Thank you to KnightofFaerun (The Nine Gates can be anything you want them to be), TCTK (Let's find out), XV-Dragon (We'll see), Nemrut (Wow, right on the money), J()e i)o (That it is), CCRox4Eva (Let's see what happens), minipower (I'm still glad you like the story), AJ (Melodrama is what I'm all about), and Sasuke9031 (She indeed did) for the reviews and support, and be sure to check out my other story The Guardians: Beginnings to see the story of Mizu's past.
"So that's it," Hay Lin says with a smirk as she lands in a tree outside the large Japanese castle shaped building that is Dark Enigma Headquarters. The large white walls jutted out of the vast Zamballa sized forest of plant life, and were topped with a large black stepped roof.
"I believe they don't even know that we are here," Inari says in the Air Guardian's head.
"Then let's start things off with a bang," Hay Lin says floating over to the wall and places her right hand on the smooth stone surface, "Bakuryuha."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You're up early," Taranee says to Will as she walks out into the kitchen of the Silver Dragon from the basement.
"Oh am I," Will says diverting saddened eyes from the Fire Warrior. It appeared that she had been up for hours crying. "I hadn't noticed."
"Will," Taranee asks sitting across from the distressed red head, "before we got back to Earth. B.D reminded you of something. What was it? I can tell from the look on your face that it's upsetting you."
"This thing," Will says as she wraps her arms around herself, "this monster that's growing inside me." She pauses and begins to sob.
"Are you talking about that virus thing," Taranee asks reaching across the table and placing a hand on Will's shoulder. The Guardian leader quickly nods.
"Since," Will says through her sobs, "it was created on Earth the people are more susceptible to it."
"What are you saying," Taranee asks calmly.
"I'm saying that you're the only one that I can safely be around," Will says standing quickly, "the longer I am on Earth, or near Lillian the faster it grows. There isn't any way to stop it from growing until it completely takes over and after that…" Will stops and tries to calm down. She had started to hyperventilate and could feel the virus spreading to control the problem.
"What Will," Taranee says walking around the table and placing her other hand on Will's other shoulder. Taranee could feel a shiver of fear ripple from Will's body, but couldn't truly tell why. "What'll happen?"
"If it drives me insane," Will say wrapping her arms around Taranee to seek comfort, "promise me that you'll kill me before I can hurt anyone."
"Will what are you…" Taranee says embracing the crying red head.
"Promise me," Will says angrily as her body shakes with her sobs.
"Will, I can't," Taranee says trying to calm the girl, "I won't make that promise. I'm your friend and after this is over me and the others will help you through this."
"How," Will says as her desperate eyes shed more tears onto the Fire Guardian's shoulder, "you and the other Guardians can actually go home after this." She pulls quickly away from Taranee and wraps her arms around herself once again. "I'm only going to be able to be on Earth for about a day and then I have to leave. I'll have to live on a world where I can't hurt anyone like the monster I am."
"Will," Taranee says pulling Will back into a hug, "you aren't a monster."
"You saw that thing," Will says starting to calm a little, "its voice echoes in my head, and the things it wants me to do."
"It's going to be okay," Taranee says stroking Will's back.
"You sure," Will says.
"Yeah," Taranee responds, "we'll beat Dark Enigma, and then we'll get that thing out of you. That I will promise you."
"Okay," Will says as she starts to wipe the tears off of her face, "so what time is it?"
"About six thirty," Taranee says as she grins.
"Then let's let Cornelia and Irma sleep a little longer," Will says calmly, "then we'll kick some Dark Enigma butt."
"Okay," Taranee says.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"That was definitely a big attack," Mizu says walking down the hall as the building shakes a little once again from Hay Lin's powerful assaults.
"She has a long way to go if she's trying to get through the wall," Alecara says walking with the girl. "They absorb elemental energy."
"She'll eventually get through if Cyan's charges work," Mizu says with a chuckle.
"Breaking the absorbing field around the wall should allow Hay Lin access," Alecara sighs, "but it could…"
"It'll allow me access to my powers while inside the fortress," Mizu says as the hall shakes once again, "it will overload the power cells for most of the other operating systems thus causing more damage to the structure itself."
"Why is it that you need your powers," Alecara says looking at Mizu. The man was in on the woman's plans but only she, Oak, and Akatsuki knew all of the specific details.
"If Mitsunari is going down then it'll be by my hand," Mizu says clenching her fist, "anyway let's get to Mitsunari's quarters. He's going to be really annoyed."
"About you betraying him or about the Guardian's attack," Alecara says.
"Both," Mizu says with a smug grin.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So are you guys ready," Will asks as she and the other three Guardians finish their breakfast.
"I'm ready whenever you are boss," Irma says with a grin.
"What she said," Cornelia says while squeezing tightly onto Caleb's arm.
"So what's the plan," Taranee asks.
"I don't really have one," Will admits, "I was hoping to come up with something once we got there."
"Well we know Dark Enigma is tough and they are usually in groups of two," Caleb says, "maybe if we separated them into one on one fights."
"That should work," Will says resting her hand on her chin, "well if we're ready to go, and we got a basic plan." Will then pulls out the heart. "Guardians Unite." The four then land clad in their Guardian outfits; she then swipes the heart through the air and a blue fold appears in space.
"Better now than never," Taranee gulps as the five of them quickly enter the fold.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So far it is just the Air Guardian," Akatsuki informs Mitsunari as he and the rest of Dark Enigma await orders, "and she has been unsuccessful in breaking the barrier."
"I see," Mitsunari says calmly, "Cyan."
"Yes," the cyborg says with a smile.
"Equip your siege gear and prepare to pick them off from afar; Mizu will protect you." Mitsunari responds. "Alecara you will keep the room that Elyon and the catalyst are secure. Akatsuki, you and Morphea will protect the main gate."
"What of you my Lord," Alecara asks.
"I will deal with the Air Guardian," he says as the Dark Enigma members disperse.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I've thrown everything I have at this thing," Hay Lin growls angrily, "and this damn wall isn't even scratched."
"I sense some kind of energy around the fortress," Inari says calmly, "I did not feel it at first but it may be something that is dampening your efforts Hay Lin-sama."
"Then let's see if they have any luck," Hay Lin says as she turns herself invisible while a blue fold appears in the sky.
"Whoa," Taranee says looking at the sheer size of the fortress, "that thing is massive."
"Now the only question is how do we get in," Will asks before she and the others have to avoid a large beam of red energy.
"What the," Cornelia says in a frightened tone.
"In the courtyard thing," Irma says pointing at a large courtyard with a fully decked out Cyan alone within.
"She'll blast us out of the sky before we can do anything or get close enough," Will says as the cyborg begins firing more rapidly. Suddenly she stops her assault on the five as a plethora of explosions occur within the structure and seemed to badly damage the fortress.
"What the," Will asks as the dust from the explosion blurs her and the other's vision. She then noticed something moving through the dust.
"Guy's," Will says as the dust clears, "I think our problems just got worse."
"Why," Irma asks as Cyan resumes her attack.
"I think Hay Lin is here," Will gulps as the girls continue to avoid the projectile attacks.