Part 5: The Tables Are Turning.

She held out the book. Their twin eyes met and held with the same solemn look in them. "Guard this for me, in case I don't come back. And don't say anything, it could happen." Bryn nodded, placing the book under her arm.

"Don't let him make you mad." Maeve counseled, holding her arm out and squeezing it Rumina's when they clasped.

Coral stepped forward, hugging her fiercely. "My father preys on weakness, as I'm sure you remember well. Don't let him see anything in your eyes or your heart."

Rumina turned to Peri, extending her arm. "Don't tell me how it ends, I don't want to know." It was jokingly said, but there was a hard edge in her voice that belied her earnestness.

She took it with a grin. "You'll make it, just stay focused on the truth within you."

"Got it." She stepped into the center, feeling the power float up her arms and through her veins. In a moment, she was standing in the game room. This was a normal looking room but the games in it weren't like those she had ever seen before. Donestk stood with his back to her, she could tell that he was unaware of her presence.

She fingered the egg in her hands, feeling tense as she debated her moves. All her thoughts told her to use it now, but she resisted, knowing that that would be fatal. "Hello, Donestk. I believe you have something of mine."

He whirled around, finding her standing behind him. His hands moved towards her, shaking and quivering with the magic that was so dangerous to him. "Look at them. They were once powerful hands, now they shake. Why?"

"You have meddled in things that are beyond mortal control." She said, hardening her heart against the sight of the fragile man.

"Shaking hands." His eyes pooled with tears. "My mind is weak, I can't control myself anymore. What have you done to me?" He appealed to her.

"I did nothing. It was all you." It was coldly said, even colder was the look in her eyes.

Anger and admiration flamed inside him, she was an unnatural female. He changed tactics, backing her into a corner. His hand stroked her cheek, slowly. "You are strong, wonderfully so. Join with me and together we will have it all." The hand moved up, circled her ear before moving into her hair, letting images form inside her mind.

"Tempting offer." She purred. The Goose Egg pulsed in her hand, reminding her off its strength. Now! Her mind yelled, the time is now. "But you're a little to old for my taste." She dropped the Egg between them but this time there was no explosion. There was a flurry of wind and she reached out for it, feeling the power surround and possess her again.

When the power ripped out of his body, he fell to his knees, weakened by its loss. "You little harlot!" He snapped, she pushed him away and moved back to the portal.

"A title I wear with pride. Bye, now!" She gave a cheery wave and disappeared. "Now what?" Rumina asked, words that blew away as Bryn's hands raised and they were suddenly home. "Was that supposed to happen?"

"Dermott called." Maeve said, shaking off her weariness and standing up. The sword still rested on her back, a quick look revealed they were all in the same condition.

Rumina blinked. "Why didn't I hear him?"

They moved to the door, the sounds of a furious battle raging outside. "You weren't supposed to." Maeve explained, giving her an apologetic look. "It might have thrown your concentration off."

"Got it." The door opened and she let out a squeal, narrowly getting hit. A samurai walked into the room and looked around.

Bryn moved forward with a smile. "Tetsu."

"Hello. Would you mind joining this battle?" He invited, rather caustically.

"I would, actually. The battlefield is no longer my place. But I will uphold you." Bryn said.

He glared at her, as if trying to see if she was teasing him. "I don't care what you do as long as you help us."

Maeve growled, pushed them out of the way. "Enough with the speeches. Let's do it!"

Coral joined Firouz among the wounded while Peri and Maeve rushed into the fray. Bryn climbed to the highest point on the ship and raised the staff above her head, illumination instantly filled the night and light poured out around them. The weaker forces fled from the light, attacking from what little shadows existed. Donestk came then, striking out at both forces on his way to met his real opponent.

Maeve moved to meet him, as she had once before but this was no inexperienced girl. This time, she knew what she was doing and wouldn't be blinded by his words. Nor would she be drawn into a verbal duel, the world was at stake and she had no intention of allowing him any quarter.

Donestk realized this and didn't waste any breath. The magical duel between them was fast and furious, both were well matched in their strengths.

Rumina watched from her position in the cabin, she had never been much of a fighter but may be there was something she could do. If, she thought, I could bind his soul to his body then he would truly die when his body was slain. Looking up, she saw Bryn there and called out to her. Is this plan possible?

You have that power in the book, do it. There was no hesitation in the response, nor question.

Rumina quickly opened the book and found it, she smiled as she sat down and focused on the spell. It was so simple, she was amazed that they hadn't thought of it in there first fight with him. Dermott stood perched at the door, blocking evil's attempt to get in to stop her.

Donestk felt it curling around his insides, binding him in its strangling hold. With a growl of frustration, he realized what it meant. This battle he must win, there would be no coming back for him if he lost. In what was to prove the defining moment, he pulled back and gave her a moment to breathe. Then he drew forth a sword of dark light from its resting place. He advanced on her, pushing her back and knocking her down.

She rolled and bounced back up, swiftly kicking him. Maeve felt the flames dancing on her skin and instinctively moved away from it. The evilness in the sword was more of a blow than his physical strength.

"The sword!" Bryn screamed over the sounds of the battle.

While she had been distracted by Maeve's plight, one of the foes had snuck up on her. Something came from behind and swung out with a sharp ax blade, which was deflected by Sinbad's sword. She looked at him in grateful surprise, thanking him with her eyes before turning back towards Maeve's battle. He climbed down and protected her from there, though he did wonder why she wasn't in the thick of it. Looking down at Donestk, she could see that he appeared more solid. She knew Rumina had been successful. Good job, sister.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if it worked. She called back, exhaustion in her voice. Dermott couldn't tell. Did you know he's a shape shifter?

Bryn didn't answer with more than a warm smile sent her way. Maeve's dilemma had called for her attention.

"What?" She mind spoke and evaded another blow, moving behind him.

"Use your sword!" The words sounded in her mind this time. "It is time!"

Maeve reached for it, listening to the blade sing as it left the sheath. "Right." She swung out and the blades connected, the sound ringing in the suddenly still night. It was a long, hard fight both being evenly matched but Maeve won the upper hand with a sure stroke and destroyed Donestk-forever this time. His forces disappeared into the mist.

Peri's eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon. Something was nagging her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She shrugged it off and reached down to pick up the sword Donestk had used. "What do we do with this?"

Bryn swung down, taking it from her. "This should go to the Gate Keeper. She'll know what to do with it. Be back in a flash." She returned with a sigh, wiping her face. "I think we need to rest."

Maeve yawned, resting her head on Eyolf's shoulder. "I second the motion."

"We offer no objections." The other three chorused, giggling at the sight of their leader leaning on someone else's strength for once.

"But we do." Orion said, standing in front of them in a moment. He called to those with bracelets on. "Please, come here."

Bryn used her staff to move towards him, standing between Sinbad and Tetsu. "Hold out your arms." As they did so, a tingle of awareness ran through the bracelets and began to unlock them.

Bryn jerked her arm back and held the bracelet. "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep it."

"Very well, child. I guess I can understand that." Orion said, nodding his head. "Anyone else?"

Sinbad looked down at his bracelet and smiled. "Yeah. I've grown used to it." He moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her securely against his chest.

Orion smiled and freed the others from the bracelets, sending them back to their homes. Then he turned towards the elementals with a smile. "You five arrived just in time, as usual. A time of unprecedented peace has begun." His voice was amused, but there was a tinge of sadness in it as well.

"If you say so." Maeve shrugged, stifling a yawn. "Can we talk tomorrow? We're really tired."

"No, we must be going." Orion sadly shook his head. "This is the last time we shall meet."

"What do you mean?" Coral asked, seeking Firouz's hand. He responded by pulling her close, hugging her to his side.

Peri stood with Rumina, Dermott at their sides. She swallowed, knowing now what had been preying at the back of her mind, that feeling of sorrow. It wasn't because one of their numbers had died, they were losing their friends.

Orion moved back, over to the land and looked to the sky. He suddenly lifted up, transforming his shape. The human visage that they had always known melted away as a long snout grew and his eyes narrowed, becoming smaller. He lengthened and changed into a dark gray lizard like body. Arms and legs shortened and a long tail appeared, wings formed on his back.

The still predawn air filled with cries of dismay. They took a step back, except Bryn and Maeve who were held by his gentle eyes. "Do not be alarmed, my children." He called, his guttural voice was still the one that they knew all their lives. The morning sun danced across his nearly transparent wings. "It is still me. I have just returned to my true form."

"What are you?" Bryn asked, pulling away from Sinbad and approaching him. Her hand rose up and touched his face, gently stroking. Maeve joined her with a smile, they turned to face the rest of the group.

"It's all right. He is Orion." Maeve called out. Rumina, Peri, and Coral walked forward. Dermott, Sinbad, Firouz, and Eyolf realized that this was their moment and stayed back.

His lips pulled back in a smile, revealing sharp and pointed teeth. "I am an air dragon, the last of my kind." He shook his head to stop their words. "Our time here is at an end, many fear us because they don't understand what we are. This is your time to stand up and protect the light."

Coral sighed. "How can we?"

"My little Coral, the power is yours." He said, turning his head towards her. The sun rose even higher, warming the air. "I must leave soon."

"Is this peace permanent?" Peri asked, reaching out to stroke his head.

He growled a little, in regret. "Unfortunately not. But every once in a while the world needs a haven of peace. You have won it this day." He stopped, looking at Bryn. "The rest is yours to tell, I must go now."

Rumina smiled sadly. "This is a day of sorrow indeed."

"No, it isn't. Life is full of partings, you will need to get used to it." Orion looked to the sky, flapping his wings. "Farewell, my children."

They watched him depart until even they couldn't see even a tiny dot of his presence, then they looked at Bryn. "What did he mean by his last words?" Rumina asked.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead tiredly. "He means that we are the Guardians. We are immortals, though there will be times of rest for us."

"That's not right." Maeve exclaimed, looking back at Eyolf. Why did she have to learn to live and love again, if she was just going to be denied it? "Don't we have the right to live our lives?"

The staff cracked down on the wooden surface of the boat. "Silence!" She ordered. "Our lives are our own. There is no stopping us from marrying and having children or becoming hermits or even, heaven forbid, lying down and dying. If the ones we choose to be with are worthy, they will join us in our eternal vigil of guarding the light."

Maeve looked down. "I'm sorry, it's just that I so tired."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Bryn said. "We all need rest. Let's talk later, okay?"

"Fine with me." Coral offered, the others agreed and they split up to get some rest. The next morning they gathered in the galley of the Nomad. "So, what's the deal?" She asked, leaning against Firouz.

Bryn stood at the head, Sinbad sat on her left side, Maeve and Eyolf to the right. Peri and Rumina sat across from each other, Dermott in the center. With staff in hand, Bryn commanded their attention. "When the world was first formed, dark and light opposed each other. Into every generation a girl was born until it was decided that the powers must be separated for the world's benefit. And so, five girls were born with the elements flowing inside, until the day we were born. We were told by the Guardians that our kind would never be seen again, working independently but together. That is why Hell itself has tried us but we have overcome."

She paused and moved passed them, holding aloft the staff. "We could do no less. The blessings of Avalon now rest upon us. With the giving of these gifts, we were granted immortality. There will be times of rest as well as times of battle. Do not despair, for we will not be alone." This she said with a teasing smile in Maeve and Coral's direction. "There are those who have proved their worthiness to stand by our sides, some of them have been revealed to us."

Bryn looked straight at Dermott then, tilting her head to the side. "Don't you think you have something to come clean about, my feathered friend?"

He ruffled his feathers, glaring at her before transforming. "Spoil my fun, why don't you?" The tall, redhead scolded Bryn in his lilting voice. His green eyes were full of laughter as he moved off the table and towards his sister.

"How long have you been able to do that?" She asked, her eyebrow raised in question as she hugged her brother.

"Sorry, for the deception but I figured it might be safer this way." He thought a moment, chewing on his lip. "I didn't know until Dim-Dim hinted to me about the power that may possibly lay inside me."

"Dim-Dim, of course. That was why he counseled me to never attack Rumina when I was angry. He knew I couldn't hurt her if I was rational." She mused.

Dermott glanced back at Rumina, a serious look in his eyes as he considered his next statement. He decided to go through with it. "There was also the fact that I wanted her from the moment I first heard about her. By the way," He teased the dark haired witch, taking her hand in his. "You do realize that you're mine since I saved your life, at least twice."

"What?!?" Rumina shrieked. "I am not a sack of flour to be bartered with."

"Never said you were." He calmly stated, retaining her hand.

Maeve laughed, falling back against Eyolf. "I have no objection. It's the easiest way to really make you both my sisters."

"I have an objection." Sinbad injected with an amused smile. "Bryn's mine."

The lady in question just rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we must be getting out of here soon. The people in town will be getting scared if we keep hanging around."

"Like last night wasn't frightening enough?" Doubar asked, standing in the doorway with a huge grin on his face.

"No." Peri answered softly, staring at her hands. A feeling of intense loneliness descended upon her, making everything around her seem dreary. "The fight occurred in a place that they are unaware of."

He rolled his eyes. "Something else I will never understand." He said as he sat down, looking at her closely. "Are you all right?"

She sighed, resting her hand on her arm. "Yeah. It's just that, I look around and see the smiles on their faces because they have someone. But me? My family died, I am alone with this burden of seeing the future. There is no one who will be there for me when the nightmares get to be to much."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Doubar comforted, hugging her lightly. "Sometimes the very thing you're looking for can't be found until you stop looking."

Peri stared at him for a moment before laughing. "You've been spending to much time with Bryn. You sound like her."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Bryn mock pouted from behind them. "Better shake off that mood, my friend. Eyolf and Maeve are about to leave."

"I see." Peri chewed her lip, glancing around. "Where did Rumina and Dermott go?"

"Dermott took my sister that way." She pointed toward the hall were the rooms were located. "They went to 'discuss' their new relationship." Bryn said, giggling since they could hear them.

"You really think I'm going to go along with this?" Rumina asked, her hands on her hips.

Dermott was amused. "My dear girl, you act as if you have a choice in the matter."

She glared at him, her hands resting on her hips. "It's my life, what makes you think I want to spend it with you?"

"Do you want me to spell it out for you?" He asked, half seriously. "I can you know."

Rumina stalked down the hall. "You are the most impossible man I've ever met!"

"I'll take that as a compliment." Dermott quipped with a grin, grabbing her hand again. Their voices faded as they moved further away.

They exchanged amused smiles before Bryn said. "Firouz and Coral have gone to see the wounded. They've already said their good-byes."