Elemental Outpour

Summary: They thought they could handle anything, including facing mortal peril, and come out unscathed. They thought their powers were enough to overcome anything. They thought nothing could be worse than the Never Realm. They thought wrong.

Disclaimer: I don't own the show. I own the Elementals, Master Extorio, Caledon the Cunning, Angel, and Corban. The other OCs belong to Deth, especially Nana and Tanya.

A/N: The showdown has finally arrived! And you're in for a few surprises in here… Um… Brace yourselves. That's all I have to say.

Chapter 4: Conflict of Interests

The castle was on lockdown, as it should be. Prior to that, official word had been passed to the villagers to stay in their homes, and the magic wielders had issued a protective barrier around all of Dunwiddie and any surrounding areas to keep everyone safe. The castle itself was coated in an invisible magical shielding, the guards on standby just in case.

While the Enchancians were staying put in their respective locations, the storm outside was now close to raging. Strong winds had uprooted several trees by this point, some of which had landed in the water surrounding the castle, and some that had even fallen through old abandoned cabins. The water itself was restless, whitecaps falling over one another and beating the shore mercilessly. The skies were completely blackened now, streaks of lightning and white-hot plasmatic charge illuminating and shocking the atmosphere.

One rogue flash of lightning struck a tree, setting it on fire, and the rush of wind began spreading the fire throughout some of the wooded areas. Even despite the heavy torrent of rain pounding the earth, the fire was relentless. Moreover, the ground on the outer lying areas of the kingdom had split, damaging many trees and small manmade items such as wells, barrels, and other useful contraptions the villagers often relied upon to make their lives easier. Of course, the shifting of the earth conflicted with itself, some of the hidden underlayer stones striking against one another and sparking yet another fire.

The smoke that filled Enchancia was even denser than the hanging clouds had been merely an hour ago. In addition, the winds had picked up even stronger, swooping some of the fire into their invisible grasp, creating a rare but very real phenomenon: a fire tornado. It cut through the woods, spreading more damage and destruction as it twisted about.

And standing at the start of the bridge separating the castle from the village were the Elementals, Cybil Marie, Caledon the Cunning, and Master Extorio, all of whom seemed to be admiring the work of the elements (indeed, brought about by the Elementals themselves). Granted, they were unaffected by the heavy storms due to a protective spell, so the rain literally bounced off of them.

"So, you're just using the 'elemental powers' you possess to destroy the kingdom," Cybil Marie reasoned, folding her arms. She quirked her eyebrow toward Master Extorio, who paid her no mind. "Seems rather chintzy, don't you think?"

"What does that mean?" Yeizou asked, genuinely confused.

"She just called our work tacky," Zarova sneered, her pet snake Silas curling around her forearm and hissing at the other blonde girl. Her dark eyes narrowed at the teenager. "I'd like to see you do better, you pretentious pest."

"I'm one of the top in my class," she argued back before sighing, rolling her eyes. "Or rather, I was, until this happened." She gestured at her current appearance. "Even still, I could out-magic any of you any day."

"You may get your chance to prove that," Blitz reminded her, smirking as she glanced toward him. "In fact, I have a personal challenge for you: you must destroy at least one person today. Bonus points if it's a kid."

"Kind of dark, wouldn't you say?" Caledon the Cunning wasn't necessarily one to care about humanity or anything, but even he was mildly surprised by the suggestion.

"Consider it done." Cybil Marie smirked.

"If you idiots are done yammering," Topaz quipped, her hands slowly setting ablaze, "we have a realm to destroy…beginning with the Enchancian castle."

"Topaz is correct," Master Extorio confirmed. "Elementals, you know what to do."

Aerlo grinned. "I've been waiting a long time for this…" He glanced toward Zemeo, who smiled sinisterly and nodded. "You take it low, and I'll take it high."

The group moved across the bridge before setting to work.

Zemeo used his thorny whip to split the bridge in half, causing some of the stone and earthy underlayer to fall into the water below. Aerlo jumped high in the air, blowing into his hands before sending a strong gust of wind at the bridge, catching Topaz's fire blast and Blitz's and Zarova's combination of lightning and plasma, creating a swirling, electrified, fire tornado. The fire and electric charges licked at the bridge, breaking it down to nearly nothing. Lastly, Yeizou summoned his powers, using the water around him to wash over the dilapidated bridge, causing it to collapse and become submerged in the torrential waves.

"Halt, in the name of King Roland!" one of the guards called angrily, running toward the group with his accompanying guard in step next to him.

"I've got these two," Cybil Marie insisted, jumping before the group and throwing her hands up, calling out a spell and freezing the men in their tracks.

"You're a 'Dark Magic Mistress,' right?" Aerlo challenged, folding his arms. "Blitz showed you how to use your dark magic, and you decide to do a freeze spell instead?" He scoffed.

"Listen, you over-stretched windbag—"

"Enough," Master Extorio insisted, his voice instantly ceasing any arguments. "We have far more pressing matters. Beyond these gates lie Princess Sofia and her ensemble of friends and family." He chuckled, though the sound seemed more like an echo at the deepest point of a dark cave. "Let us keep our sights set higher…" He began to levitate in the air, using his own powers to do the same to his assembled group. "Much higher."

"We've secured the castle and as much of Enchancia as possible, King Roland," Cordelia informed him as everyone was gathered in the main corridor. "The village homes have protective barriers, and so does the castle."

"Uh, we may have a problem then," James mentioned as he pointed out the window. "It looks like someone set the woods on fire."

"And the bridge is gone," Vivian gasped, seeing the lack of pathway leading to the castle.

Roland looked helplessly toward Cedric, who seemed just as confused as he did. "So… Does that mean…?"

A loud crash sounded from above as the entire top layer of the castle was ripped off, including all the upstairs rooms, the collective section tossed aside as if it were a toy. The heavy rain now poured down into the castle and onto those gathered, soaking them almost instantly.

"Mommy!" Corban cried, though thankfully he was at least now with the others after having taken a nap. He whimpered and shivered from the onslaught of the rain. He held fast to Miranda's dress, sniffling as he did so.

Miranda scooped Corban into her arms, trying to shield him from the rain. "What's going on?!"

Orion narrowed his eyes as he noticed the hovering group before them. "We have company."

Cedric quickly turned to Roland, staring at him seriously. "Roland, I'm going to seal you and your family in a magical barrier. And anyone else who has no powers. We won't allow them to hurt you."

Roland was only somewhat surprised at his friend's lack of title for him. He was more focused on the other man's words. "But-! Even the magical defense didn't stop them from getting into the castle, Cedric! How can you be sure…?"

"Just trust me." He offered a sincere look, smiling gently as the king sighed. "We'll take care of it. I promise."

He nodded. "Do what you have to do, Cedric… But be careful." He eyed Sofia, who was more focused on trying to protect both Nana and Tanya from the rain. "And…Sofia…"

"I'll take care of her. I promise." He stepped back, forming a magical seal, which began to wrap around all the nonmagical people.

Sofia, realizing what he was doing, hurried over to Miranda, who hadn't been sealed yet. "Mom, take care of the girls."

"No! We want to help!" Tanya frowned as Sofia ushered her closer to the queen before kneeling in front of her. "Mama…"

"You always fight so hard to help protect us, Tanya," Sofia whispered, guiding Nana next to her sister, smiling as she hugged the taller girl. "Now let us do the same for you." She kissed both of them on the forehead. "Stay here." She backed away just as Cedric's seal encased Miranda and the children. She turned to face the other magic wielders. "Get ready."

"Now, how is this fair?" Master Extorio chided half-seriously as he ceased the heavy rains with a gesture of his hand before lowering himself and the others into the castle, practically facing off with the Enchancian group. "Our intent is to destroy, and yet you are trying to protect your precious 'family.'"

"And what would you know of family?" Cedric challenged irritably. "A family is constituted by love and familiarity, something you feel inside your soul. I doubt very much that you even have a heart, much less a soul."

"Ouch," the dark entity quipped dryly, causing his group to snicker. "That would have hurt if I possessed the ability to feel."

"Where is my Dimension Door?" the royal sorcerer demanded. "Return it to me!"

"Oh, this thing?" Master Extorio held out the Galactica Spellbook, taunting him with it. He laughed as he saw Cedric about to approach him to grab it. "Ah-ah-ah… I think you need to earn this if you really want it back. See if you're worthy of it… And in any case, is family even important? At least one 'family member' I know of has already done away with such frivolities."

Calista and Cordelia both gasped as they noticed Caledon stepping out from behind Master Extorio, his shaggy appearance so different from how they remembered.

"Caledon!" Cordelia snapped, growling. "You traitor!"

The brown-haired man simply smirked and shrugged. "Follow the power, Cordelia… It's the only thing that matters."

Calista's right hand fisted as she gritted her teeth, but she relaxed a little as she felt Angel's hand caress hers, sliding into it to hold it instead. "Power means nothing when you have no one who loves you."

"Can we kill her first?" Cybil Marie requested, forming some of her new dark magic between her hands, the electricity sparkling. "And please let me be the one to do so…" She grinned darkly at the other girl, whose eyes were wide. "I've been waiting a long time for this!"

"And you'll just have to keep waiting," Blitz insisted, holding out a hand toward the blonde. He smirked as he watched the teen turn to him, an astonished expression on her face.

"Blitz?!"

"Goodbye, Cybil Marie." With one loud zap from his own powers, he watched as the former Hexley Hall student collapsed to the floor, lifeless.

Zemeo grinned as Calista screamed in terror and became a bit hysterical at seeing her former classmate's motionless body. "Got tired of your little girlfriend already, huh, Blitz?"

"One less pain to deal with," Blitz responded, laughing at Calista's reaction. "Oh, boo-hoo, little baby! I thought you were angry with her for going to the 'dark side.' You should be happy! I did you a favor!"

"You murdered her!" the young sorceress retorted, trying to lunge at him, though Angel swiftly wrapped his arms around her and held her back. "She may have done some terrible things, but she didn't deserve to die! I'll destroy you myself!"

"Sounds like a challenge I'd enjoy!" Blitz laughed, his powers charging up. "In fact, let's make it interesting! Hey, Pops!" He glanced toward Caledon, who side-eyed him. "What do ya say? You and me against your kid and her little friend there?"

Caledon's lips twitched into a rather perverse grin. "Sounds like a plan."

Without warning, chaos seemed to break out. Zemeo and Aerlo teamed up against Cedric and Cordelia. Blitz and Caledon faced off against Calista and Angel. Topaz and Yeizou faced down Chrysta, Orion, and Vega. And lastly, Zarova set her sights on Sofia alone. And Master Extorio stood back and watched it all.

"Come on, Protectors!" Topaz called, hurling some fire toward the trio. She laughed as it scorched part of Vega's wing, making her double over in pain. "Where's the drive and passion we've heard so much about?!"

"Maybe it's all talk," Yeizou laughed, using his water to drench all three of them. He swept Topaz into his arms briefly, kissing her deeply, much to the trio's shock and disgust as they attempted to stand up from the watery blast. "Mm, my fiery little vixen." He licked her lips, moaning in pleasure as her tongue met his, both caressing together in an obscene exchange of saliva, causing those around them massive unease (if the Protectors' reactions were any indication).

"My dark, damp delight," Topaz crooned back, biting his lip and growling flirtatiously.

"My stomach!" Chrysta whined, glancing at the other two. "Let's get rid of them already!"

"Gladly," Vega said, perhaps a little too calmly, as they powered up themselves.

Topaz and Yeizou didn't even have a chance to react as the Protectors used their combined powers, eradicating them, both perishing together in their rather short battle.

Cordelia cried out in pain as Zemeo ensnared her with his thorned whip, pulling her closer to him. She glared at him as he grinned down at her. "This is not how you ask a lady for a date," she remarked sarcastically, kicking him in the stomach and causing him to fall backwards. She winced as she felt the thorns still sticking in her skin. "Ow…"

Cedric, who was fighting with Aerlo, saw his sister's distress. "Cordy, are you all right?" he asked, ducking as Arelo swiped at his head. He frowned, using his wand to hurl the other man backwards.

"I'm fine, Ceddy-look out!"

Cedric turned just in time to see Aerlo charging him, a crazed look in his bloodshot eyes. He dived out of the way, letting the Elemental tumble into his earth-wielding friend instead, both of them groaning as they hit the floor hard. He smirked, using his wand to unwind the whip from his sister and wrapping it around the Elementals instead. He reached down and took Cordelia's hand, helping her to her feet. "Be my guest," he insisted, gesturing toward the men.

"Together," she countered, holding out her own wand.

Aerlo growled as he fought against the whip, and Zemeo yelled out in pain as his own thorns began puncturing his body.

"Interficio!"

Nothing was left of the earth and wind wielders, except the thorny whip.

Cordelia smirked as she picked up the whip, humming. "Hmm, perhaps I should use this on Caledon."

"I think he's about to meet his match," Cedric suggested, looking toward his angered niece and Angel. "There is nothing like a broken heart, and he shattered hers the moment he showed his face here…"

Wordlessly, Cordelia nodded.

While the fighting continued, the non-magical people (and Nana and Tanya) had been watching with baited breaths, waiting to see the outcome. While the magic wielders did seem to sustain some injuries (however mild), they were faring far better than the majority of the Elementals. In fact, there were only four remaining: Zarova (who was fighting magic to magic against Sofia), Blitz and Caledon (fighting still against Calista and Angel), and Master Extorio himself (who was still watching and waiting, like the ominous omnipotent being he proclaimed to be).

"This is going to be a nightmare to handle," Baileywick lamented, his expression solemn.

"The roof is easily reparable, sir," one of the workers offered, smiling obliviously, despite the danger surrounding them. "Granted, not sure how to fix an entire top layer of the castle, but…"

"No, Jean Claude," Violet corrected, rolling her eyes. "Mr. Baileywick means…" She gestured toward those fighting. "Our friends are fighting for their lives and to keep us safe. Imagine the damage they are experiencing. Forget the castle."

Roland nodded. "A castle can be rebuilt. A family cannot…"

James and Amber exchanged glances before glancing down at Alamea, who was sniffling and clinging to her mother.

"Shh," Desmond soothed, reaching out to take his daughter. "It's okay, Alamea… Daddy's here."

Amber smiled gently at him, kissing his cheek appreciatively, before looking back toward her sister, who'd been struck on the arm with a powerful blast, knocking her backwards. "Sofia!"

James frowned. "Come on, Sof…"

While Sofia was trying to catch her breath, Calista finally managed to get the upper hand against her father. She kicked him in the chest, knocking him onto his back, and pointed her own wand at him. She glared heavily down at him as he stared up at her in…fear?

"C-Calista, be reasonable," he tittered, faltering in his bravado as he noticed her brow furrowing further, a dark look on her face. "Please, have mercy! Isn't that what you light magic people preach? Forgiveness? I'm your father! Please spare me!"

Hearing that, she snapped. "No! You never think about anyone but yourself! You have no idea what it means to love or sacrifice everything just to have a glimpse of happiness!" She sneered at the man, who stared silently at her in shock. "Don't ever say my name again. Don't call on me. Don't even think about me, because I certainly won't be thinking about you."

Blitz, seizing the opportunity, turned toward Caledon. "I guess it's true on both sides… Once a traitor, always a traitor…" With little more than a powerful zap, he killed Caledon on the spot. He grunted as Angel plowed into him, using his own magic to take the redhead down to the floor. He soon turned the tables, his hands around Angel's neck, slowly beginning to drain him of his energy. "Tackling people when they're distracted? What a noble move…"

"C-Calista!" Angel called, his breathing labored as his oxygen supply was weakening.

Calista was furious. Her father had betrayed her twice, and then was killed in front of her. Her classmate had turned evil and then was murdered before any chance of redemption. These Elementals and their leader had come in and ruined everything. She turned her wand toward Blitz, aiming directly at his forehead, even as he looked up at her. The darkness in her eyes never wavered as she whispered, "Interficio…"

"No!" Blitz was vanquished, leaving a stunned and struggling Angel behind.

"Angel!" Calista shook her head to clear her mind and hurried over to her boyfriend, dropping to his side and checking him. He was breathing again, though it was still labored. "Angel…"

"M-My Chante," he returned, smiling tiredly up at her. "W-We can…never just have…a normal day, can we?"

She smiled tiredly down at him, kissing his cheek, although she was still very much shaken from recent events. "I guess not…"

"Stand and face me, Princess," Zarova ordered, using her powers to force Sofia to her feet once again. She smirked as she saw the wound on the girl's arm, which was bleeding from the injury, clearly making her a bit weaker from some blood loss. "Ah, this is just like old times… A weakened princess, defenseless, listless… Useless…" She chuckled and walked toward her, pressing her hand against the princess's chest and smirking as her plasmatic powers began coursing through her veins.

Sofia groaned in pain, feeling her heart slowing and her blood seemingly growing colder. She was dying, and she knew it. Still, she had to fight… "I… I w-won't give up," she declared softly, her lips slowly turning blue, her body shivering. "Y-You won't hurt me or my family!" Determination set in, despite her desolate condition. "All the other Elementals are gone, Zarova… And you're next."

Annoyed and angered by this warning, the light-haired woman hissed, her pet snake Silas even flinching at the sound and slithering back to his place around her stomach. Her black eyes seemed even more hollow and lifeless as she mumbled a curse: "Silence upon you, like the quiet emptiness of space itself. Voiceless shall you be, till life descends and nothing's left. The void of sound and the lack of speech—no more shall you ever strive to speak!"

Sofia's scream was instantly silenced as Zarova's curse overtook her, her voice gone. The negative energy was beginning to consume her completely, her wound still open, her veins filled with that plasmatic dark magic, her body ice cold…

Zarova sneered, dropping her to the floor and watching Sofia slump forward. "Goodbye, Princess Sofia—"

"Sofia!" Cedric called, hurrying over and quickly moving in front of his partner, glaring heatedly at the woman in front of him. "Your battle is with me now, Zarova! Leave her alone!"

She chuckled, twirling some of her thin, wispy hair around her fingers. "Well, well, well… If it isn't the sorcerer to the rescue, yet again… Tell me, Cedric." She smiled evilly as she sauntered toward him, trailing one hand down his jaw, causing him to recoil. "Are you earning her favor every time you come to her rescue? Does she…" She smirked. "…kiss you as a reward, like so many heroes experience? Oh, wait…" She chuckled, turning her eyes toward the princess on the floor. "She can't. She's a princess. You're just a sorcerer. She could never love you like that."

Sofia weakly shook her head before glancing up as she saw Zarova place her finger under her partner's chin. She wanted to call out to him, to deny the woman's words, but…she couldn't…

"And even if she did, you know how the story goes: a princess belongs with a prince, someone worthy of her status. Tale as old as time, and all that…" She narrowed her eyes at Cedric, who'd gotten rather quiet. "Oh, I can see that I've struck a nerve… You do love this girl, don't you? More than a friend. More than family. More than anything…" She nodded, shoving him aside, and aiming her hand toward a frightened Sofia. "So, it would be more painful if she dies, wouldn't it? No one left to love you, cherish you, want you…" She laughed sinisterly as she prepared to attack.

"Sofia, no!" "Sofia, run!" "Stop it!" "Ahh!" A mix of every kind of panicked call came from just about every person in the room, except Sofia herself, who was too weak to react; Zarova, who was focused on her task; Cedric, who was struggling to recover; and Master Extorio, who was simply watching.

Cedric, his determination renewed upon locking eyes with Sofia, who was clearly afraid of her own destruction, jumped to his feet and aimed his wand at the back of Zarova's head. "Zarova."

The woman instantly turned, growling at him. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?!"

"I don't. And you're right." He smirked at the confused look on her face. "I do love Sofia…more than anyone."

Sofia's eyes widened.

"And I won't let anyone hurt someone I love. Interficio!"

She screamed, "No—ahh!" A smirk soon formed on her face as she began cackling, her dark magic coursing through her veins and radiating from her. Seeing the confused expression Cedric wore, she sneered, "You fool! Didn't you know? I'm the most powerful Elemental of them all. It'll take more than one magic wielder's measly little 'destruction spell' to take me down!"

"Then, let's all do it together!" Orion advised, "Quickly!"

The able-bodied magic wielders surrounded Zarova, despite her screeching and lashing out, and focused their energy and powers together. Even in her shaky state, Sofia slowly lifted her hand, her Light Magic pooling in her palm, her eyes narrowed dangerously at Zarova. 'If I die,' she thought to herself, 'at least I die saving them...'

"You won't destroy me! I am Zarova!"

"No," Cedric corrected, pointing his wand at her. "You were."

"Interficio!"

All the powers from those in the circle did, in fact, finally destroy Zarova. Tanya held up her arms, allowing the remains of the final Elemental to flow into her Death Bringer, which was a somewhat satisfying form of revenge, considering the recent circumstances. Her snake, Silas, was all that was left of her, and he slithered away to safety. Sofia's arm fell limply to her side as she collapsed to the floor.

"You still failed," Master Extorio taunted weakly, his being beginning to dissipate as the Galactica Spellbook fell to the floor. "A piece of myself went into each Elemental, and each of their deaths added to my own demise…" He hummed thoughtfully. "You may have destroyed the Elementals and even me… But the princess is still marked." He chuckled, though it sounded hollow and frail. "You have no idea…what awaits her…if she survives…" With nothing else to say, in a display of bright light and dark magic, he vanished.

Calista held onto Angel before kneeling briefly to pick up the spell book, guarding it for Cedric, who'd knelt next to Sofia to check on her. "Uncle Ceddy, what did he mean…?"

"I don't know, Calista," he admitted, frowning at how cold the princess was. He helped her slowly sit up, and then he shed his robe, quickly wrapping her in it to attempt to keep her warm. He bit back a soft whimper as he saw the blood seep through his robe. The fact that they were all still soaked to the bone from the storm wasn't helping, clearly. "Sofia…"

Before they realized what was happening, the skies cleared, the weather stabilized, the castle was magically restored, and even all the damage was undone. In addition, the barrier broke, freeing the non-magical people, Nana, and Tanya.

"What's wrong with her, Cedric?" Roland asked in concern as he and Miranda hurried over, the twins, Vivian, Desmond, and the girls following to check on the princess. "Is she…?"

"She's lost a lot of blood, I'm afraid…" Cedric frowned, holding a hand to the girl's heart. "I… I have an idea, and I hope this works…" Closing his eyes, he concentrated, feeling his hand magic flowing into her. It was a long shot, but he was hoping to try to heal her like he'd been able to do in the past. Granted, she hadn't usually lost this much blood, so he knew it would take a while…if it worked.

For several minutes, everyone stood around, watching and waiting to see what would happen.

Seven minutes… That's how long it took before Sofia opened her eyes and peered up at Cedric. Her lips were back to their normal shade. She was no longer cold.

"Sofia," Cedric began, watching as tears pooled in her eyes. "Oh, my darling…"

The princess sniffled and leaned into his embrace, tears rolling down her face as he held her. She cried harder when Nana and Tanya both moved quickly over to her, embracing her from either side.

Miranda let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, Sofia, you scared us, sweetheart…" She smiled as the little family held onto one another.

Amber frowned, despite the situation, and knelt beside her sister. "Sofia… Are you all right?"

Sofia felt those tears flow heavier down her face. Shakily, she raised one hand to her throat and looked hopelessly at her sister. As soon as she opened her mouth, Amber realized.

"You… You can't speak…"

Her voice was gone. Gone. Zarova's curse…was permanent.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: The Sweetest Words