Chapter 29
A silence ruled the plains. The shockwave that had undone the enthrallment had also tied all the villains up. Everyone was staring at Will and the place where Hay-Lin had disappeared. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining on the rebels. Will looked with pain in her heart at the battered and bruised rebels. They had suffered for so long and the fight they just went through wasn't an easy one. Her eyes wandered past the many sad yet happy faces when her gaze settled on Cornelia. Cornelia's shoulders were shocking while small sobs started to interrupt the silence. Will stepped forward and the movement seemed to catch Cornelia's attention. She looked up with a tearstained face, her eyes showing blame.
'Why didn't you show up sooner?'
The question was full of hurt, pain and slight anger. Will knew that this anger was supposed to be for Hay-Lin and wasn't fazed by the emotion, though she held her hands up in defense.
'Cornelia…' she started.
'Answer me!' Cornelia demanded. 'If you had showed up sooner Hay-Lin wouldn't…She wouldn't…Angelo wouldn't be…'
Cornelia stopped herself as new sobs broke from her throat. Irma placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, only for Cornelia to shake it off. Cornelia fixed her gaze back on Will, who kept her calm aura.
'I could have saved him, Will.' she said pleadingly.
Will sighed and slowly shook her head.
'Yes, you could have saved him.' she admitted. 'At the cost of your own life. You know, as well as I do, that you would have used all of your energy, killing yourself in the process of saving Angelo.'
Cornelia casted her face down again, tears rolling over her cheeks in an uncontrollable stream of water. Will took a step forward and gently pushed her chin up, forcing Cornelia to look in her eyes. Will saw the pain Cornelia was feeling, making her glad that she had acted quickly.
'That's why the rain does more than just wash the bodies and blood away.' she said gently, seeing hope spark in Cornelia's eyes. 'Everyone who is lethally wounded gets transported to the healing chambers. Angelo is alive, Cornelia. He just needs some rest.'
Will watched as Cornelia's eyes widened in happiness and rushed to hug Will. Will smiled as she accepted the hug and felt how Cornelia's feelings bursted out, happiness overflowing her.
'He's fine people! Angelo's alive!' Irma yelled.
People started to cheer, feeling happy that Angelo was going to make it. Irma created an ice cone and Will rolled her eyes unnoticeably at what Irma was planning.
'The war is over people!' she yelled loudly. 'We won!'
Now everywhere in Kandrakar started to cheer. Bullets were shot in the air out of happiness and people threw their weapons down. The Guardians flew high and Ilana even made some small fireworks. Friends and families sought each other and hugged each other, feeling glad that their loved ones were alive.
Cornelia had broken her hug with Will and was now hugging her family, just like Irma. Taranee had found Nigel and hugged and kissed him while Caleb had managed to break through the crowds only to find his mother. He hugged her close but Will felt how his eyes moved to find her. He found them and he looked with sadness at her, knowing that they couldn't be together now. Will smiled sadly as she turned her back to the crowds. There was one more thing to establish her reign as Oracle. She waved her hands at the fortress and willed it to change its shape. Every Oracle changed the fortress after his or her own vision and Will had the perfect idea.
…
The noise started to ebb away as the people felt the ground shaking again. They looked at the Oracle and saw how she focused on the fortress. The fortress started to change shape. In a blink of an eye the fortress was no longer a castle. It now resembled the Taj Mahal only completely white. Walls arose around the fortress in a rapid movement. The wall that arose right in front of the Oracle was completely red with the symbol of fire on it. The Oracle turned back with a gentle smile on her face and gestured to a swirling purple portal.
'Let's enter the fortress, shall we?' she said.
…
Caleb looked in awe at the new fortress. Was Will going to live here? Was this the new Kandrakar? He felt a short tug on his sleeve and saw his mother pointing at something behind him. He turned around and saw Elyon and Phobos laying on the ground. Phobos was completely wet while Elyon had some nasty bruises.
'We need to help them.' his mother said.
Caleb grimaced. Did he really have to help Phobos? He bet that Phobos probably bargained more power with Hay-Lin.
His mother must have seen his repulsion to said idea and smiled sadly at him.
'He's as much of a victim in this war as you and me.' she said.
Caleb sneered, still having trouble thinking that Phobos could be innocent, this time.
'She's right.'
Caleb turned around and saw Will looking sadly at him. Her eyes wandered to Nerissa, who was trying to pick Phobos from the ground. Caleb now too looked with worry at his mother.
'Phobos never chose to follow Hay-Lin.' Will said softly. 'He lost people he cared about as well, in a way that's nearly as cruel as how he used to act.'
Caleb raised an eyebrow, still not wanting to believe it, but he rushed to help his mother when Nerissa groaned under the strain. He placed his own shoulder under Phobos' arm, looking worried at his mother. Nerissa caught his look and smiled reassuringly at him. She had had worse after all.
Caleb and Nerissa started to walk slowly to the portal. Caleb looked back one more time and saw how Will asked Marcus to bring Elyon. Caleb noticed that more people were helping unconscious men and women to the portal. Silently he wondered what had happened to Drake and Aldarn, seeing that he evaded them, not wanting to hurt them anymore.
He also saw the Zamballans. They didn't walk to the portal Will had created but to a fold. Will was now standing next to said fold and healed every Zamballan before it went through the fold. Caleb presumed that the fold would lead to Zamballa.
Caleb took more weight of Phobos on him, to lighten Nerissa's load and together with his mother he went through the portal. A welcoming breeze ruffled through his hair while he looked in awe at the place where they had landed. There were trees and grass. A small pond laid half in the shadows and some butterflies flew lazily over the grass and flowers while some birds chirped happily. At first he thought he'd entered the wrong portal but then he saw a door in the middle of two big trees. The door was brilliantly decorated and as white as snow.
His mother started pulling and Caleb quickly followed, heaving Phobos with them. They laid him against a tree and Nerissa went to sit next to him.
'Mom?' Caleb asked concerned.
Nerissa waved his concern away, though she placed her hand on her side.
'No worries. I'm just exhausted.' she said.
Caleb only raised an eyebrow but nodded. People started to cheer and he looked up. Will had stepped through the portal and was now smiling at the rebels. No, people. They were no longer rebels, but free people. Will ushered for silence and it quickly fell.
'We've fought a long and hard fight.' she said in a grave tone. 'Many lives were lost, yet many new bonds were created. Those who have fallen today, will not be forgotten. Their bodies are all laying in a separate space. This door.'
A door appeared on her left hand.
'Will lead you to that room.' she continued. 'They've fought hard and unfortunately died before my reign as Oracle. They are now with our Father.'
A silence ruled the forest, even the birds didn't make a sound. Some people started to walk to the door, hoping with their hearts that none of the people they knew were laying there. Will held the silence up for some time before continuing.
'But there is still some unfinished business.' she said, her voice easily reaching the most distant trees.
Folds opened everywhere and Caleb felt how his whole body screamed for him to react, to stand guard. He grabbed for his sword and went into a fighting stance, just like many others. He saw some trolls channeling magic while the Guardians took the air again.
'Stop. These are no enemies.' Will said calmly.
Out of the folds people appeared. Some were old while others seemed young. People from Minus, Meridian, Arkhanta and more planets Caleb never heard off came from the folds and all walked to Will.
'Hail the Oracle!' the new people chorused as they bowed for her.
Will nodded calmly and gestured to the big white door that Caleb had noticed before. They all walked through it and whispers started to roam the forest.
'What's he doing here?' Caleb heard a man from Minus squeak.
'Maybe he's sent for the Council?' Another proposed.
Council? Had Will managed to create a new Council? When? How?
He was shocked out of his thoughts when Will spoke again, easily audible over the whispers.
'Orube of Basiliade, could you please come forward?'
The whispers seemed to stop again and Caleb saw how Orube was slowly walking to Will. She bowed in front of her.
'Oracle?' she said.
'Give me your arm.'
Orube looked up in surprise but then held her broken arm away.
'No. You shouldn't bother yourself with that.' Orube protested.
Will ignored the protest and gently took Orube's arm. A soft glow emitted from her hand and in seconds Orube started to flex her fingers. Her arm was healed. Before Orube could say a thing Will turned around to the doors.
'Now follow me, if you please.' she said gently.
Orube nodded and followed Will. Just before Will entered the doors she turned around one more time.
'It would be better if you rest here.' she said.
With that she and Orube walked through the door, which closed right behind them.
Caleb looked blankly at the door when he heard an irritated sigh. He looked aside and saw Irma shaking her head, Andrew standing right next to her with his arm wrapped around her.
'She's not even Oracle for five whole minutes and she still manages to talk as if she has been one from birth!' Irma said slightly annoyed.
'See it like this. At least she knows what to do.' Andrew said.
Caleb smiled a bit as he watched the couple share their moment together. He started walking through the forest. Everywhere he saw people gathering. Some were crying, others were hugging. His eyes wandered over the many rebels when he saw two he thought he had lost.
'Drake! Aldarn!' he whispered loudly.
He rushed to one of the trees. Aldarn and Drake were sitting against it, both still unconscious. When he arrived he started to shake them lightly. Slowly both started to regain consciousness as Aldarn opened his eyes and Drake clutched his head.
'Ow…What hit me?' Aldarn moaned before his eyes snapped open. 'Hay-Lin! Shit!'
He started to look around him, fear seeming to fill his being. He saw Drake and started shaking him.
'Drake! Get up! We need to get away!'
Drake moaned loudly before his eyes snapped open as well. He seemed as scared as Aldarn and both stumbled to their feet, trying to get away. Caleb quickly placed his hands against their shoulders, hoping to make them calm down.
'Guys!' Caleb said.
Both focused on Caleb and seemed to relax slightly when they saw him. Aldarn grabbed his shoulders frantically and started shaking him. Caleb smiled, happy that he got his friends back.
'Caleb! Hay-Lin's evil!' Aldarn said scared. 'She…She hunted us down!'
Caleb stopped Aldarn from shaking him, still smiling fondly at his friends. he placed his hands on Aldarn's shoulders.
'I know.' he said. 'She'd enthralled you for nearly four years.'
Drake and Aldarn looked surprised at Caleb.
'How come you're so calm?' Drake asked.
'We're in Kandrakar.' Caleb said. 'We're save.'
Aldarn and Drake looked scared at each other and Aldarn started to shake Caleb again. Caleb was silently wondering why he had missed Aldarn.
'Are you stupid! Kandrakar is ruled by Yan-Lin! We need to get away from here!' Aldarn said.
At this Caleb started laughing. Drake and Aldarn looked confused at each other and Caleb. Caleb loosened himself from Aldarn's grip.
'Don't worry.' he said. 'Those times are over. We won. Kandrakar has a new Oracle now.'
Drake and Aldarn relaxed and smiled at Caleb. Now they also looked around, seeing a variety of people sitting together and smiling.
'Who's the new Oracle?' Drake asked.
Caleb's smile fell as he looked a bit away.
'Will Vandom.' he said a little depressed.
Drake and Aldarn looked surprised at him.
'The Guardian Leader?' Aldarn said impressed.
Caleb nodded grimly. Drake raised an eyebrow as he looked at Caleb.
'I know that look.' he said with a smirk. 'Don't tell me… You are!'
Caleb glared at him while Aldarn looked between Drake and Caleb.
'What?' he asked. 'What?'
'Caleb fell in love with the new Oracle!' Drake said with a hint of a laughter in his voice.
Aldarn's eyes widened and smiled big time when he saw that Caleb didn't bother to deny it. He laughed goodheartedly and patted him on the back.
'Now that's bad luck.' he said. 'But you always looked for a challenge.'
Drake laughed with that and Caleb glared at his two friends.
'Great, you guys are back for a couple of minutes and I'm already the laughing stock.' he said.
Suddenly he got tackled from the back. He fell to the ground and heard some giggling. Caleb managed to turn around and he looked right in a pair of brown eyes which reminded him strongly of a certain redhead.
'Caleb!' Aldarn said.
'Who's she?' Drake said. 'And why does she look like a Guardian?'
Caleb merely raised an eyebrow as the girl flashed him a big smile.
'Natasha…' he said with a sigh.
Natasha flashed him another grin before sitting up straight on top of his belly.
'Hey Caleb.' she said.
Caleb let his head fall back in the grass as he sighed again.
'Aldarn, Drake. This is Natasha. Natasha, these are my best friends Aldarn and Drake.' he said tiredly.
Natasha flashed the other two a grin.
'Hey.'
'Hey.' Drake and Aldarn said a little surprised.
'Natasha, what are you doing on top of me?' Caleb asked slightly annoyed.
Natasha giggled nervously before moving off him. Caleb sat up, rubbing his stomach while looking at Natasha. Natasha plumped down next to him and placed her head on his shoulder. Drake and Aldarn raised their eyebrows while Caleb sighed again.
'What are you doing here Natasha?' Caleb asked.
Natasha sighed a bit.
'Ehren wanted some time alone, Edeline is with Irma and Andrew, Ilana with Joel and Cassidy, Georgi is with Taranee and Nigel and Terry is with his sister and parents… I felt a bit lonely.' she said a bit drowsy.
She yawned a bit and crawled a bit closer to Caleb. Caleb smiled weakly and put one arm around her. He saw Drake and Aldarn look at him and he just shrugged.
'She just needs the support.' he said.
Both nodded before sitting down as well. Natasha eyed them curiously while Drake and Aldarn looked back at her. It was silent for a while before Aldarn's eyes darted back to Caleb.
'Say Caleb…What exactly happened these past four years?' he asked.
Caleb smiled sadly at him.
'That's a long story.' he said. 'I guess it all started when Cornelia started to visit Elyon so frequently.'
…
'Hey'
Ehren didn't bother to look around. She recognized the voice but kept staring at the tree she'd been staring at since they arrived here.
'Mind if I sit next to you?'
Ehren shrugged. There were other things on her mind then to bother if Cornelia could or could not sit next to her. She felt how Cornelia sat down and heard how a sigh escaped. Not an annoyed but a happy one.
'It's a nice tree huh?'
Ehren looked up at Cornelia, trying to push the tears, that had been laying on the surface, away.
'Huh?' she said, trying to keep her voice from breaking.
Cornelia smiled at her.
'I said, that's a nice tree.'
Ehren looked back at the tree, this time actually looking at it. She didn't see what was special about it so she just shrugged.
'Guess so.' she murmured.
Again a sigh filling the air around her and she could just feel how Cornelia started to stare at the tree as well. Why would no one leave her alone? The other girls had been concerned about her but she managed to wave them away. Now she had to show sympathy?
'You know, trees have their own language.' she heard Cornelia say.
She shrugged again, not actually caring about what Cornelia was saying.
'And they are extremely empathic to people who are close to an element.' Cornelia continued.
Was she implying something?
'And this one tells me that you're are shocked and sad.'
There it was. Ehren knew that there had to be a reason. Again someone was pitying her. Everyone did when she joined the rebellion. A poor orphan girl who needed the rebellion to survive. They showed only pity, until Angelo arrived. He just acted normal and joked with her. He filled a space that had become empty after the death of her parents, though she wouldn't say it out loud.
Suddenly she felt a hand underneath her chin. The hand guided her chin upwards and sideways so that she was looking at a worried Cornelia. Cornelia's other hand went to her hair, stroking softly through it.
'What's wrong Ehren?' she asked concerned. 'Are you shocked by what you've seen in this battle?'
She was close. Almost too close. More tears started to push upwards and Ehren swallowed to keep them down. She shook her head and tried to divert her eyes, but Cornelia kept her gaze on her.
'Is it because of what happened to Angelo?'
Cornelia barely whispered it but it struck a sensitive string. Ehren couldn't keep her tears back and they started streaming down as she nodded. She almost lost Angelo today and she was constantly thinking about what would have happened if Will was too late.
She felt how Cornelia pulled her into a hug. At first it felt terribly strange. Cornelia was an unfamiliar woman after all. But then Ehren found out that she couldn't care. She needed someone who understood her pain and fear and she knew that Cornelia loved Angelo as well. She hugged Cornelia tighter and she felt how Cornelia embraced her completely. Soothing words were whispered in her ear and slowly but surely Ehren started to calm down.
'He almost died.' she sobbed. 'I almost lost him.'
'I know.' Cornelia whispered. 'I almost lost him too.'
Again some sobs erupted from Ehren's throat.
'How…How can you be so calm?' she asked. 'Don't you think of what could have happened?'
Cornelia sighed and Ehren felt how Cornelia was stroking through her hair.
'I stopped doing that after Caleb got hurt in a battle for the tenth time.' she said. 'You'll get over it, eventually.'
'But aren't you worried it might happen to someone else?' Ehren asked.
'Oh yes. I always feared for my other friends whenever we started a battle. But you know, the funny thing was, that when we went into battle I forgot about my worries. As long as Will was shouting commands I felt like everything would be okay. I only worried before or after the battle.' Corenlia explained. 'But I think you should think about all the good things that will happen now.'
Ehren swallowed. That was something she didn't want to think off.
'But I don't know what will happen to me.' she heard herself say. 'I don't have any family or house. The rebellion was my home for the past years.'
Cornelia hugged her a bit closer.
'You never know.' she said. 'But I can tell you this. There will always be someone to watch over you.'
Ehren looked up at a smiling Cornelia and she felt how she was calming down. Maybe the future wasn't looking so dark as she thought. She felt how Cornelia went through her hair again.
'You know, in your Guardian form, your hair is pretty nice. But I still think that it's more beautiful when you're normal.' Cornelia said.
Ehren cracked a smile.
'You know, it would look better if you stopped rubbing through it.'
Cornelia laughed softly and Ehren cracked a grin. She wasn't so bad after all.
…
'This is boring.'
Edeline stopped herself from snorting as she watched Irma laying on her back and staring upwards. Andrew was sitting on her left while Edeline sat on her right. Irma had been complaining for the past few minutes and Edeline started to ignore the things she exclaimed. Andrew on the other hand chuckled and nudged Irma a bit, tickling her with his touch.
'Stop your complaining.' he said with a grin. 'Finally we have peace and you're complaining about being bored?'
Irma flashed him a grin.
'Maybe if you were used to a live full of action than you would agree with me.'
Edeline's eyes widened. Was she meant to experience more of these things. She saw how Irma looked at her and a flash of concern fell over her face as she sat up.
'Something wrong Edeline?' she asked.
Edeline shook her head, not wanting to speak her concerns. Why would she? Irma would not understand.
Irma, however wasn't satisfied with the answer. She looked critically at her and nodded firmly.
'Boys.' she said.
Edeline looked confused at her. How could she be so wrong yet know about her silent new crush on Maqi?
'What?' she said.
Irma nodded forcefully and then placed an arm around her. Edeline looked even more confused as Irma's smile widened.
'Now tell me. Who's the cutie?' she said with a grin. 'Maqi? Terry? Maqi and Terry?'
Edeline felt a blush creeping up as she shook her head forcefully.
'No! I…I…' she stammered.
'Don't worry if you're not sure how to show it. Just stick with me and Corny and you know how to flirt a guys ears off in no time!' Irma said as she ruffled through Edeline's hair.
'That's not it.' Edeline mumbled as she pushed Irma away and tidied her hair.
'No boys?' Irma said almost disappointed. 'What could it be other than boys?'
Andrew rolled with his eyes as he placed an arm around Edeline.
'I think it is because of what you said earlier.' he said. 'Am I right?'
Edeline nodded and Irma's grin fell.
'What did I say this time?' she said, feeling guilty.
'I..I just wonder…' Edeline said. 'Do…Do we have to experience more fights like these?'
Irma looked concerned at Andrew. Edeline looked from her to Andrew and back, waiting for a response. Irma sighed before placing her own arm around Edeline.
'Let me tell you something.' she said. 'This was probably the worst war you will ever witness. That doesn't take away that you will be in more wars… But if you really don't want to do this you can always quit as a Guardian.'
Edeline's eyes widened. Quit as a Guardian? Was that even possible? She looked with big eyes at Irma.
'Did you ever…want to quit?' she asked.
Irma smirked.
'Me? No. Never. Taranee and Cornelia on the other hand… Let's say that Cornelia was against the whole Guardian thing since day one and Taranee was scared for her own element.' she said with a grin. 'The only reason why we stopped was because we lived in a big time of peace…After a war on Meridian, a war against a former Guardian, a war on Arkhanta, some more trouble on Minus and other planets. And Will was going to study abroad.'
'Couldn't you teletransport to each other?' Edeline asked.
'Oh yes. We did during the crisis in Arkhanta.' Irma said. 'Do you know about it?'
Edeline shook her head and Andrew took her on his lap. Irma grinned, seeing how Edeline in her Guardian form was sitting on Andrew's lap but kept quiet.
'Well it started when Taranee's eyesight was cured.' Irma said with a grin. 'The glasses she's wearing now is more because she thinks she looks awful without them.'
…
'So you were a drummer?'
Joel nodded. Ilana had been asking him about his past life ever since the Oracle had walked through the doors and he was liking it.
'And you were dead?' Ilana asked Cassidy.
Cassidy shook her head.
'Nah, though it was a close call.' she said. 'The previous Oracle put me in some enchanted sleep and I had probably the biggest out of body experience someone could possibly have.'
'And how did you react when Cassidy told you she was old enough to be your grandmother?' Ilana asked curious.
'Hey! I'm turning 26 next month!' Cassidy defended. 'Those years that I was asleep don't count!'
Ilana rolled her eyes and Joel snickered.
'Well…I was very surprised to say the least.' he said. 'And to hear that she, as well as Irma and the others could use magic was even more surprising. But I accepted it. Cassidy is still Cassidy, no matter how old she might be.'
Cassidy smiled and kissed him on his cheek.
'Thank you.' she said with a grin.
Ilana wanted to ask more when a fold opened again. She along with Cassidy and Joel got up and prepared for whatever would come through the fold. A small green creature jumped out that Ilana immediately recognized from the books she'd read.
'That's a Passling!' she exclaimed surprise. 'They are extremely rare since the great purge three years ago! What's one of them doing here?'
'That's not just a Passling.' Cassidy said. 'That's Blunk!'
Ilana, Cassidy and Joel watched how the Passling jumped past several rebels who were trying to attack it when it saw Taranee, Irma and Cornelia.
'Girls!' he yelled.
…
Georgi looked up when she heard the yell. Nigel had said a fold had opened but she didn't want to look. What if there was someone else trying to kill them? But when she saw the strange creature she felt repulsed. The being had a necklace with a tooth on it and a small stench enveloping it and looked as if it had jumped into the mud and dung of a pig. She felt how Taranee got up from beside her and she got up as well. The little creature jumped at Taranee and hugged her. Taranee started laughing out of happiness and Georgi saw how Irma and Cornelia approached as well, both being closely followed by Ehren and Edeline.
'Blunk! I'm so glad to see you!' Taranee said as she hugged the thing.
'Hey toadstool!' Irma greeted the 'Blunk'. 'I see you got yourself a good mud bath before coming here.'
The 'Blunk' sniffed and jumped from Taranee to Irma, hugging her. Some snot fell from his nose and rolled over Irma's sleeves, who couldn't stop herself from looking disgusted.
'Funny girl!' the 'Blunk' said. 'You okay!'
'Remember what I once told you about the prom?' Irma joked. 'It's still out.'
The Blunk laughed with Irma and then turned to Cornelia. Cornelia backed away a little, waving her hands in front of her.
'No. No. No.' she said quickly. 'I'm glad you're okay and all but I do not want a…'
Before she could finish the 'Blunk' jumped at her and hugged her, snot falling from his nose on her shoulders. Georgi could see how the shivers went over Cornelia's spine.
'Hug.' Cornelia finished disgusted.
'Hey you little smuggler, how did you get away from Kandrakar and how did you get your Tonga Tooth back?' Irma asked as Blunk let go of Cornelia.
'Discount importer.' the 'Blunk' defended. 'And Will help Blunk! Blunk and Sandpit folded to Earth, yes. Sandpit went away and Blunk found funny animals with stench. Blunk mud bath! Then Blunk found Tonga Tooth!'
Georgi raised her eyebrow. This 'Blunk' seemed to have a bad vocabulary and seemed to think everything that was loose could be taken.
'So you broke in by Hay-Lin and stole your Tooth back?' Taranee asked surprised.
'Not steal! Reclaim.' Blunk defended again.
'He has a point there.' Irma said. 'The thing was his in the beginning.'
Georgi had stared at the 'Blunk' and now noticed that it was looking back at her. she slowly took a step backward when it took a step forward, holding his head sideways like a dog.
'New Guardian?' he asked.
Georgi felt how Taranee placed her hand on her back, stopping her from backing away.
'Blunk, this is Georgi. She's the new Air Guardian.' Taranee introduced. 'Georgi, this is Blunk. He's a Passling and one of our best friends.'
'Nice to meet new bubbly girly.' Blunk said as he extended his hand and Georgi saw how the mud and dung dripped off of it.
Georgi waved and smiled at him.
'I don't think I'm shaking your hand.' she said. 'But it's nice to meet you.'
Blunk shrugged as he retreated his hand.
'Suit self.' he said as he licked his hand.
Georgi felt an urge to throw up and swallowed loudly. She pulled Taranee's sleeve and Taranee bend down so her ear was at Georgi's mouth's height.
'Why is he so…so gross?' Georgi asked in disgust.
Taranee laughed and shrugged.
'I don't know. I guess it's a Passling thing. They can smell.' she replied.
'That's an understatement.' Georgi said as she tried to wave the stench away.
Taranee grinned at her.
'Believe me, after some days it will be worse.' she said.
'How can you stand it?' Georgi asked.
'After some time, you won't notice it anymore…unless he outdoes himself.' Taranee said with a grin.
Georgi looked in disgust at the Blunk who was now jumping around Irma. She exchanged a look with Ehren and Edeline and saw that both weren't too happy with hanging around the stink toad.
…
Nerissa watched as the Passling reunited with Irma, Taranee and Cornelia. She smiled at them as she could see the happiness coming from them. A groan caught her attention and she turned her head. Phobos was apparently coming back to consciousness. She watched him as he slowly heaved himself up, leaning against the bark of the tree and rubbing his head. She had to admit he looked rather handsome with his now slightly shorter hair and goatee. He was also dressed in Earth clothes. Baggy grey trousers were hugging his legs while a black long shirt covered the rest of his body. There were rips in his clothing but Nerissa was quite surprised that there was no blood.
'My head.' he groaned. 'Cedric. Miranda.'
Nerissa was no fool. She could easily remember who this Cedric and Miranda were of whom he spoke. She only wondered where they were.
'Where are they?'
Phobos' eyes opened at the sound of her voice. He looked shocked at her and tried to move away but he stopped trying as a jolt of pain seemed to go through him.
'You.' he said coldly. 'The sorceress. What do you want? I thought you were locked in a pretty little jewel.'
Nerissa heard the sneer in his voice but she also heard that he was hiding his emotions. She smiled gently at him.
'Yeah, I was.' she said. 'But Hay-Lin freed me, pulled that what made me evil out of me and then tried to kill me.'
If Phobos was surprised then he was hiding it pretty good. He kept staring at her and she felt how a blush crept over her face. It had been long since a man looked at her in such a way.
'You were not evil?' he asked.
'No.' Nerissa replied. 'I'm as evil as you are.'
At this Phobos snorted and crossed his arms. Nerissa raised an eyebrow. For a man of 33 years old he acted as a child.
'Where are we?' he asked gruffly.
Nerissa grinned. This would certainly get some emotion on the Prince's face.
'Kandrakar.' she said.
She was right. Phobos stared at her as if she said that she was going to eat him.
'K..Kandrakar?' Phobos asked unsure.
Nerissa thought she saw a flicker of fear in his eyes as he struggled to keep his face straight. But he had betrayed himself. She was guessing he was afraid that he would be locked away again. She reached for his hand, which he quickly pulled back as though she had burned him. She smiled at him.
'Don't worry. You've done nothing wrong. This time.' she said gently.
Phobos raised his eyebrow at her while she kept her smile up.
'The Oracle knows what has happened. You've lost someone dear as well?' she pressed on.
Phobos scowled and Nerissa had to admit that it looked rather cute on him.
'As well? You lost someone?' he asked unbelievingly.
Nerissa knew he was trying to bring her off topic but she felt the urge to tell him. A lone tear rolled over her cheek as she thought back.
'Yes.' she said. 'I lost Julian.'
She saw how Phobos' eyes widened. She closed her eyes, trying to repress those memories. Julian was dead and crying wouldn't bring him back. She felt how a cold yet gentle hand took her chin and how a thumb wiped the tear away. She opened her eyes and saw something that faintly looked like compassion in the icy blue eyes of the Prince.
'Don't cry.' he said. 'I hate it to see a woman cry.'
Nerissa smiled at that and pulled away, wiping her eyes dry. She noticed that Phobos was looking at her, but when he noticed that she was looking back, he looked the other way. It was silent between the two of them and Nerissa felt how tired she was from the whole day. She slowly started to drift off. The last thing she remembered was that her head had fallen against the Prince's shoulder before falling in sleep.
…
Marcus stared at the Queen of Metamoor. He had seen a lot of beautiful women in his life but she was something else. Her long, platinum hair graced her head perfectly and two long braids hang loosely past her cheeks. She was still unconscious, the bruises still visible. Marcus started to wonder how she would look like without the bruises as well as how she was. He'd heard from Will and the others that their friend Elyon was a great and sweet girl, but he wondered if she hadn't changed over the years.
His own hand ran through his now messy hair and he felt how the bump he'd gotten earlier had started to disappear. Maybe it was the magic of Kandrakar or maybe he had just imagined the size of his bump. A groan got him out of his train of thoughts. He looked as Elyon slowly started to move, turning to him and grabbing his shirt, hugging herself closer to him. A smile formed on her lips as she snuggled into him.
Marcus smiled as well. They laid for some time like this when Elyon started to groan again. She sleepily opened her eyes and when she noticed that she was snuggling against Marcus she quickly shot up. It apparently disorientated her as she started to sway where she sat. Marcus moved quickly and grabbed her shoulder, making sure she wouldn't faint again.
'Wow. Easy there.' he said.
Elyon looked surprised at him.
'Wh-Who are you?' she asked as she clutched her head.
'I'm Marcus Vanders.' Marcus said with a little bow of his head.
'Vanders? As in Angelo Vanders?' Elyon asked surprised.
'Yeah, he's my cousin.' Marcus replied. 'But you should go easy, you've got some nasty bruises.'
'Th-Thanks.' she said. 'I already felt some jolts of pain coming from my head.'
Marcus grinned at her as he let go of her shoulder. Elyon placed her hand on her head and she healed herself in no time. Marcus was impressed and apparently it was written on his face. Elyon giggled. A sound that sounded like music in Marcus' ears.
'Surprised?' she asked.
'No…Well yeah..' Marcus said clumsily, making Elyon giggle more.
Elyon stopped her giggling and Marcus noticed how she was looking at him. He could see the worry swim in her eyes as she now started to look around her. Everywhere people were bruised, bleeding or unconscious. Marcus felt something falling in his stomach when Elyon turned back to him.
'What happened? Where are we?' she asked concerned. 'The last thing I remember was Hay-Lin appearing in front of me.'
Marcus grimaced and took Elyon's hand. He took a big breath and looked her in the eyes.
'My Queen. Elyon.' he said. 'You've been enthralled for nearly four years by Hay-Lin. We are in Kandrakar after fighting for our freedom against Hay-Lin. The new Oracle freed you of your enthrallment.'
Elyon took her hand back and placed them in front of her mouth as she gasped. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she shook her head.
'N-No.' she stammered. 'It..It can't be.'
Marcus nodded sadly.
'You are not the only one who was enthralled. Cornelia, Irma, your brother and more people were also victims of Hay-Lin's craziness.' he said.
More tears streamed over her face and Marcus felt the urge to wipe them away. She was quicker and used her thorn sleeve to wipe them away.
'What happened on Meridian?' she asked concerned. 'What have I done to my people?'
Marcus sighed. He didn't know. He only knew bits and pieces thanks to Angelo.
'I don't know.' he said. 'I've been in the Earth rebellion.'
Elyon nodded slowly. More tears started to stream over her face. Marcus looked with difficulty at Elyon as she was crying. He closed in and hugged her closely, saying soothing words while rubbing her softly over her back. She grabbed him closer and cried in his chest.
'Don't worry. Everything will be alright.' he said. 'You can count on that.'
'Marcus.' she said softly. 'Am I horrible?'
Marcus snickered softly as he broke the hug. He smiled at her tearstained face and held her close.
'My Queen. I think you're wonderful. Don't worry. Things will find their way.'
He looked down to find that Elyon had fallen asleep on his chest. He snickered as he carefully let himself fall back on his back, with Elyon still sleeping.
'Sheesh, you're awake for ten minutes and already fall back asleep. And they call me lazy.' he said with a grin before sleep started to take control of him as well.
…
Mandy looked concerned at Matt. He had had a rough beating and was forced back to his human form. Lilian, Chris and Napoleon had come to see him and were glad he was just asleep. they'd left quickly after that, leaving Mandy with him alone.
Mandy reached out and took his hand in hers. She saw several little holes in his arm, indicating shots and she felt her anger for Hay-Lin rise again. Matt, her Matt, was addicted to drugs and only because of Hay-Lin. She used her healing powers to heal the little holes and the ugliest bruises on his body and now the only thing she could do was wait.
'Matt.' she whispered sadly. 'Oh Matt, what has she done to you?'
She stroke some strands of hair out of his face. The bags under his eyes made him lose some of his handsomeness he once had but Mandy knew those would disappear. She vowed to help him get over his addiction as her fingers went past the goatee he had started to grow. It suited him. It made him look older.
Tears formed in her eyes as she remembered how Matt was there for her when her parents divorced. She also remembered the jealousy she had instilled in Will, but she was glad those feelings quickly disappeared. She could remember her happiness when Will and Matt broke up. She had promised herself to find someone else but no one seemed so considerate as Matt. If she only had the courage to tell him that earlier, then these things maybe wouldn't have happened.
She bend forward and kissed him gently on his cheek, tears still streaming down.
'I promise you, things will be better from here on.' she said as she went to lay down next to him. 'I promise.'
Slowly she felt how something forced her into a sleep. She didn't fight the urge and let it wash over her. Maybe she would wake up to find that this had been one long awful nightmare and that she would wake up in her bed at home.
…
A silence fell over the forest as everyone had fallen into a sleep. Edeline had found her place next to Irma and was snuggled against her while Andrew occupied Irma's other side. Ehren and Cornelia lay next to each other, Cornelia having an arm wrapped around Ehren. Ilana lay in between Joel and Cassidy while Georgi was cuddled up next to Taranee and Nigel. Natasha was laying on Caleb while Blunk lay at his feet. Drake and Aldarn were supporting each other while sleeping. Nerissa's head was still supported by Phobos' shoulder and Phobos had placed his head on top of Nerissa's. Elyon and Marcus were still laying in the position as when they started sleeping. Kerry and Terry were sitting with their backs against each other while their parents, Hank and Sonya Vanders, were laying next to them. Raythor, who had lead the backup rebels of Meridian through the fold, was sleeping next to Sandpit, who was now nothing more than a pile of sand.
Everywhere people were sleeping and the healing of the forest started to show its effects. The giant white doors opened and the Oracle stepped through. A smile graced her lips as she walked past the rebels.
'Sleep well.' she said softly as a wind blew softly through the forest. 'Tomorrow will be a busy and important day.'
…
Hay-Lin was hugging her knees. She had everything. Everything. And she lost it all again. Again because of Will. Tears started to well up and this time she let them flow. No one would see her in this dark, damp cell. Sometimes she heard cries of a child. Of a girl.
When she first entered this cell she tried everything. Blasting the door, teletransporting out and even folding…before she remembered that she no longer had the power to fold. Then came the fit of anger. She had punched and kicked the wall, thrown magic at it and yelled her lungs out. Now she was sitting in a corner, feeling very self conscious and scared. The screams seemed to haunt her, seemed to echo in her head. The damp of the cell made her feel as if she could cry any minute and never stop. The darkness told her she was alone.
Steps. Yes, steps started to echo. Someone was walking through the prison. Hay-Lin's head shot up, hoping to find a way out. She didn't want to be alone. She wanted revenge and people around her. A light appeared on the far end of the room and Hay-Lin had to squint her eyes because of the sudden light. A shadow blocked a part of the light and Hay-Lin looked right in the face of the person she hated most. The person who destroyed her world twice. Will.
She could see the sad smile on Will's face. How could she possibly feel any sympathy? She never showed it before so why now? Hay-Lin turned her face away, not bothering to look at her.
'Hay-Lin.'
Hay-Lin made herself smaller as Will's voice rang through her room with a force that hurt her. Not her ears, but her heart.
'Your trial will commence tomorrow. Get some sleep, it will help you.'
With that Will turned around and walked away. The door closed behind her and Hay-Lin was left in darkness again. Tomorrow everything would end. She would die. New tears ran over her face as she sent another powerful gust of wind at the door.
'I. HATE. YOU!'
…
Darkness surrounded her but Yan-Lin couldn't care less. She had already anticipated that the Tower of Mist would create this room for her. She felt how her anger was pulsing through her now weak and old body. How could that child access the old power of Kandrakar? She nearly destroyed Kandrakar while accessing that power and yet she managed to keep Kandrakar whole and defeat her. Yan-Lin spat on the floor and cackled loudly. The fact that she was still alive was the proof that Will was nothing but a child. A child too weak to kill. The only option to sentence her would be to keep her in the Tower of Mist for eternity. Not that she cared. That could always give her the possibility to escape and enact her revenge. She would control the universe. She had been planning this for too long to be stopped by a meddling kid. She balled her fists as she thought back to the fight between her and Will.
Flashback
'Prepare for your rightful end, Yan-Lin!' Will said threateningly as more magic started to pour out from her.
'Please.' Yan-Lin begged once more.
'NO!'
Yan-Lin had closed her eyes when she saw that Will was about to finish her but opened them again when Will yelled that last word. She saw that Will's hand was trembling in front of her face, mere inches away from her nose, and glowing with a powerful magic. The veins were still pulsing with purple light but Will's eyes had returned to their original brown color. Yan-Lin felt how Will loosened her grip around her neck and gratefully started to take lots of big breaths. She felt how the purple hands lowered her to the ground and Will floated in front of her. Will's eyes were still hard with anger but she seemed to be in control.
'Why?' Yan-Lin wheezed out. 'Why didn't you kill me?'
'I am no killer, Yan-Lin.' Will said, her voice still echoing. 'Nor are the people who helped me achieve this power.
'You're weak.' Yan-Lin spat.
'That maybe so.' Will replied as suddenly robes came from the walls and wrapped around her arms and legs.
The purple hands disappeared and Yan-Lin tried to break herself out of the robes. She knew that these robes would take her powers, but they were supposed to listen to the Oracle, to her.
'It's no use, Yan-Lin.' Will said. 'Kandrakar has acknowledged a new master. Your reign is finished.'
Yan-Lin felt how all her powers were robbed from her. Will glowed again and now she was standing before her in a karate like kimono, the jacket being longer, hitting the ground while a green shawl was bound around her waist. The hem was decorated with the black symbols of the elements and the sign of the Heart of Kandrakar was neatly visible on the left side of the jacket as well as on her head. Behind Will were people standing. Ghost like figures but Yan-Lin could easily recognize them. Kadma, Halinor, Joe and John were standing behind Will and all looked sadly at her.
'If you had told us that things were wrong then we could've helped you Yannie.' Joe said.
'But now you're too late.' Halinor said gruffly.
'You should be glad that Will stopped us.' Kadma said angrily.
'Yan-Lin. I hope you'll repent.' John said.
'Go to Hell.' Yan-Lin cursed.
Kadma's face contorted in rage and wanted to jump at her but Will held her hand up.
'I think it's time for you to go and for Yan-Lin to go to her temporary holding place.' she said.
Joe, John, Halinor and Kadma nodded and they all casted one look at Yan-Lin.
'Know this Yannie.' Joe said. 'We forgive you now, but the people out there are not so happy to forgive you.'
'And not to mention your own granddaughter.' Kadma added. 'You've broken her heart. You should be ashamed of yourself.'
Before Yan-Lin could retort she felt how the robes pulled her away and she was being teletransported to her cell.
End Flashback.
A sudden light pulled her out of her thoughts and Yan-Lin looked with spite at the new "Oracle". A sneer played on her lips.
'Will.' Yan-Lin snarled. 'Or should I say Oracle?'
Will paid no heed to her sarcasm. Apparently she was too 'good' to act upon her insolence. Yan-Lin could see the hidden hatred Will had against her.
'Yan-Lin.' Will said.
Yan-Lin felt how Will's voice broke through all her defenses and penetrated her heart. It was hurting her but she refused to show this child that she could hurt her.
'Your trial will commence tomorrow.' she said.
With that Will turned around and walked away. Yan-Lin started laughing, knowing Will would still hear her.
'Why sentence me?' she yelled. 'Your only option is to put me in this dump till the end of days! I'm not scared!'
She chuckled as she placed her head on the floor. A good sleep would do her good.
[A/N] That's all folks! Now I know that there are people who have noticed it but I can't help but say it. Please notice that Yan-Lin, no matter what, still views Will as a child. Well, this was a rather…boring chapter…I'm so into writing battles that this seems boring. Yet I hoped you liked it! Now only 2 chapters remain! The trails and the epilogue. Thanks for sticking with me for so long!
Please review!
BTW. Did I mention that this chapter is 21 pages long?
