What's up, everybody? Have good holidays? I know I did. Now before I give you part one of this new Guardians episode, I feel like I need to get something (besides my awful procrastination habits) off my chest.

Cassagrandes. Horror-Scope. That episode was the ultimate emotional roller coaster for me. When I read the description on the TV guide, I got nervous. When I saw Lincoln was actually in the episode as well, my brain just turned to mush! Honestly, I could just go on an online forum and talk about my feelings in detail, but I'll keep it simple and just say that the events there don't line up here, so it's not going to be canon.

But I'd be an absolute fool to ignore the potential it gives writers here.

Especially with a certain fortune teller... So let's get started. Along with the Guardians brand new them song! Courtesy of LoudTurtleFan. Now let's go!


They're five kids on a mission
With powers and determination
Standing on the edge of an endless game
Their chaotic lives will never be the same
In a dangerous world they do all they can
They're Guardians
Guardians

The heart of their powers within them
No force will make them give in
When one's backed into a corner of
uncertainty
The rest will protect to the next degree
They are more than heroes, they're a family
They're Guardians
Guardians

(Guitar solo plays as their names are called out and their hero names appear on screen)
Ronnie Anne! (Relay)
Bobby! (Glacier)
Carlota! (Glamor)
C.J.! (Captain Command)
Carl! (Supernova)

They're Guardians
Guardians
Guardians
Guardians!

...

Episode 3: Chaos in the cards.

[PART 1]

Ronnie Anne, Carlota, and their grandfather all sat together at the dinner table. Hector was reading a newspaper, Carlota was doing her nails, and Ronnie Anne was playing a game on her phone. They were brought out of their activities when they heard Rosa call from the kitchen. "Lunch is now served." She declared as she entered the room with a platter holding a stack of tamales. The scent of the food instantly made the family's appetite sky-rocket. Ronnie Anne in particular was excited to dig in.

"Those smell so good." She said while resisting the urge to drool. Grabbing one of the tamales off the plate, she unwrapped the corn husk and proceeded to take a big bite. As she chewed it, her eyes opened as something seemed rather peculiar about the taste didn't sit right with her. "Uh, Abuela is this a new recipe you're trying? It seems different from how you usually make them." She asked nervously. Curious about what Ronnie Anne meant, Carlota and Hector also took a tamale and tasted it. Their faces scrunched up upon tasting it.

"Yeah, it tastes kind of salty…" Carlota confessed sheepishly. Rosa raised an eyebrow and proceeded to try a tamale for herself. Her eyes widened in shock and embarrassment.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I must have lost focus while I was listening to Ernesto." Rosa explained while she rubbed the back of her head. Ronnie Anne tilted her head to the side upon hearing the name.

"Uh, who is Ernesto?" She asked. Hector rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Ernesto Estrella is your abuela's favorite celebrity fortune teller. She can't get enough of that guy's horoscope readings." He explained, slightly annoyed. "I honestly think it's nothing more than a bunch of theatrics.

"Oh, yeah? Then how would you explain Ernestro predicting you facing fear on the same day you ripped your pants on karaoke night?" She asked with a cocky grin on her face. Hector's face turned red as his grandchildren snickered a little.

"T-that was just a coincidence. You can't prove he knew it would happen!" He said defensively. The denial caused Ronnie Anne to laugh a little harder.

"Timeless comedy aside, I'm with Abeulo on this one. Magic and seeing the future? Stuff like that sounds like either pure entertainment or a con artist." She reasoned. Rosa scoffed, her smile never fading.

"Magic and destiny are all too real, Mija. And both work in mysterious ways." She stated. Suddenly, Rosa's phone made a smile chime, which grabbed her attention. Looking at the screen, Rosa's face lit up in pure delight. "I can't believe it. Ernesto Estrella is doing a live show here at the performing arts center!?" The woman squealed excitement. "I've always wanted to see him in person." Hector groaned in response to his wife's giddiness.

"Are you actually going to go see him? You could get the same result from the TV."

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I refuse to waste it. Honestly, I don't think any of you should either." Rosa retorted. Carlota pursed her lips and looked up to the ceiling in thought.

"Well, I always was interested in what he would say about my future…" She confessed. Carlota then proceeded to elbow her little cousin in the arm playfully. "What do you say, Ronnie Anne? Want to see what the buzz is about?" Ronnie Anne thought about it and sighed.

"Alright, but I still think it's all just for show. How about you Abuelo?" Ronnie Anne asked as she and the girls walked towards the door.

"Actually I have plans already. But you girls have fun." Hector dismissed. As the trio walked out the door and closed it behind them. Carl, Bobby, and Sergio revealed themselves hiding behind it. Carl in particular was wearing a yellow, rimmed visor hat on his head. The young child then reached into his pockets, pulling out a bag of candy and a deck of playing cards. "Your Halloween stash? You seem awfully confidant this time." Hector teased.

"You're poker winning streak ends here, gramps." Carl vowed with a competitive look in his eyes.

When the family made it to the performing arts center, the audience was packed to the brim, with Ronnie Anne, Carlota, and Rosa in the middle. The theatre was dark due to the lack of active lights, but the deep red color was present on the stage curtains and seats. The constant chattering from the audience was not enough to drown out the squeaking of Rosa's seat due to her excited bouncing. "I still can't believe this is happening." Rosa squealed. Ronnie Anne put a hand on her grandmother's shoulder and tried to calm her down.

"Easy, Abuela. I've never seen you act like this before." Ronnie Anne stated as Rosa began to calm down. "I mean seriously, what makes Ernesto so special?" She asked. Before Rosa could reply, a pair of spotlights began to illuminate the stage, and the audience went silent. A voice began to boom from seemingly nowhere as the lights rotated in circles.

"For decades, people have always pondered a common question. That being: 'What does destiny have in store for me?' But now, that question now has an answer." The voice narrated. "I have looked to the stars for the answers the world seeks. And now, I shall give them to you." Just then, an explosion of purple smoke spread out through the stage. As it cleared, it revealed a Latino man with short blonde hair. He was wearing a decorative robe with primarily purple, pink, and gold coloring. He also had a lot of jewelry on him with glittering rings on his fingers. But by far the most eye catching part of his wardrobe was a large diamond at the chest that tied his robe around his neck. "I am: Ernesto Estrella!"

Upon hearing Ernesto's declaration, the entire crowd cheered in excitement. Except for Ronnie Anne and Carlota, who were rather surprised with Ernesto's appearance. "Huh, I didn't think he would look so flamboyant." Ronnie Anne remarked. Ernesto took a couple bows before raising his arms and silencing the audience.

"Now, let's see who's futures I will be able to help reveal today." Ernesto scanned the crowd and spotted a man in the front row. The diamond on his collar gave a faint cyan glow and Ernesto quickly approached him from the edge of the stage. "You sir! Tell me, do you work hard at your job?" He asked. The man in question stuttered before answering.

"Y-yeah! I always make sure to get all the company reports turned in on time. But my boss always ignores me and my co-workers get all the credit." He lamented. Ernesto nodded and hummed as he tossed some purple glitter into the air above him. It sparkled and made the shape of various constellations.

"Well, your future says you will be rewarded for your hard work." Ernesto leaned closer to the man and whispered into his ear. "Expect a raise next Thursday." The man grinned happily at the idea. Satisfied with the result, Ernesto scanned the crowd again and spotted a woman, the diamond began to glow again. "Madam, are you expecting something in the near future?" He asked pointing to her. The lady nodded and rubbed her stomach.

"Yes. But it's very early. I haven't even started thinking of names yet."

"Well I suggest picking a favorite for a boy and for a girl." Ernesto advised, waving his hand and making the constellation of Gemini appear for a brief moment. "Especially since you're having twins." He informed the future mother. The woman covered her mouth with both hands and let out a squeal of joy. As Rosa clapped in amazement, Ronnie Anne couldn't help but roll her eyes. The entire show was basically the same thing over and over again. Ernesto spotted an audience member, revealed a problem they were facing, and then predicted their future. It was repeated constantly for about half an hour, each time making Ronnie Anne a little less interested.

"Yeesh, is he almost done?" She whispered to Carlota. The teen rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, it's cool and all. But he's not really doing a whole lot. I thought he would do some magic alongside the fortunes to jazz things up." She complained. Regardless of Carlota's lament, Rosa and the rest of the audience were still captivated by Ernesto's show. The eccentric fortune teller raised his arms up and silenced them all.

"Alright my friends. It is almost time for me to take my leave. But before I go, I would like to make an announcement." Ernesto revealed. "I want to try and spread my knowledge to others, so they may learn to read the future for themselves and others. In fact, I sense the perfect candidate for such wisdom in the audience right now!" The audience gasped and Rosa's eyes lit up at the idea.

"Oh, do you think he's talking about me?" The grandmother asked enthusiastically. Ronnie Anne shook her head sadly.

"Abuela, with all the people here, the odds of you getting picked are near impossible." She stated bluntly. As Ronnie Anne continued talking, Ernesto's diamond began to glow even brighter. "I mean, what are the chances that Ernesto is going to raffle off your seat number instead of any other?"

"Would Rosa Casagrande please stand up?" Ernesto called from the stage as a spotlight shined down on Rosa. As the rest of the audience cheered in excitement and clapped, Rosa and her grandchildren were in a stunned silence. Tears began to form in Rosa's eyes as she smiled.

"I can't believe it! Ernesto Estrella is going to teach me some of his secrets! This is too good to be true." Rosa celebrated before leaning towards Ronnie Anne and giving her a smug grin. Both Carlota and Ronnie Anne were still in a state of disbelief over what transpired.

"That was insane! He actually picked you out of everyone here."

"How did he even know your name?" As the crowd cheered and congratulated the family's good luck. Ernesto waved his hand and sent out a small cloud of blue smoke. It floated over towards Rosa and dropped a lanyard with a plastic gold colored card attached to it. On the card was the acronym 'V.I.P.'.

"That backstage pass will grant you access to my dressing room. See me there, and I shall teach you what I know." Ernesto instructed. "As for the rest of you, farewell! May the stars guide you towards good fortune!" Ernesto took one final bow and soon disappeared in a burst of smoke and glitter. The crowd cheered and clapped before beginning to shuffle out. Rosa stood up and let out a squeal of glee.

"Come on, what are we waiting for, mijas? This is going to be so amazing!" Rosa wrapped the lanyard around her neck and grabbed her grandchildren's arms. She soon began to pull them out through the aisles and towards a backstage door. However, they were stopped by some high pitched beeping. The group stopped and both Ronnie Anne and Carlota looked at their watches. "Is something wrong?" Rosa asked in a concern tone. Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes and groaned.

"Apparently Eco is back and turned the whole park into a death trap." Ronnie Anne explained. Carlota huffed, remembering when they first met Eco at the spa.

"Sorry, Abuela. We kind of need to take care of this." Rosa shook her head dismissively.

"Oh no, don't worry. I understand. You can't just have someone like her destroy everything." The grandmother leaned over and kissed both girls on their foreheads. "You run along and save the day. Just be careful." She pleaded. Carlota and Ronnie Anne gave determined smiles before turning around.

"Come on, Ronnie Anne. Let's take this weed out of the garden!" Carlota cheered as they ran out of the theater. Rosa smiled as she continued onward to the backstage door. A large man in a tuxedo and sunglasses held up a hand and stopped her. Rosa simply smiled and showed him her backstage pass. The security guard gave a small nod and stepped aside, letting Rosa pass through into the backstage halls. The red hallway was filled with various doors. Eventually, she reached one that had a gold star, engraved with the name 'Estrella', hanging on it. Rosa reached out and knocked on the door.

"Ernesto, it's me, Rosa. May I come in?"

"Of course my dear. Hurry inside." Ernesto responded. Rosa opened the door and walked into the room. What she was greeted with was a pretty standard site for a dressing room. Pink walls and red carpeting were the main décor. Ernesto was sitting in a chair off to the side, staring at his reflection in a mirror while caressing the diamond on his collar. "I've been waiting for you, Rosa." He greeted while turning around. Rosa felt butterflies in her stomach as her idol made eye contact with her.

"I. Uh, it's nice to. M-meet you." She stuttered. Ernesto chuckled.

"No need to feel anxious. New experiences are completely natural for any living thing." He reassured. Rosa felt a lump form in her throat, but she forced herself to swallow it.

"Yes, of course. So what is the first secret you want to teach me?" She asked excitedly. Ernesto gave a mischievous grin and turned so his back was facing Rosa.

"Well, my first little secret is that I do not simply 'read' the stars. I draw energy from them as well." Ernesto explained. Rosa nodded in understanding.

"Oh yeah. I believe you called that energy 'mana' right?"

"Indeed I do. But it's not just stars that have mana. All living things have it. The plants, the birds, and even people such as us." Ernesto snickered a little. "Not to brag, but I feel I have a lot more mana than people think. Alas, all things still have a limit. And stars and flowers only give so much." The magic astrologist lamented. "Fortunately, there is a source that can fill up a person's mana for years." Rosa raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

"Really? What is it?" She asked with an innocent smile. Ernesto chuckled even more and his diamond started to glow even brighter. Rosa's expression sank and she started to back away, feeling really insecure. Ernesto turned around, a malicious smile contorting his face.

"Why, a soul of course!" Ernesto answered as he started to laugh and float off the ground. The glow from his diamond turning from cyan into a dark purple. Rosa gasped in shock and ran towards the door. Unfortunately, the doorknob began to melt and turn into a pile of ooze. Rosa turned around, her back pressed against the door. As Ernesto drew closer, Rosa started to panic more and more as she saw his eyes seemingly turn a deep shade of red.

"No. Stay away! Get back you… you… DEMON!" Rosa pleaded. In a matter of seconds, three things filled the room. The purple light, Ernesto's laughter, and Rosa's horrified screams.


And now, we officially have a villain that can use magic

*yawn* It feels so good to finally get this episode started. Hopefully I can get the next part written sooner. Especially since I have a brilliant idea cooked up for the near future. Well, wish me luck in my endeavors. And stay tuned to see how our heroes get their grandmother out of this magical mess