Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of any of the characters or other elements (pun intended) portrayed in this story.


"Unmaking the World"

By: Starwin


Episode 7: Eternities End


Part 4: The Harbinger


"Oh my god, Irma!" said Hay Lin, her eyes wide as she stared at her friend.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Irma asked panicked. She felt different, she felt odd.

"What did you do to her?" demanded Cornelia glaring at Liz, the astral drop.

"I don't know!" said Liz, tapping the Guard of the Heart against her palm as though it were a broken watch. Little sparks jumped out of the metal Guard. "I didn't think it would do this!"

"DO WHAT?" Irma shouted. A sudden blast of wind crashed into the group of guardians, almost knocking them down. "Whoa, what was that?"

"I think maybe you should take a look at yourself," suggested Hay Lin. Irma looked down, not understanding what she was seeing. This couldn't be… her?

Unable to work out what her eyes were telling her, Irma decided she needed a mirror of some kind. Pointing at a wall she shot a blast of water and to her surprise it turned into perfectly reflective ice instantly. That's what she had wanted but not intended.

Irma felt her eyes go wide as she finally saw her reflection. Her first thought was that it couldn't be her. Irma waved at her reflection as if trying to trick it. The reflection waved back. It was her, it was really her.

She had gotten much older, like nineteen, maybe even twenty this time. Her normal guardian outfit of green and purple was nowhere to be found. Instead white flowing cloth that seemed to be made of clouds wrapped her upper body, but left her midriff revealed.

Irma couldn't help but check herself out. Firm muscular stomach. Flowing brown hair that cascaded down her back. And long well toned legs, that like her tummy were also bare. Instead of her normal striped tights, Irma had a skirt much like Hay Lin normally got when she transformed.

In fact, now that Irma was looking, her outfit seemed to be made up of parts from all of the Guardians.

Irma examined herself more carefully and found that the symbol of fire, a triangle was emblazoned on the top of her white gloves. The crest of air, a spiral was woven into the band of fabric around her neck. The mark of earth, a circle with a dot at its center was visible on both her shoes. The icon of water, a swish, sat just above her stomach. And the representation of the Heart, was placed over her own heart.

"I…" Irma said as he continued to look at herself in disbelief. "I have all the elements?" Flames suddenly burst forth from Irma's eyes, causing her to cry out in panic. "My eyes are on fire!" shouted Irma as she tried to pat out the flames.

Sudden, sharp pain, exploded in Irma's head. She screamed and the entire wall in front of her was ripped away, crumbling to pieces. A cold, dark sky loomed beyond. There were no clouds and every direction was filled with stars, like they were floating in space.

Irma fell to her knees. Hay Lin moved towards her but Irma held up a hand to stop her friend. Everyone looked panicked for a moment, watching Irma's hand as though it were a deadly weapon.

"I'm fine," said Irma, not sounding fine at all.

"It's too much power! You have to change her back!" Hay Lin demanded, looking desperately at Liz.

"No," said Cornelia. Everyone turned to Cornelia. "I've felt that kind of power before. I know what it can do. And right now, it's the kind of power we need."

"But it's killing her!" Hay Lin cried.

"As much as I hate to admit it," said Irma struggling to her feet. "Cornelia is right. I'm not sure why, or even how, the Guard did what it did. But I'm our best shot."

"You just had to be better than everyone else and go right up to the Ultimate level, didn't you?" asked Cornelia with a smile. All eyes turned to Cornelia. "What? My little brother watches Digimon and sometimes I baby sit him!"

"No," said Hay Lin, a smile creeping to her face. "She's definitely gone Super-Saiyan. Look at the long hair!"

"Yes, ha-ha, very funny," said Irma as the others started to giggle. "Can we just get on with this?" asked Irma as she started to walk off.

"Actually, I think we have to go that way," said Taranee pointing the opposite direction. Irma stopped and looked back at Taranee with surprise. "I can feel Will and Serenity in that direction," explained Taranee. "But something is different."

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

Taranee led the way, walking quickly and staring blankly ahead.

"I really don't think this is a good plan," said Hay Lin.

"Do you have a better one?" asked Cornelia irritably. Hay Lin remained quiet. "It's the best we've got."

"But Irma…" Hay Lin protested. Irma threw a casual hug around Hay Lin.

"Don't worry Hay Hey, I'll be just fine," smiled Irma. But Irma's boastful confidence didn't ease Hay Lin's worry.

"Ready?" Cornelia asked everyone as they came to a stop at the large double doors.

"Are we ever ready?" replied Irma taking a deep breath and trying to focus.

"Let's do this!" Liz shouted.

With a horrendous crash the doors to the consul chambers burst open. The room beyond was far different than they remembered it. At its center was a pyramid of stone steps that had a black wood throne atop it.

The room was filled with people who had once been the elders of Kandrakar. However, they had been changed. Now each elder was dressed in black robes and silver armor. In their hands were jagged weapons.

Their eyes fell upon the girls standing at the doorway, and their weapons came to the ready.

"Welcome Guardians," said a voice that sounded of many voices. The eyes of the Guardians were drawn upwards, to the top of the pyramid. A girl with long red hair stood in front of the black throne, her reflectionless black eyes focused on the Guardians. "We have been expecting you."

The girl began to descend down the many steps.

"Does anyone else think that person looks a lot like Will?" Hay Lin whispered to her friends. She hadn't needed to say it, they were all thinking it.

"We are Will," said the girl. "But we are also Serenity." The girls couldn't help but gasp at this announcement. "Our name is now the Harbinger and we are the ruler of all that is.

"Join with us, Guardians and you can serve a cause greater than any you have before." The Harbinger held out her hand. None of the girls moved forward.

"If you are Will than you should know our answer," shouted Irma.

"Indeed we do," said the many voices of the Harbinger. But as she spoke her next words it was Will's voice that sounded the strongest. "But I thought we should give you a chance…" It was the many voices of the Harbinger that spoke next. "Destroy them."

The Harbinger waved a hand towards the girls. The army gathered around the pyramid advanced down upon them, while the Harbinger walked back up to her throne to watch.

"Good job, Irma," whispered Cornelia, sarcastically. The girls moved closer together. The mass of shadow warriors pressed in upon them from all sides, there was nowhere to run, no way to escape.

"So," said Hay Lin through the mental link. "Does this change the plan?"

"No," responded Taranee. "But it might make it a little harder."

"Don't get carried away," thought Cornelia, looking pointedly at Irma.

"Carried away? Me?" Irma thought back with a smile. "I wouldn't dream of it!"

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

Ori Kull's blade cut the portal of darkness in half. The Dragon Knights retreated. Ori Kull was fast and his reach was long.

"Once more you defy me," said Ori Kull, bringing his blade up so that the Dragon Knights could see their selves reflected in its silver finish. "You have helped the Guardians to escape, and with them, the object I was seeking."

"Why don't you go after them then?" shouted Dante. Hayden gave his friend an angry look. "What, I didn't say I wanted to be their friend."

Ori Kull smiled. "There is no need, you have already sent them to their death, they will take the Guard to the Harbinger and she will rip their flesh from their bodies." Ori Kull pointed his sword at the Dragon Knights. "They will be the lucky ones. I do not intend to be as kind to you."

The man swung his sword in a whirling fury so that the blade became only a blur of motion. Each swing he took forced the boy's away. Sparks leapt into the air as long gashes appeared in the walls, floor and ceiling.

"We can't keep this up!" Dante said as he dodged the point of the blade again.

"We have to use our magic," Alex said. "There is no way we can match his swordsmanship."

"The last time I checked," Dante shouted back, "my powers weren't all that and a bag of chips at the moment!"

"But it's still worth a try," whispered Owin. Summoning up all his strength he forced stone hands to rise from the ground to grab Ori Kull and slow him down. But with a flash of Ori Kull's blade the arms were cut away.

"It's no good, he's too fast," Hayden shouted. "Alex, hit him with a light attack!" Alex nodded. Holding both hands out in front of him he focused all his magic to his fingers and launched an orb of light.

For a moment it looked like the attack would strike! But, at the last moment, Ori Kull moved his sword and deflected the attack back at Alex.

"Look out!" Dante shouted, reaching out a hand. A portal of darkness formed in front of Alex and the attack was redirected, upwards. With an earsplitting boom the magical orb crashed into the ceiling above them and caused stone to rain down on the boys.

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

With all her might, Irma stomped the ground as hard as she could. The stone bulged and rippled outwards, knocking down the first wave of attackers.

The armored warriors did not halt. They trampled over their fallen comrades, war screams echoing from their mouths. Irma took a deep breath before blowing as hard as she could. Hurricane force winds crashed into the next group and flung them across the room, even throwing some out the window on the far side.

But even this did not deter the endless army. They continued to charge. Irma cracked her knuckles. It was time to bring out the big guns. Holding out her hands Irma commanded the power of fire to create a wall of flame in front of her.

Or at least that's what she had intended. Instead a surge of pain made Irma's body convulse. The wall of fire burned out of control, not simply stopping the army but engulfing it.

Screams of agony erupted from the writhing mass. Irma wanted to stop it but she couldn't.

"Enough!" yelled the Harbinger. The flames extinguished and Irma forced herself to look skyward at the girl floating down through the air towards her. "We do not find your antics amusing," said the many voices of the Harbinger.

"Then maybe you should fight me yourself," said Irma, sounding out of breath. Her body was already hurting so much, the power inside her was tearing her apart. But Cornelia was right— unfortunately—it was up to Irma.

The Harbinger landed softly in front of Irma and stared the Guardian down. With a scream Irma attacked first, using her own element of water, combine with air to create spikes of ice that shot at the Harbinger with deadly speed.

In a blur of motion the Harbinger dashed sideways dodging the icicles with ease. Irma commanded two giant slabs of stone to snap closed, and crush the Harbinger between them.

With cat like grace the Harbinger sprung backwards, avoiding the closing stone. Irma struck out with a blast of fire that quickly spun out of control into a raging inferno. This time the Harbinger held up her hands, creating a shield of energy to hold the attack at bay.

The fire grew hotter and hotter, even melting the stone ground. Irma couldn't shut it off. Fire certainly wasn't her element and it fought her with all its might. The blaze was wild and beyond her control.

Irma could feel her hands starting to burn. This attack was taking everything she had, like a broken faucet she couldn't turn off. A shockwave of energy struck Irma, knocking her off her feet and causing her to slide along the ground.

The Harbinger looked a little out of breath too as the fire dissipated. The ground between the girls solidified.

"It is time to end this," said the Harbinger. Holding out her hands to her sides, the Harbinger created thousands of snowball sized orbs. They danced around her on an invisible path.

Irma's brain shouted for her to get up, to run, but she couldn't. Pointing a hand at Irma, the Harbinger let the balls of energy lash out.

Reflexively, Irma created a shield of energy. Explosion after explosion rocked the room as the Harbinger shot powerful attacks at Irma's energy shield. Irma struggled to her feet. She could feel her defense would not hold for much longer.

Just as she felt the shield about to collapse, Irma leapt out from behind it and sprinted across the room. Using the power of earth she made many small slabs of stone rise up, making it harder for the Harbinger to get a clear shot.

The energy attack stopped. Irma skidded to a halt. This was her chance! Gathering everything she had left, Irma tried to combine the elements and… terrible pain erupted all over her body. Irma fell to her knees with a cry of distress.

The Harbinger seized Irma's moment of weakness and launched a powerful burst of energy at the Guardian. The blast struck Irma full on, sending her flying into a pillar on the far side of the room. The stone column cracked and toppled down onto Irma in a cloud of dust.

The Harbinger stood breathing hard waiting too see if the Guardian had survived.

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

Walls collapsed around them as the battle between the Dragon Knights and Ori Kull became more violent. Some of their attacks had managed to get past his defenses but his strength was incredible, his movements so fast.

"Your parlor tricks are no match for me," said Ori Kull as he deflected another blast of light from Alex. "Attack as much as you like, soon my blade will drink deeply of your blood." He lashed out again causing the wall next to him to crumble.

"It's no good, he is just way too strong!" said Dante as he used his portals to redirect the falling stone away. "Every time we attack him he is able to counter it and use our own attacks against us!"

"Dante! Look out!" Owin shouted. But it was too late. Ori Kull thrust his blade through the newly created portal Dante had just made. The point of the sword erupted from the portal in front of Dante.

There was not time to move, no time to dodge. With incredible speed the sword sunk point first into Dante's chest, into his heart.

Ori Kull pulled the sword back quickly as Dante's portals destabilized, crumbling into nothing.

"NO!" shouted Hayden as he stopped his attack and leapt to his friend's side. Dante looked down at the bloody hole in his chest, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. With a shaky hand he touched the edge of the wound, his fingers turning crimson with his own life fluid. He held out his hand, looking at it with disbelief.

"That sucks," he whispered as his body gave out and he collapsed. Hayden caught Dante before he hit the ground. The older boy lowered his friend slowly.

"Dante?" Hayden asked searching his friends face. "Dante!"

"What," asked Dante his eyes rolling lazily to Hayden. There was blood at the sides of Dante's mouth and his white teeth were stained with red.

"Don't worry man," Hayden said looking over his friend, his eyes falling on the grotesque rupture in Dante's chest. "You're gona be fine."

"Yeah," Dante laughed. "I'm fine like you are nice." His laugh turned into a coughing fit as he spit up the blood that was filling his punctured lung. Hayden squeezed his friend tighter, no words coming to his lips. "Hayden…" The two boys locked eyes, in that moment all that had transpired between them was forgiven. "…tha—nk—s…"

Dante's limbs slackened in Hayden's arms as his last word pushed out of his lips. Hayden held his friend's empty body, his arms shaking with loss and rage.

"I'll make you pay," Hayden whispered. He looked up locking eyes with Ori Kull. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

Irma crawled out of the rubble, coughing.

"You're defiance shall not go unpunished," whispered the Harbinger. Irma looked up to find the Harbinger standing over her.

"I gave you the chance to join us," said the many voices of the Harbinger. However, just like Will's had, one voice stood out more than the others, but this time it was Serenity's. "Now, you shall be erased, not only from existence but memory as well. I will be sure that there are none who remember your name."

The Harbinger raised her hands to strike at Irma again, but Irma held up a hand in surrender.

"Wait," coughed Irma. "There is something you should know…" The Harbinger paused. "I'm just the distraction."

The Harbinger looked at Irma confused.

Hay Lin dropped the spell of invisibility and she, Taranee, Cornelia and Liz all appeared behind the Harbinger. Taranee's hand lashed out and grabbed the back of the Harbingers head. In an instant all of them were pulled into the Harbingers mind.

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

White ground and black sky were joined in towering columns. The world spread out to the horizons, but the Guardians had appeared at its very center.

The five of them stood in a circle around the mass of pulsing energy. A single person floated at its core, or at least that's what it seemed like. Will and Serenity were not separate but each half of one body, divided by a line of crackling energy. The two girls floated in the air, joined and entangled in violent black and white light.

"Will! Please! We know you are still in there, that you are still you!" said Liz. Will's eye looked down at the astral drop, seeing the imitation of herself.

"Do not listen to them," Serenity whispered. Will's eye flicked sideways trying to see Serenity. "Their words are lies."

"Will it's me, Cornelia!" said a voice. The world spun in a rush of motion and Cornelia now stood before Will and Serenity. "Please Will, you have to fight her, you have to find your way back to us!"

Will covered her ear so that she did not have to listen and closed her eye so that she did not have to see.

"Please Will, we miss you," it was another voice, covering her ears had done no good. The world spun again and this time it was Taranee who was looking pleadingly up at Will. "You're more than just our leader, you're our friend. You're my friend, the first one I had when I came to Heatherfield."

"Taranee?" whispered Will. A distant flash of memory flitted across her mind. But it was so faint, as if it were someone else's.

"You're everything to us Will," said another voice. "You're the person who keeps us together when we fall apart. You're the one who lights our way when we're in the dark. You're our leader, our teammate, our friend."

"Hay… Hay Lin?" said Will turning her head and for the first time pulling out of the joining light that bound her to Serenity.

"NO!" shouted Serenity, anger and rage in her voice. Will's head snapped back into the magical divide. "They are not your friends, they don't love you the way I do! Think of all that we have shared; of all we still have to give each other."

"But we love you too," it was Irma's voice, Will recognized it. "Without you we are lost. Without you I…"

"Enough!" roared Serenity. The world shook and a few of the columns that were reaching up towards the sky faltered and crashed to the ground. "All your friends have to give you are lies! Why can't you see that?" yelled Serenity.

"My…. My friends?" Will asked her eye narrowing. "You took them from me!"

"Will, I had to! You don't…" Serenity tried.

"I don't what? Understand!" Will shouted. "Of course I don't! You're the one who made it so I couldn't!

"You're no better than the Oracle! You took away my life too! You used me! How much of what I remember is a lie? Is it all a lie? Am I just an illusion of what you wanted?"

Serenity's eye looked away, there were tears at the edges.

"It is," said Will with sorrow and disbelief. "I hate you…" Will whispered. Serenity froze unable to believe what she had heard. "I HATE YOU!" Will shouted louder, squeezing her eye shut.

The world of white burned away and the Guardians were forced out.

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

"I think we got through to her!" Taranee shouted as their mental connection was suddenly broken.

The Harbinger's eyes snapped open. Her face was filled with anger and rage. With a scream the Harbinger sent a massive wave of energy outwards, flinging the Guardians away from her.

The Harbinger was breathing hard as she looked at the girls lying around her.

"You think your insignificant powers are enough to stop me?" the voice of Serenity said. "I am the most powerful being in the universe. The child of the Ori Kull and Xi Jing. I am an immortal with a heart and soul. I am a god!"

"Will didn't seem to think so," said Liz as she struggled to sit up. The redhead that looked like Will glared defiantly at the Harbinger. "And without her, you are nothing."

The Harbinger flickered, moving faster than the eye could see. Her hand wrapped around Liz's throat, lifting her off the ground.

"You," whispered the Harbinger. "This is your fault. Without your defiance everything would have merged properly." The Harbinger squeezed harder and Liz let out a gasp of distress. "I wonder where an astral drop goes when you kill it."

Just as Liz's eyes began to close, a flicker of light caught the Harbingers attention.

"You leave her alone!" shouted Irma. She was still in her super Guardian form and was charging at the Harbinger, energy gathered in her raise fist.

"Very well," the Harbinger smiled. She dropped Liz to the ground, her body crumbling into a motionless heap. "But only because I have what I want." The Harbinger held up the Guard of the Heart.

A flash of light engulfed Irma, changing her back into her younger, powerless self. She skidded to a halt in front of the Harbinger. With a sneer the Harbinger struck Irma across the face, knocking her to the ground.

"Hey bitch," said Cornelia. The Harbinger turned her head to look at Cornelia who was getting back to her feet. "Stop hurting my friends."

"You of all people have the least reason to fight me, Cornelia," said the Harbinger. "After what the Oracle did to you." Cornelia continued to walk, ignoring the girl's lies. "You were meant to be the keeper. The Oracle took that away from you."

"Will was meant to be the keeper," said Cornelia defiantly. The Harbinger laughed.

"No," said the Harbinger. "It was always supposed to be your role."

"I don't care what you have to say," sneered Cornelia.

"We could have been powerful allies," said the Harbinger, pointing at Cornelia. Cornelia did not stop. She hesitated only a moment and then let loose a blast of energy. The bolt raced at Cornelia, but curved away just before striking her.

The Harbinger looked surprised but tried again. Holding out both hands she focused all her magic on Cornelia. Wave after wave of powerful magical blasts lashed out at Cornelia.

But each attack was deflected as if Cornelia were surrounded by some invisible shield. Walking slowly, as though moving through a great wind, Cornelia advanced on the Harbinger.

"Die damn you!" the Harbinger shouted. "Die!" Clapping her hands together in one last desperate attempt the Harbinger let lose a huge blast of energy. This time Cornelia dodged the attack and leapt at the Harbinger, her right hand outstretched towards the gem that burned as bright as the sun.

Cornelia's fingers closed around the glowing jew and ripped it from the chain.

The Harbinger let out a roar of agony and rage as she lifted slightly into the air. A scream echoed from her mouth as rays of blinding white light erupted from her body, encompassing all of the fortress.

The Harbinger began to peel away, her shape and form returning to Will.

-- ∞∞∞∞∞ Ω ∞∞∞∞∞ --

Hayden lay bleeding on the ground, his right arm badly wounded. Ori Kull moved closer raising his sword, ready to deliver the final blow. Hayden closed his eyes and looked away, if this was to be his fate than he was ready.

With blinding speed and power Ori Kull brought down his silver sword on Hayden. But the blade never touched the boy. Instead it shattered into millions of brilliant shards of light.

"NO!" Ori Kull roared. Hayden chanced a glance at the man who had been about to kill him. Chunks of his skin tore clean of his body and burned away into the air revealing another man beneath.

Ori Kull had vanished into darkness as if he had never been and the Oracle opened his eyes slowly as though he had been asleep for a long time.

The Oracle looked over the devastation, his eyes finally coming to rest on Dante's lifeless form. The Oracle closed his eyes once more; his heart broken by what he had been forced to do.


To be Concluded!


Authors Notes:

Thank you very much everyone who left a review last chapter! XV-Dragon, Taeniaea, lost prince, DayDreamer9, Steamrollers Solve All and Darev.

Thank you everyone who is still reading!

That's right, this isn't the end, one last major twist… Another chapter! Bet you didn't see that coming! This was originally planed to be my ending. But, well, things changed, Part 1 got longer and pushed most of the orginal events into part 2, which pushed some events into part thee, which made this chapter part 4! And there is still a little bit more to go, so now it's part 5! Sigh.

Anyhow… I stuck with the four part thing all the way to here, but this chapter was just too much! It had to be broken in two. As one chapter it just didn't work.

So, we aren't at the end yet. But stay tuned for the final installment (seriously, it really will be the last chapter this time (minus the epilog, of course)), Part 5! Coming next weekend!

Starwin out.