violent cycle just as much as everyone else."

"It's about time you got back." Another blue man with blonde hair snarled looking lustfully at Susan which was unsettling her. He was riding on top a strange lizard like creature surrounded by what looked like soldiers with tannish skin.

"Hands off, Frost, she's under my protection." Vathek growled at the other man who adopted a false innocent look.

"I'd never dream of hurting her." Frost said with a sneer, "She looks so delicate and fragile, I wouldn't want to break her before hearing her exquisite screams."

"Bastard." Vathek growled preparing to launch at the other male before the snake like man growled at them.

"Cut this out! Frost, I gave them my word no harm would come to them as long as the keeper brought me the Heart so back off." Cedric snarled, "Vathek, don't let Frost work you up, he's not worth it."

"Whatever." Frost grunted as the soldiers surrounded the group as an escort. They were finally reaching the outskirts of town before lightning started crashing down around them causing the group to scatter. Cedric actually dropped Dean as he reared back but the shock of the drop seemed to wake up the man.

"Get the hell away from my mother!" Will growled as she hovered above the group. Susan's jaw dropped as she looked at her daughter, she looked different but she knew in her heart that the red haired fairy like creature was Will. The girl had a beauty to her that Susan always knew she had but the confidence she was showing brought it forth.

"Guardian." Frost sneered drawing a sword as he dismounted aiming the point at Susan making her whimper in fear, "The Heart for your mother's life."

NOTES

Sorry for the shortness of the chappie but depending on what I get into the next one it may be longer than normal.

Philip Gipson: They both really care for her, even in the cartoon and comic worlds as I believe any mother should and only wants what's best for her. I'm glad I seem to be portraying this decently. I'll check out Thundercats DVDs, and honestly I can't think of one. I was going to say Ron from Kim Possible did but after thinking about it I don't think he did on the cartoon, I think it was a fanfiction I read.