Meaghan, the Twilight Guardian POV

I looked to my companions new and old, each with a different emotion. With Casey, I was relieved. She'd been such a fearsome challenge for the Mistress of All Evil on her own, save for her Tamers. I was proud of her for sticking it out and giving that witch a run for her money. Looking at my hunchbacked friend, Quasimodo, I felt comfort in knowing he wouldn't stray from her. Eugene's confidence was something I low-key needed to embody my Guardian mojo again. Ralph meant well when he asked the elderly sorcerer what all was needed. I felt his motivation, his want to be involved. With Felix, I felt the highest of sympathies, yet no pity. Pity was not something he needed nor wanted, and I admired his bold spirit.

With Jim, though, I should have been happy. Rather, I looked to him while Yen Sid spoke and all I could feel was remorseful and empty. What happened to the joy I felt when he and I bumped together in the palace halls? Was it all just a rush of emotion to be swept away the instant my duties came into view? His enthusiasm was off the charts when our eyes met this evening, but somehow I couldn't match his. Not that I wished to force it, mind you.

My thoughts were interrupted as I noticed all eyes were on me, as if expectant of something. My cheeks flushed in brief embarrassment and I gazed at them in confusion.

"Sorry, I zoned out for a bit." The elder, eyes cast downward before meeting my own again, was the first to speak in response.

"You have a lot on your mind, so to come back in so quickly will make you forget what is in front of you. In the coming days, I stand firm in my belief that you will be more disciplined when you reflect on what is at stake, my girl." His mild lecture was enough for my head to lower and nod. I took a deep breath in an effort to not stammer. Now was not the time to feel cornered emotionally.

"I know, and you're right. It just means that I have some homework to do. I'm sorry to divert the meeting. Now," I exhaled once more and lifted my head to meet everyone, "do we have any kind of idea where Maleficent may strike next or if she has any potential agents to do her dirty work?"

Jim replied rather quickly, "Negative. My subordinates have searched for the better part of a year now, and we think she's acting by herself. There's no paper trail on where she goes, either, until after the fact and people find themselves in need of relief crates." He was quick on the draw. For a moment I saw a man I didn't recognize, but he had the same thinking face I was familiar with.

My brows lifted and my head tilted to the side and back up just as quickly and focused again. "Alright, noted, and does she have a pattern we can follow? Steps we can take to prepare for her upcoming offences?"

"It doesn't seem to be that way," Casey chimed in. "In the times that she's attacked, it was uncharacteristically at random. She doesn't want us tracking her, even while she can't use her magic here in the Keep."

"Well," the wrecker spoke, "that kinda puts a damper on things, now doesn't it?"

"She seems to be fairly inclined to tease." Felix gently prodded his two cents. "She was rather nice and sported a rather motherly vibe, but everything was sickly, as if a doom was coming over me, y'know? Like a raincloud, coming suddenly on a sunny day…"

I didn't mean to scoff immediately, but I did out of habit. "She was nice to you, Felix, because you didn't know her from dirt. When she spoke to me back at the apartment, she was anything but."

Immediately, I stopped. For almost everyone in this room, what I just said was the first time they were hearing about our brief correspondence. Eugene and Casey were mostly unfazed by this, but for others, each man was on the offensive to some degree, save for Felix.

The handyman's eyes went wide, not because her response was rude or the like, but because she had experienced the very same as he. For a moment, he never stopped to consider that these Guardians were maybe just as vulnerable as he sometimes. The workshop was still as the grave.

"Et tu, Meaghan," Quasimodo asked, his voice soft and chilling to hear. Felix clung to his hat as he glanced to his brother in arms, whose brows furrowed with a look of silent rage. The soft-spoken sorcerer rose from his seat calmly, much to everyone's surprise.

"It would seem that you and Fix-It now have something in common. Grace, Meaghan, regale every word and detail. This may be of the utmost importance." His word was not a request, but of the highest order. Casey, the Day Guardian, rose her eyes in worry and alarm, ready to snap at any second.

The Twilight Guardian apologetically turned her head once more around the room and put her hands together.

"Crap, I had forgotten that most of y'all hadn't heard this until now. Like many of you, I never anticipated her arrival. My living room turned into the pitch black of her heart, and for a moment, she had invaded my thoughts. Taunts aside, not much was really said. Granted, she showed me the after-effect of what she did to you, Felix, and that I saw Casey looking after you, Ralph, and the Nicelanders. She tried to put me down and make me wallow in the fact that I failed this realm for almost five years. She didn't have to be present for me to feel that way, but she did help me remember that you all existed, as, um, awful as that sounds." She looked to Jim in a way he hadn't seen before she continued. "I really, really hate to admit this, but while I was gone for college and trying to get through life, I, uh…" Words began to fail her as she felt punched in the stomach and breathless by her own regret. Her voice went soft at that moment, "I had forgotten about all of this. The Keep, the Guardians, everyone that I cherished here was nonexistent for the longest time. That's not fair to Casey, who fought on her own here, nor is it fair to anyone here who probably who remembered me from time to time. And after the chat, I was implanted with the fear that no one would remember me, or if you did, I would have been unwanted and exiled. I can't apologize enough for such a grave trespass against y'all. There's no excuse for it. I had one job and I completely screwed it up, but Casey," she spoke in response to her friend's gaze, "you've been a phenomenal Guardian before and after I became one. I have a lot to atone for, but I hope you and everyone else can forgive my absence."

Silence fell again upon the room. Everyone present had begun to visually express their discomfort in some form or fashion, and all eyes were on her.

Jim blinked, as if smacked by what he had just heard, clearly in frazzled state of mind. Silent, he drew in a breath, making me turn to look at him in pain in what I just said to the entire court. It was eating me through ever since I fell into the ocean by Corona. This obviously struck a cord in him and in the newcomer's faces. Quasimodo held a look of near disdain but understanding... Eugene held a hand to his mouth, stuck.

Casey settled back in her seat pressing a fist to her lips in deep thought. Ralph gave a grated sigh before staring to the floor... His and Felix's thoughts went on to questioning if they really were not real in the grand scheme of things. Yen Sid made sure such thoughts were avoided. Taking a hand and placing it on my head, he imparted a word of encouragement.

"She wanted to keep you there, same as she tried to do to sir Felix, to keep him and his entire realm, trapped forever. The fact that you did not give into such poison only proves that have you have not truly forgotten. Your world is a haze, it keeps you moving, never giving you a chance to think and recall your pasts, your regrets and hopes. You are wanted, you are needed. This is a choice that has changed all of your lives, not just hers."

"If Cassandra hadn't come to me," Quasimodo finally spoke up."... I would have died in the cold hold of the catacombs from a broken heart."

Casey snapped her head to him with a solid cold fear and regret in her eyes. She was close to crying.

"We'd be dust in a wall socket." Ralph sadly added.

"I'd be some loner in the dead of space, dreaming for nothing..." Jim added, gazing at Meaghan again.

"Exile, bah- Meaghan, you came back." Casey choked up, taking her sister by the hand.

"I have to be." I was damn near in tears when my hand was consumed in hers, but held it off for the sake of this meeting. My voice was low and deathly monotonous. "I took an oath, and now, more than ever, I have to uphold it with every fiber of my being. It's selfish, and I'm sorry, but until this gets resolved, I can't afford to forget anymore, or else more will suffer."

"Then, it has been decided," the elder finalized. "At the dawn's rising, Wreck-It and Fix-It, should they choose to accept this destiny, will begin their Tamer training with Cassandra, Quasimodo, and Robin Hood. This path, while dangerous, is essential if we are to vanquish Maleficent and her influence over our world. There will be times, through high emotion or dark magic, where the animal spirits the Guardians wield will dominate over them and they may not be of sound mind. It is up to the Tamers to bring their assigned Guardian back to a state of normalcy and balance. Failure to do so may result in grave consequences. James and Eugene, I am relying on the both of you to assist the Twilight Guardian, as you will become her Tamers. In the meantime, His Majesty and I will be keeping a careful eye on the affairs of the Keep and the other realms. If we hear of anything in need of resolving, you all will be the first to know. Fair you well tonight, as you will need your rest and strength."

We all nodded at this informal end. With our assignments given, we left the workshop one by one. I had taken but ten steps in hopes of speaking with Casey before I felt a hand squeezing on my shoulder. I jumped briefly before I turned around and met with the hand's owner. Jim, the former delinquent, was right there with an aura of something I hadn't seen from him in person. It came off as pained, confused, and he didn't have to speak to tell me he wanted to chat. It was written all over him.