24: Loss

Meridian, Surface

Outside the entrance to the tunnel below the mountain everyone that was unable to get away was taking what cover they could, only the 3 girls along with Undia and the constructs had remained in the open, they kept low (which was hard for the constructs as they were huge) to avoid being struck by the storm overhead. Eventually some back energy flew out of the tunnel and up into the sky, making the storm get more furious.

"That is it" Undia shouted over to them, the storm made just talking impossible. "We agreed when it goes extreme, and it is getting there now."

The girls looked amongst themselves, all not wanting to give the word, Terri looked back at the entrance, wanting to go back in herself, but another few bolts were all that stopped her, she then looked back at Amy and Emma.

"Only if you say so" Amy called to her, avoiding eye contact as she looked down a bit.

"You know what she would want best, we don't" Emma told her in her shout.

Terri looked back at the tunnel for a few moments. "I am sorry" She sighed before turning away from the entrance of the tunnel. "Do it" She sadly called out looking away from them all as a tear fell from one of her eyes. "Bring the mountain down."

"I just realised one thing, I can't break something that big" Amy yelled as she looked at the mountain.

"That is what they can do" Undia called to her before turning to the 3 constructs. "Drikal, Skykal, Aqukal. We are in need of Titan to aid us!"

"Then power of Titan will be summoned to do what is needed" Aqukal yelled back as the 3 of them started to glow.

After a few moments the 3 turned into white energy that moved together, the girls watched what was going on. Once combined into a single glow it seemingly stood up in a humanoid shape, towering maybe 60 foot over them. Then suddenly the light broke apart as a pair of wings spread from the body and then wrapped over the torso. It was then they could see what was before them, the 3 had merged together. Skykal and Aqukal had merged to form the body, shoulders, hips, tail and head while Drikal had become the arms, hands legs and feet (with his head as the left hand). It finished standing up straight as it spoke in a loud echoing voice "Titan awakens to aid the needs of the infinite dimensions once again."

"Titan, we need you to flatten the mountain to bury the energy from within before it destroys everything" Undia called out to it.

"It shall be done" He replied as he took a couple of steps forwards and stood over them, he raised his left arm, the drill-like blades formed over the hand like Drikal could have and it started to spin around.

Just as Titan was about to throw a punch to the mountain something flashed in the corner of Amy's eye that caught her attention. "Hold it!" She yelled. "There is something coming this way."

Titan lowered his fist as he was struck by several strong lightning bolts do to his height he was like a lightning rod, but didn't seem to care about the hits. Everyone turned to look into the tunnel as a while light appeared in it. Suddenly a large white shockwave flew out of the entrance causing everyone to cover their eyes with their arms due to the brightness. When they lowered their arms it was brighter, they looked around, spotting the skies were clear, only a three-quarter revealed sun in the sky with the moon was visible apart from some small white fluffy clouds. The quakes had also stopped.

"Did she do something?" Amy nervously asked.

"Or was it the both of them?" Emma added to the question.

Both Undia and Terri just stood there looking around, amazed by the sudden change around them, from what once moments ago stormy and chaotic was now calm and peaceful.

Across all the worlds the same thing all happened in each, there was a bright white flash in the sky and all the bad weather stopped and the storms disappeared that were caused by the opened door. People slowly began to venture out from their hiding spots and felt relieved seeing what they did around them of the calm there now was, but destruction had happened and there was clearing up to be done.

"I think it is over now" Undia smiled as she gave a sigh of relief as she went over to stand between Amy and Emma as they all looked up into the sky enjoying the calm.

"But what about Holly, Rachel and the spirits?" Terri asked, concerned about them. While overhead, Titan just stood there standing still as he looking on, awaiting for what may happen next.

Meridian, Deep Chamber

Rachel slowly opened her eyes again after a few moments, she was slumped against the wall near Demal as he weakly spoke to her as he was seeing her recovering from what just happened. "She did it...stopped the destruction of everything."

Rachel looked over at him as she slowly got to her feet and rubbed her head which stung a little from the blow against the wall. She was also a little disorientated and only able to see a short distance at the moment but her vision was slowly getting better. As she looked at Demal she saw he was starting to turn a dark grey. "You going to be all right?" She asked him as she tried to balance herself buy having her wings flap around a little.

"Leave me...Your friend won't last for longer...They all gave everything they had to stop the darkness's destruction" He struggled to speak as more of him changed colour. "The spirits have already moved on...Nothing was holding them here anymore...And she will join them soon...Go guardian of fire, I am also now moving on. And know...I am sorry..." He trailed off as the last of him changed to the dark grey before he then fell into a pile of dust on the floor.

Rachel took a moment watching the dust before she looked over to where the door was as her vision finally finished coming back, she could see Holly still standing there where the key and stand had been but they were gone, only a pile of dust on the floor before her. Where the vortex had been was now just a small stone alcove. Holly's clothing was badly shredded and covered in dust and dirt while the heart was still held in her hands. She started to walk over only to run over when she saw Holly start to fall, catching her just before she reached the floor. Rachel held her tightly while she was down on her knees. She rolled Holly over as held her so she could see her face, her eyes were shut and Rachel was struggling to find a pulse as she felt around her neck.

"Come on, tell me you are still alive" Rachel begged to her but there was no reply. "Please Holly, be all right" She spoke again.

Holly suddenly chocked a little and her eyes started to open and were back to normal colour, she weakly looked at Rachel and smiled before she struggled to speak. "I...am glad it was you that came."

Rachel smiled back as she gave Holly a hug. "The others will be happy to hear you are fine, especially Terri." She told her while her voice sounded like she was about to cry.

Holly smiled a moment more before speaking again. "Rachel, take this." She raised her right hand and pressed it into Rachel's, who suddenly felt a warm energy flow into her body as she was given something. As she removed her hand and she saw in it was the heart of Kandrakar. She looked at it before trying to press it back to Holly's hand, to which she only removed hers.

"This is yours, I shouldn't...I can't..." She tried to speak before Holly interrupted her while she tried to push it back into her hand again.

"...No, it is your now." Holly told her as she coughed a little, feeling her heart beat getting weaker while keeping her hand away from Rachel trying to return the heart. "Rachel, you have kept your heart closed off for too long, open it up and let it become part of that heart, it contains a bit of every holder before us...You are not alone, you have friends you can trust and people who care for you."

Rachel listened as her vision got a little watery, she was feeling the hearts of the previous holders emanate from the heart of Kandrakar. She then pushed the feeling back a bit as she spoke. "Don't talk like that, come on, I am taking you back to the surface and you will be fine."

"It is too late for me, I transferred all my life energy to stop that dark power" Holly coughed some more. "Tell everyone I will miss them, and to Terri that I am sorry." She paused a little more, feeling what little was left of herself fading away bit by bit. "Also let my aunt know she did everything right, mum would be proud of her, and to look after you like she had me."

Rachel looked at her a little confused by the last part. "What do you mean by look after me?" She asked.

"She was planning to adopt you" Holly replied as her breathing started to weaken away, the mention that her aunt was the one who wanted to adopt her reminded Rachel of what James had told her that morning: someone was interested in adopting her, and she just knocked it aside.

"We were to be sisters, when you would have joined us...You have changed so much these last couple of weeks form the shy quiet girl to be opening up around us...Don't go back to before, because right now you have the potential to be strongest of us all if you let you emotions just come." Holly continued as she was starting to struggle for breath before she coughed away loudly. "I had always wanted a sibling, and when aunt Sophie said she was interested in you, I was glad...You would have been the best sister I could want..." she then trailed off as her eyes closed again and she slowly went limp in Rachel's arms.

"No, we can still be sisters" Rachel called to her, she could feel a sadness coming across her. "Holly stay with me, please." She then begged as she felt her finally go fully limp, and her breathing stop. "No, no" She spoke as she cuddled Holly a bit, lowering her head as some pale orange drops came from below her eyes and ran down her cheeks and fell to the floor.

After spending a few moments crying she looked up, the heart was still sending warmth from itself into her. She looked at it and smiled a little as the feeling from it came back to her. "A part of everyone who had this" She spoke to herself quietly before looking at Holly again. "I will take you back home, my big sister" She smiled more as she put the heart around her neck and then picked up Holly's body in both her arms. It was heavier then she thought as she began to walk to the tunnel out and start making her way back to the surface.

Kandrakar

Within the castle of Kandrakar the shaking stopped, and in the main chamber everyone felt relief that it seemed to be finally over as calm fell over the entire castle which had only received a small amount of damage in some stones falling from places and minor cracks.

"If it has stopped does that mean they did it?" Janet nervously asked as she looked up having ducked down to avoid some stones falling from above.

"It does" Yan Lin nodded with a smile as everyone stood up from also keeping low. "All the worlds are starting to recover from the effects of the power that was unleashed on them."

"But does that mean the life thing was used?" Janet then deeply asked.

"I cannot tell, but relax young one for they will return here soon, so you won't need to go to them" Yan Lin replied.

"This is providing using zenith didn't take them first if they used that" Cornelia quietly pointed out.

"In that case someone else will come, it not like Meridian hasn't got ways to fold here" Irma stabbed a little at Cornelia's point.

"They all seemed very strong willed, I am certain they can overcome zenith with only the help needed from those that are with them on Meridian" Taranee smiled to them.

"That is if they ever had to go that far with summoning their powers, maybe we were right and the key was weakened structurally when we originally broke it so it wouldn't require that much power to finish the job." Hay Lin spoke happily with a smile trying to lighten the mood.

"If the key was activated then any damage we did to it would have meant nothing" Will sighed. "To get to just break apart again while in use would take a lot of power and then to destroy it would need all the power that could be summoned by them."

"We will wait for them to return or for someone to come and inform us if they are stuck in zenith form and then we will act accordingly to get them back, but in the mean time summon the council members, ready for whenever they do return to us as there are something's that will need to be dealt with" Yan Lin told them, some of the guards that were in the chamber nodded and walked out, leaving only 1 left that was tending to help Jessica recover at the side.

Meridian, Surface

The 3 girls and Undia along with those few that were still there stood looking on, waiting to see what happened next in the tunnel, it had been nearly 10 minutes since the energy pulse from the tunnel and the moon was nearly clear of the sun. While they had been watching a few more warriors that had been there had left to go and check on the general population and help start clearing up any damage from the storm and quakes. In addition within all the chaos of the storm they hadn't spot someone was missing: the dark Will who now stood high up nearby in the valley, watching those that remained from within the shadows.

"Look, I say 5 more minutes that we go in" Terri spoke getting a little inpatient having been walking back and forth, they had decided not to go in yet just in case the darkness returned or something worse happens, but with nothing going on and a guess that the moon may only be around for a shot time longer she wanted to go find their missing team mates. "If the eclipse is nearly over we may lose the entrance soon too."

"I can't argue with that, if something was to happen, it would have by now" Emma spoke as she turned to look at Terri. "But then again, we also have to take a certain someone to Kandrakar, and we can't leave her here if we go back in."

"Umm girls, where is our dark friend away?" Amy asked looking over to where dark Will had been restrained, only seeing some metal cuffs lying on the ground, with a chain wrapped around some rocks. "Because I am certain she was there when we got up here."

"Her powers must have come back and she got out while the storm was overhead" Undia sighed as they all looked on. "With all of us taking cover or trying to get out of the valley we wouldn't have been able to keep an eye on her within all the chaos. She will be long gone by now."

From her hiding spot nearby Will just giggled to herself quietly. 'Fools, only spotting now that I am gone. But what did happen within?" She thought to herself.

They started to tidy up some of the left over equipment that was lying around to pass the time, when after a few moments Emma called out as she saw something moving in the shadows of the tunnel. "Everyone, something is coming out."

A little excitement ran though Terri at the call, she quickly flew over to look at the entrance, and down the tunnel she could see a faint pink glow and some red glowing that was blocked by something in front of it. She smiled recognising those glows. "They are back!" She called out exited.

A smile came to both Undia and Amy's faces as well as a feeling of relief at the call from Terri and they came over and stood next to Emma with Terri standing just before them as they waited for the girls they believed were coming to arrive. For the 3 guardians they were all exited that they had completed their task and would be reunited to celebrate their victory. But for all 4 of them standing by the entrance the moment Rachel walked out carrying Holly's body their faces and hearts dropped in horror at what they saw.

"Please tell me she is fine" Terri asked in shock, but with no reply from Rachel.

"Is she?" Amy nervously asked, afraid of the answer.

Rachel didn't speak as she walked past them, her head lowered as she walked away from the tunnel. She then stopped and looked back. "The key to the doorway is destroyed and the link to the dark power that was behind the door is now gone, but to be certain that no one can ever get it back, seal that place" She sounded really down as she spoke but also firm in what she wanted done.

"Rachel, tell me, is she ok?" Terri snapped angrily at her.

Rachel just turned to face her but avoiding eye contact, tears were going down her face again. "I am sorry Terri" Is all she managed to say in her normal quiet way, but also sounded very depressed, wanting to say more but the words wouldn't come to her. Terri just looked back, and then fell down onto her hands and knees, breaking down in tears and started to cry out. Both Emma and Amy had a few tears fall as they remained standing looking on.

"You heard her Titan" Undia softly said as she tried not to cry, for tho she never got to know the girl, this was something hard for anyone to look at and not feel the sadness and pain of those who did know her. "Bring that mountain down, and seal that place off."

"Titan will do guardian's request" He replied in his deep echoing voice as he then punched down onto the mountain several times while everyone else tried to calm Terri down. After a couple of minutes of attacking the mountain was now just a pile of rocks and dust while the moon finished passing over the sun. Titan glowed white and separated back into the 3 constructs that formed him, they all looked on before quietly taking their leave, knowing they could say nothing to ease the pain for the girls.

"Why?" Terri asked in her sobbing, starting to get a little angry. "Why did she have to be the one to die? I know the prophesy said that someone would, but why did it have to be her!"

There was silence from everyone else as they all could not find a answer for her. Emma and Amy went over to Terri while Rachel and Undia stood where they were and just looked at her.

"Terri, let's return to Kandrakar" Amy softly told her as she and Emma crouched down while she placed a hand on Terri's shoulder. "There may be some answers there for us, or at least some sort of explanation."

Terri looked up at Amy, she nodded as she wiped her tears away but they still kept coming, but a little slower and then she slowly stood up. Emma wrapped her left arm around her as she looked Rachel, seeing she was wearing the heart of Kandrakar, but clearly not able to use it as her hands were full, she then looked at Undia and softly spoke to her. "Undia, can you take us back please."

"Certainly" She softly replied with a nod before turning around and holding her right arm before her and the markings along it started to glow as she muttered the spell to open folds. As she finished the spell a fold opened before her and she turned back to face them. "Let's start the journey to take her home" She smiled sadly as Emma and Terri walked though first, followed by Amy, then Rachel as she carried Holly through and finally Undia went though before the fold closed after her.

"Tisk, they did succeed and with no zenith forms to enslave" Will muttered to herself a little disappointed but quickly got over it. "Never mind, Demal's sacrifice in letting me have a body so I can do what I have planned for so long won't be forgotten, I never cared for his love, just a means to an end. I will make the other one suffer for keeping me pushed aside within her, but now is not the time. The best plans take time, and I will need to find the right girls for my plan to succeed." She smiled as she held a hand out, in it was 5 glowing disks, possibly no bigger than some old large coins, each had a different colour: pink, red, grey, blue and green. "They can look for me, but there are places to hide, and they won't keep the search up for too long, time is on my side." She waved a hand before her and opened a fold before walking through it and allowing it to close behind her.

Kandrakar

The main chamber was filled by all members of the council that sat around on the benches talking amongst themselves while Janet (who was still wearing the ring) had been sitting alongside Jessica who was starting to come to terms with her own changes while the spirits all sat near them a little board with the waiting. Yan Lin, Will and Luba were taking away in the doorway to the Auramere chamber, it had now been nearly 30 minutes since everyone was summoned but with nothing happening so far, people were getting restless which was making those who were not members of the council a little uncomfortable being there.

"You certain that you are going to be fine with having those around?" Janet asked Jessica as she was trying to keep herself calm, trying to not worry too much about the time it was taking to get news about her sister.

"Well it's not like I have much of an option, as these were full alterations that have become permeate" Jessica sighed as she replied with a slight smile, putting on a brave look. "But I do guess I got what I deserved, spent so match time being mean and nasty to any non-pure human this is kind of my punishment I guess. Think the term for it is karma."

"Still, no-one deserves to have what has happened to you done to them, but you seem to be in full control of everything on you, especially considering the human body doesn't have a tail" Janet replied.

"Best guess is there was a bit of my mind that the Overseer person was unable remove what Demal did to me, but in a way I am glad she wasn't able to restore every part of my mind as it makes this all feel like I always had this body and I am able to control my tail with no effort."Jessica smiled to her properly as she brushed a bit of her hair out of her face.

While those 2 were talking away, Cornelia was moaning again to the other spirits. "Why do these things take so long? It is like there is always waiting around with them when we are involved. I just thought it was just Himerish, but it is also Yan Lin too, it is like they making us wait around."

"Grandma wouldn't do something like that without reason" Hay Lin calmly replied, not wanting Cornelia's comments about her grandmother get to her, but she was a little annoyed with the comment.

"No-one is able to do anything until someone arrives from Meridian with news" Taranee spoke before sighing. "The fact that no-one has come so far gives me hope that they aren't in zenith, so I think they possibly are just distracted by how grateful the locals are, that is what I remember of the times we saved Meridian."

"So Corny just relax and maybe take a nap, not like we haven't had one for a long time" Irma joked to only get a bit of a unhappy look from the other 3. "What, since when are jokes about our situation off limit?"

A few more moments passed before suddenly a silence fell upon the chamber and just before the main door a fold opened, from where they were standing Yan Lin, Will and Luba walked a few steps out while everyone looked on. For those who were waiting to hear news from Meridian a smile came to them feeling a bit of relief but knew that it could either be the girls returning, or a summons for help if they were stuck in zenith form. After the fold was open for several seconds a shadow appeared in it before Terri walked out with Emma cuddling her, both girls were looking upset (especially Terri), upon seeing this a look of dread fell upon the Spirits, Yan Lin, Will, Luba and Janet which for the latter she became full of concern for her sister) while the rest of the council looked on rather concerned as to what had happened. A moment later Janet's nerves calmed a little as Amy came though to which she quickly ran up to and the girls both hugged, but then once Rachel came though carrying Holly's body everyone's hearts sank, finally Undia walked through having the fold close behind her.

The other girls stood aside as Rachel walked forwards into the middle of the chamber, no-one saying a word. Once she reached the middle she stood there while everyone looked at her. Yan Lin lowered her head sadly and waved a hand before her. Just before Rachel a wave of sand rose from the floor forming a large solid stone table that was in the same colour as the floor, allowing her to place Holly on top of it and then took a few steps back.

"The doorway is sealed away and the key destroyed" Rachel addressed them while keeping her head lowered so she could avoid eye contact, not wanting to look anyone in the eyes. "Demal has gone into the afterlife." He voice was struggling to remain calm and focused as she spoke.

"Sis, please just say she is unconscious" Janet quietly asked Amy as she looked on, who just looked at her before resting her head on her older sisters shoulder and cried. Janet rested her head back, the silence told her it all, a few tears fell from her eyes as the sisters stood there.

"Girls, I am deeply sorry" Yan Lin sadly spoke. "I hoped..."

"Sorry!?" Terri angrily snapped out as Emma tried to hold her back, only to be shaken off as Terri stormed forwards causing everyone to look at her with shock at her outburst. She walked up and stood next to Rachel who just slowly backed off. "She died protecting everything because 500 years ago they couldn't destroy 1 simple key" She shouted out in her anger as she looked at Will and pointed at the spirits. "And despite what she did 'sorry' is the best you can offer, what about her aunt? We are meant to keep what we do a secret, but she will be worried sick about her and as she is in the police there is a good chance that she will find out any lie that is done to cover up her death. Then there is us, how are we meant to move on if a 'sorry' is all we got...She was my best friend..." She trailed off as she broke down into tears again and went down onto her knees.

Luba stepped forwards a little looking rather annoyed at the attitude, but Yan Lin held a arm out before her stopping her, she just nodded and stepped back as Yan Lin spoke. "It is true that saying sorry never enough, but then what else could we say to you that will give you a answer for something you want that doesn't exist, there is no right thing to say in these situations, but there are things that are not to be said at these times. And for some nothing said at all can be far worse."

"More Oracle wisdom, always coming at the worst times" Cornelia quietly sighed before Hay Lin elbowed her hard in the side and the other spirits just gave angry looks at her, she just rolled her eyes as she backed off a little.

Emma, Amy, Rachel and Janet all walked up to stand next to Terri as they looked hard at Yan Lin, each of them saying nothing but the stern looks they each gave mixed with their tears told everything that they were feeling. Yan Lin looked across them all as Emma placed a hand on Terri's shoulder while Amy and Janet both held onto each other to comfort themselves, Rachel just stood there. They were then joined by the 4 spirits who walked up and stood behind them giving the same sort of look.

"Grandma, I am sorry but they do deserve better" Hay Lin sadly spoke. "They had to suffer because of us in our failure to properly finish the task, and their friend paid the price for that."

"We all gave everything in what we did, and not just us, every guardian before and since" Cornelia spoke out. "And those who gave their life in doing so have always had to be covered up in their loss of life, something that never did sounds right. The family's deserve to know the truth of the loss off their loved ones."

"You both know of not being able to tell anyone things that are important" Irma called across looking at both Will and Yan Lin, but her address was also aimed to those who had bound their life to Kandrakar. "Pretending you died when you came here, those you left behind would be feeling really down while you get to live away from the problems of living a life on the world you are from. And when someone really dies in mysterious events, by covering it up that leaves deeper wounds and questions that are wanted to be answered, seems you have forgotten how emotions are important in what drives people."

"Family of someone who gives their life like this to save the lives of others, or for any reason should not be denied the truth" Taranee added on. "Irma is right, you have forgotten emotion's importance, something that it seems those of us who can't actually feel emotions properly anymore can understand more."

There was silence in the chamber as Yan Lin lowered her head. "It is true, in all these years emotion has become lost to me, but don't blame the others, I took the position of Oracle knowing that what I decide to do can lead to there being consequences. Not just for me, but those I give tasks to." She then looked back at the young girl that was on the table.

"I know this may be hard to ask, but do any of you know how?" Will sadly asked as she looked to one side.

"Demal told me that she gave everything to stop it, along with the spirits of our predecessors." Rachel quietly replied.

"Them it seems I may have led her on that path" Will sighed sadly. "I told her how to transfer her life force while using zenith powers."

"I think that the girls were right in calling us out on how we treat the fallen." Yan Lin spoke before anyone could, changing the subject. "A fallen guardian's family has a right to know, and as such she will be brought here." She then waved her had causing a white glow to appear on the chamber's main door to which everyone looked around.

After a few moments the door opened and Sophie walked in, she looked around quickly spotting she wasn't where she thought she was, she slowly waked forwards, her tail keeping low and in a position that suggested that she would attack if spooked.

"Who are you all?" She asked as she tried to keep her calm. "And what happened to my house?" As she looked around she saw the girls standing near the middle of the room, tho unable to recognise them all straight away but she was able to recognise Terri after a few moments as she recognised the smell first from her, and then she looked more closely. "Terri, what is going on?" She asked a little more nervously as she realised they were all upset about something, and then she saw Holly lying on the table. "Holly?" Came out in a even more nervous and concerned voice as she ran over besides the table, pressing the side of her hand to her niece's neck and feeling no pulse, she then started to have tears fall as she looked back around and spoke out again, both upset and annoyed. "What happened to her?"

"Miss Davis I brought you to Kandrakar, centre of infinity. Your niece was chosen as a guardian of the infinite dimensions along with 4 of the 5 girls also present." Yan Lin slowly explained. "She was chosen just over 2 weeks ago and gave her life to stop the events of today which I am certain you will know about. The strange storms, quakes and other events ravaging the worlds." She went on to explain a little more of what had gone on with the girls and to do with what went on in the past and the door.

"That does lead 1 question I have had for a while now" Amy stubbornly spoke out once Yan Lin finished. Having had what Will had previously said stuck in her mind. "Why was only she told of this life force transfer? Because if we all knew then we could have given some for the same amount and she would have lived."

"The amount of power needed would have needed a person to make a full sacrifice. You see with life force you can drain a little to use magical ability's if you haven't got a source of magical energy, ether by being a creature or device that generates it, or by being linked to something that generates it. But something on the scale that would have been required would have required only someone who knew the meaning of time over life to do it" Will sadly explained.

"And what made her able understand it?" Emma quietly asked.

"She was dying" Sophie sadly replied with a sigh as she sat on the table as she rested a hand on Holly's head. "She was born with a genetic abnormality, something that she unfortunately got from her father after a chemical fire before she was conceived. She knew of her condition growing up but as far as we knew medication would help her live a good life, but after she reached 13 she started having some bad times with her health and over the last few years she has been monitored by the hospital, had better medication issued and things seemed to be fine, but she was slowly getting worse again, something she has tried to keep from me, I spotted at nights she was coughing away rather badly. I never wanted to tell her my fears that she may not be able to live for too match longer, but I held onto hope that something would be found, but this morning she got the news that it was incurable and only had up to a couple of years left." She paused as she looked at Will. "That would be what you mean isn't it? As she only had a short time left to live so she would understand how short time is on life, and know the sacrifice she would make in not having what she had left to be with those she wanted to be with."

"Yes, sadly that is true" Will lowered her head at the reply.

"Then why did she not tell me?" Terri asked as she stood up and walked up next to Sophie who wrapped a arm around her to comfort her. "We were as close as anything yet she never said she had anything wrong."

"Maybe that bond is why she never did, wanted to hold onto memories of the times you were together" Sophie replied as the others walked up. "She would want you to remember the good things, not the bad, and well would you want to have your best friend watch you pass away at a young age from your body giving out in the most painful way?"

"I kind of wonder what she was feeling then when she passed away in that cave" Emma quietly asked.

"For some reason she was happy" Rachel quietly spoke, causing everyone to look at her. "She was still just alive as I got to her and went in my arms after passing me the heart, saying she will miss you all and that she was sorry Terri." Rachel paused a moment as she placed both her hands over the heart. "I can feel her heart, along with all those that have been holder of this heart. She also said we were to become sisters, and it seems she didn't want her death to put things off as she did ask me to tell you Sophie that you are to look after me as you did her."

"She always did have a thing of looking out for others" Sophie smiled while rubbing away a tear from her eye as she stood up and gave Rachel a hug as while it happened a pink flash went over all 4 girls as Rachel returned them back to normal.

Yan Lin looked on as all of them talked amongst themselves for a few moments before she spoke out addressing the council. "Council, over the last couple of weeks Kandrakar has been through dark days once again, we have lost not just 1, but 6 guardians in their duty. We never did take the time to mourn the first 5 lost, and now we have a 6th, but today's looses to Kandrakar are not over, for there will be a 7th: me." Her announcement didn't come as a surprise to those sitting on the benches (except Jessica who had just stayed sitting quietly) but for all 4 girls, the spirits and Will they all looked surprised.

"Grandma what are you saying?" Hay Lin asked in her in a bit of shock.

"I am standing down as Oracle, and no, your comments are not the reason why" She calmly replied. "I had been considering it for a while and the recent events have brought it to me that it was time to move on and allow there to be a new Oracle, a successor that has already been decided upon."

"When did this happen?" Will asked as she looked across at Yan Lin. "I was never part of any meeting that discussed your leaving or successor."

"That is because you are to be my successor, it was approved unchallenged during a meeting held while you were on earth performing the task of delivering the powers to the girls. I held it while you were there so my suggestion of you would not have a effect on the vote if you were present" Yan Lin smiled to her as a blue butterfly flew down and landed on her hand over the heart symbol and after a few moments it took off with the mark gone. "Will, you have served Kandrakar since you were 12, and while you may have given a bit of a more stubborn approach towards things then most of us here in your time as a guardian, you can see things in a way that everyone here has respected, that is why you are chosen to be the new Oracle of Kandrakar."

Will stood there for a moment and then glanced over at her former team who smiled back at her, she then looked back at Yan Lin and lowered her head. "I am honoured to have been chosen. I accept the position of Oracle of Kandrakar and will observe the infinite dimensions to maintain the peace between worlds." As she finished speaking the butterfly flew over to her, landing on her right cheek for a moment and then flew off revealing the mark now there. Once it was done she raised her head while those around lowered theirs.

"And now, if you please Oracle, I ask to be released from my link to Kandrakar and be allowed to move on into the afterlife." Yan Lin asked as she had her head lowered before she and everyone raised theirs back up. "It is time I moved on."

"Yan Lin, you served Kandrakar well all the years, doing more then was ever asked of you" Will spoke out before turning to address the council. "Does any member of the council find a reason for Yan Lin's request of ending her link to Kandrakar to not be granted?." There was silence from everyone, to which Will turned back to face Yan Lin and rest a hand on her shoulder. "Then Yan Lin your request is approved, you are free to move on into the afterlife." As Will finished speaking a pink energy appeared over Yan Lin and appeared to shatter.

"Thank you everyone for all these years" She smiled as she looked around the room and walked down to Hay Lin and gave her a hug. Suddenly a white glow appeared by the main doorway as a white fold appeared. "Looks like it is time we all moved on then." She spoke to all the spirits with a smile.

"Will, don't worry about us, we will be waiting for the day you decide it is time to move on" Irma smiled to Will as she looked at her old friend before walking towards the fold but standing next to it.

"Emma, look after Raven for me, I think he took a liking to you" Hay Lin called across as Raven flew down having been hidden away in the roof space of the chamber and landed on Emma's shoulder, to which she gave a nod back while given Ravel a little stroke with a hand as both the Lin's went over to stand by Irma.

"Janet, even tho an older sister is to keep the younger sibling in check, remember to treat her well. Having a younger sibling with powers can lead to some scary things if you are not careful" Cornelia winked across as she made her way over to the others.

"You have all proven yourselves, each of you as a guardian and as friends, you have developed a strong bond between yourselves. And we are all proud to have met you." Taranee said to them all as she moved over to the special fold.

"Just remember to enjoy what you do" A familiar voice spoke from behind where the girls and Sophie were standing causing them all to quickly look round and hovering there as a spirit was Holly before her own body. She smiled to them all. "Don't try the cuddle thing as sadly you can't actually touch me." She giggled as they all looked on speechless while all the old guardians looked on with a smile. "I just stuck around to say goodbye to you all. Emma, fly high, soaring in the skies and do right for your brother. Amy, well just behave yourself out there." She giggled a little more as she said it to which Janet also giggled while Amy rolls her eyes. "But I know of the care you have inside for others. Janet, I am counting on you being around to keep them all safe, and Amy out of trouble. Rachel, remember what I said, people are around that care for you. Terri." She looked like she could cry as she got to her closest friend. "You have meant so much to me all these years as my friend, and I am sorry I never told you, and know that everything we did I will cherish forever. Aunt Sophie, you have been my mother all these years and I never have been able to tell you how grateful I was for you raising me, but Mum and Dad will be proud of everything you did." Sophie gave a teary smile back to her, she wanted to say something but could not find any words to be said. "It is hard to say farewell, but I will see you all one day...so...how about goodbye, until the day meet again." She smiled happily as she then floated across to join the others moving on while the others all cuddled together as they looked on.

"Holly" Terri called out as the others looked on while Holly looked back. "There is just one thing I have always wanted to know but never could bring myself to ask. Davis is the surname you got from your aunt adopting you, I never have known what is your real full name."

Holly giggled a little knowing Terri was right as she looked back. "My full name is Holly Wilhelmina Olson. My middle name is meant to come from a important woman in my family's past." She gave a cheeky smile to Will who was a little stunned by what was just said.

The announcement also stunned the girls and the spirits also while Yan Lin smiled. "Does that mean she is Will's?" Cornelia stumbled to speak out.

"It is amazing what the future always brings, and those the heart can bring together, even after all these years" Yan Lin replied as she then called out. "Now, lets rock the party of the afterlife."

"Until we all meet again" Will called across to everyone as they waved and smiled goodbye before turning to walk into the light, Holly hovered in place for a few moments more before she went through last and the white fold closed behind her. Once it had shut everyone looked back at the new Oracle. She looked back at them as she wiped away a small tear before she spoke up addressing the girls. "Guardians today has been hard on you, and know that should any of you wish to end your service to Kandrakar just say and I will release you from your ties to the Aurameres."

The girls looked amongst themselves as they each made their decision.

Next Time: Life goes on