Betrayal of the Heart

By: FunahoMisaki

(A/N: I own nothing.)

"Finally done." Elyon said sighing in relief as she sat in her throne. She was worn out rom leading her troops against the Lurdens that had attacked the castle and village close by. For some reason the Lurdens had seemed more dangerous and savage than ever, stronger as well.

There had only been a small squadron of them but if it wasn't for the troops training and Elyon's magic then they would have suffered a lot of casualties. Now she had time to take a small break before she had to focus her attention on allocating resources in order to rebuild the places that had been destroyed by the Lurdens as well as making sure that those who had been hurt were tended to and the dead were given an honorable burial.

Why did most girls want to be princesses when they were little? It sucked honestly.

"Elyon!" The sound of Cornelia's panicked voice had her eyes snapping open and she was almost immediately on her feet as the Guardians flew in.

The Guardians all had red puffy eyes and tears running down their cheeks, they all knew that they had to absolutely nail this part. To that degree Cornelia had put sand in each of their eyes, including her own, in order to make them cry.

Taranee had altered each of their memories just enough so that it would look like Will had been buried by the rock slide saving Irma, but not altered enough to tip off someone like Halinor who had experience with her psychic powers.

Hay-lin had created a small tornado of dirt around each of them in turn in order to make it look as if they had been clawing through the dirt and close to a rockslide that kicked up dirt and dust.

All of that added to their slightly torn outfits from the fight itself…it had made them quite a sight to see.

"Cornelia! What happened? Where's Will?" Elyon asked noticing that the red head who had been helping her learn how to be a better leader was nowhere to be seen as the other four practically collapsed onto the ground.

"El…Elyon…please…please open a fold to Kandrakar. We…we need to tell everyone…at the same time." Cornelia's voice was wavering as if she were trying to be strong and hold back her tears. Irma was unusually quiet behind Cornelia as she tried to silently comfort Hay-lin and was being comforted at the same time.

"Blunk go to Earth and get the Former Guardians…they need to know too." Taranee managed to choke out as she looked at the passling that seemed to know that now was not the time for one of his 'deals' that he was so fond of offering to all but Blunk.

"Let's go…" Elyon said quietly as she opened the fold to the palace of Kandrakar. She had an idea of what had happened to Will. It was nearly being broadcasted in her face with all these clues. She just…didn't want to believe it.

"Hello Queen Elyon. Guardians. What can I do for you?" The Oracle asked with a serene smile that fell when he saw the Guardians rather messy state and that one was missing.

"We…should wait on the others." Taranee said swallowing heavily. She wasn't used to altering and forging memories, she had done the best she could while still trying to be discreet about it. She thought that they would hold up against Halinor who was a much more experienced mind walker than she was. If they didn't…

She wished she had taken those lessons on the mind arts last time when Halinor had offered.

"Hey what's the rush?" Cassidy asked as another fold opened nearby and the four remaining Former Guardians were nearly shoved through it by a surprisingly serious Blunk.

"Our first actual reunion in over 30 years and we get summoned by Kandrakar. Any bets on it being bad news?" Kadma asked dryly while looking at the others before she looked up and paused at the sight of the Guardians.

"Hay-lin! What happened?!" Yan-lin was immediately moving over to her granddaughter worriedly and Hay-lin felt new tears spring into her eyes at the question.

"Wait a sec. There's someone missing." Cassidy noticed as she looked over the Guardians and noticed that there was a certain someone missing.

"Wh-Where's Will?" Halinor asked swallowing thickly as she looked over the Guardians and then around the room, almost as if she expected the red head to jump out from behind a pillar.

"I…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Taranee was the one to break the silence that had fallen at Halinors question.

"Is she hurt or trapped somewhere? We can launch a rescue or heal her!" Halinor said and her voice sounded desperate even to her own ears. She had heard those words before, and she wished she hadn't.

"It…it was my fault." Irma said finally breaking her self-imposed silence and her voice sounded hoarse as she looked at the ground in guilt.

"Irma…explain." Cassidy said her voice soft but stern.

"I had…I was overconfident. I dodged one Lurden's spear but…but it had hit an unsteady rock on the cliff above me. Corny was busy with her own fight…" Irma trailed off a bit as she brought more water up to her eyes.

"I…I had heard it falling down but…but when I turned…Will saved Irma…she…she had telatransported. She changed places with Irma just in time for the rocks…for the rocks to…" Hay-lin trailed off as well as she broke down sobs, quickly being hugged by her grandmother who looked stricken at hearing this. After all Yan-lin had seen Will as another grandchild.

"By…by the time we finished with the Lurdens…we tried to dig her out but…but all we found…" Cornelia trailed off showing the bloody sleeve she was holding to the others.

"No…" Kadma's eyes widened in realization.

"There was just this and a lot of blood. We…we didn't find anything else…no hair…no bones…not even the Heart." Cornelia said swallowing thickly as Cassidy clenched her fists. The Council was shocked but Halinor and Elyon took the news the worst even if they had already suspected the truth.

"No…WILL!" Elyon screamed as she broke down in sobs, sinking to the floor.

"No. No. No no no no no no…" Halinor didn't yell. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. Her telepathy however showed that she was internally screaming in denial and rage. They all heard it, it was reverberating in their skulls and it brought the younger guardians to their knees.

"Hali." Kadma rushed to try and sooth Halinor enough for the mental screams of anguish to stop.

Looking up they all sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of her face.

Unlike the current Guardians who's tears were noisy and open…Halinor was crying silent tears that cascaded down her face.

Another main difference between the Guardians and Halinors tears…Halinor's tears were made of lava as they trailed down her face, her mind screaming in sorrow and agony.

The Guardians had no clue what they had done when they had betrayed Will and left her for dead.