When we left the Riddle house it was to find a pool of blood circling the doorstep. All five Guardians flinched in disgust, but I transformed, motioning to my shoulder, telling them telepathically to get on. They slipped easily on my back, despite how unnerved they were.

Roaring, I ran through the blood river, not caring how much it splattered on my legs. Halting at the battle, the girls slid off my back, but I kept form, launching into the attack. Sango and Kirara, a kick-ass team, were Boomerang Boning and slashing. Surprisingly, Inu-Yasha had turned into his truly demonic form, and Shahara and Kagome were ensuring he didn't kill anyone fighting the good fight. Miroku, as he was no longer a monk and without his wind tunnel, was sword fighting, and very well, I might add. I took off, searching for the glow of the Heart of Candracar.

Not surprisingly, I found the gleam in one of the hidden pockets of Dark Lord's robe. I leapt at him, knocking his wand from his hand. Unfortunately, he began to use the Heart's power against me. No matter how vainly the Heart struggled, it never left Voldemort's grip. A shot of pink magic hit me in the chest, and I roared in pain, hearing Will gasp behind me. I turned to her and told her, in English, to shout the important words.

"GUARDIANS, UNITE! WATER, FIRE, EARTH, AIR!"

A glob of pink, blue, orange, green, and silver magic burst from the magical orb and transformed the girls to their alternate, more beautiful, mature-looking, powerful selves.

Instantly, they leaped into action. Taranee flew at the Death Eaters' wands; Hay Lin swept them off their feet with a blast of air; Cornelia created a chasm in the earth for the enemies to land in, which Irma afterwards filled with water, and Hay Lin froze, leaving the evil-doers up to their necks in ice. Finally, the Heart of Candracar slipped from Voldemort's sweaty hand and into Will's palm.

"Heart of Candracar, remove the Dark Mark from these men's arms; purify their souls to break free of Lord Voldemort's evil spirit," she cried.

A flash of pink light emitted from the Heart, aimed down in the pit made by the earth expert. For a few moments, everything and everyone was still, awaiting the outcome of this spell. When the light subsided, the prisoners turned their heads—to their greatest extent—with confused expressions on their faces.

"Where am I? A minute ago I was at the Department of Magical Games and Sports!" said one.

"And I was making dinner for my family," said a female.

"Kirara, melt the ice," Sango ordered.

Kirara cast herself into the pit and knock her head against the ice. Taranee helped by conjuring a fireball and lunged it at the ice that didn't manage to break. The remaining frost melted instantly.

Kirara gave the witches and wizards a good sniff, then a ride out. Then everyone turned to Voldemort. He eyed us all with shock and a hint of fear. We all advanced and pounced; giving Will time to do her thing.

"Heart of Candracar, purify his heart and lift the burden of darkness from his shoulders."

Voldemort cackled, apparently amused at Will's petty spell

"You cannot change me that easily. We will meet again, though, and it won't be so easy. Das vidana dicks and bitches." He Apparated on the spot.

"That bastard!" Inu-Yasha yelled. He was still in full-demon form.

"SIT!" Kagome and Shahara yelled simultaneously. Inu-Yasha went down and became a half demon again.

"W.i.t.c.h., there's just one more thing I need you to do," I said, and we all walked through the portal.

"I need the Heart to identify this man."

We had come out the other end of the portal, stole up the staircase, and entered my "father's" room.

As Shahara, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Miroku, Shippo, Harry, Sango, and Kirara (in her smaller form) watched, Will pulled out the Heart of Candracar.

"Heart of Candracar, reveal this man's true form, so we may all see him."

For a moment, a blinding flash of pink light filled the entire room; soon, it subsided, but the man on the bed had not changed.

"He must have been possessed by a Death Eater," Harry inferred.

"Lemme check," I said, and pulled up the man's left sleeve: the Dark Mark lay imprinted on his arm, but it was fading faster every second, until it finally disappeared from view.

Suddenly my father sprang from the bed, his claws coming out and sinking into the ceiling; I smiled, feeling Will's and Irma's eyes on my back. A lot of him was in me: just how much I hadn't realized until that moment.

"Dad," I said, "it's your younger daughter. Akela, remember? You're free from Voldemort."

"Akela. Akela? AKELA!" he exclaimed, detaching himself from the ceiling and embracing me.

At last, a gap in my heart and soul was refilled, and my life was healed. My father and I were reunited, and my friends would be leaving the dead Naraku's clutches. I could tell, of course, that the future would be a rocky, murky road: for everyone.

But at that moment, I didn't care. I was embracing my father for the first time in years. Only one part of the past was I reflecting, the words I had said to Voldemort: "What you still cease to understand is that when it all comes down, we fight back, we fight back."

When it all comes down…

…we fight back.