Alright, all the girls get together for a showdown against Phobos! Enjoy!
Chapter 15: Guardian Rescue
Taranee's POV
Taranee's eyes fluttered open. She shook herself to rid of her dizziness and the beating of her heart which was thumping inside of her and aching like her dull head. Her eyes slowly closed again with tiredness. All she wanted to do was rest and sleep the pain away…
She lurched forward with a jolt as she remembered what had happened. The tunnel wiping their powers away…Phoebe walking away while everyone waited for her…Cedric coming and knocking them out and taking-
"Ona! Phoebe!" Taranee shouted out. She scrambled to her feet and glanced around hurriedly. There was only silence and Taranee saw no one. Flames appeared in her hands and she sent fireballs around the cave once again. Beads of sweat slithered down the side of her forehead as she wrung her hands with anxiety.
"Taranee Oh thank goodness you're all right! Cornelia is just waking up."
Taranee turned and sighed with relief at seeing her friend. Hay Lin was helping a shaking Cornelia stand up and Taranee walked forward toward them.
"Wha, what happened?" Cornelia asked.
"Um, Cedric knocked us out. We didn't have any powers while in that tunnel so when Cedric showed up behind us-"
"He grabbed Ona and sent each of us flying in turn." Hay Lin finished. Taranee nodded. She remembered sitting in the dark with Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Onalia as they waited for Phoebe to get back from wherever she had gone. Onalia was telling them stories about the show based on them and of her own friends where she came from to keep them entertained and too preoccupied to worry much about everything. It was working until a while later, the girls felt that something had crept up behind them. Suddenly, something grabbed Ona and lifted her up in the air as she screamed. That same something hit Cornelia, who went flying out of the tunnel and hit the other side of the cave. Taranee and Hay Lin were next as they went flying out of the tunnel too and Hay Lin hit her head while Taranee shook it off and got up. She gasped when she saw Cedric coming out of the opening with a wriggling Ona in his left arm. She had gotten up and ran to help Hay Lin as Cedric shut Onalia up.
"Where's the other one?" he demanded. Taranee had looked back at him angrily.
"How are you back? And what do you want with them?" she yelled. He just smiled cruelly.
"That's none of your business little Guardian. Phobos would just like to see them." He hurried after Taranee and she dodged him and ran back over to Cornelia. She was out cold and Taranee looked up again as Cedric turned on her.
"I would love to destroy you girls here and now while you are all so weak, but sadly I am not here for you." He gave a sidelong glance. "But that doesn't mean that I cannot delay our reunion."
Taranee had gasped and ran back to Hay Lin out of his reach. Hay Lin was still moaning at the pressure on her head.
"Are you alright Hay Lin?" she whispered while leaning over her worryingly. Instead of her answering, Taranee had heard another voice yelling happily from the other side of the cave…
"And then, Phoebe stepped out of the tunnel and I left Hay Lin and started running after her and saying it was a trap. Cedric knocked me off my feet and I don't know what else happened." Taranee finished explaining. "My bet is that he took the two girls to Phobos."
"But, why? What did they ever do to him?" Hay Lin asked as they stormed after Cornelia who had started to stomp out and into the starry night.
"Think Hay Lin." Cornelia muttered. "Phobos must have found out about them coming from a different world. Or he just wants to use them as bait for us to come to the rescue and he can destroy us with our powers so weak."
"Or both." Taranee whispered quietly. Hay Lin and Cornelia glanced at each other and started descending down the rocky hill.
"The point is that we were supposed to protect them!" Hay Lin shouted. "We had powers and could help them find a way home and get Will and Irma back here!"
"But our powers didn't work in that tunnel! And even if they were working, our powers aren't that strong without Will and Irma!" Taranee called back.
Hay Lin hit the ground with Cornelia right after her. Taranee hopped off of a rock and sighed. It was nice to have her feet on the ground and be out in the fresh air. It was really late. Taranee wondered what would happen to her when she would get home. There was no doubt in her mind that her mother would have something to say about it. They walked out nearer to the road.
"Well…now what?" Taranee asked.
"Cedric had to have gotten here somehow. There must be a portal nearby." Hay Lin chirped.
"And how do you suggest, Hay Lin, that we find a portal?" Cornelia asked smartly. Hay Lin seemed to be lost for words and could only sort of half shrug.
"Okay…we can't just stand here. Who knows how long we had been knocked out. Phobos could have done something really horrible…" Taranee's voice faltered and she looked quickly off in the distance.
"Maybe we could look for it, it might be near here." Taranee responded more to herself.
"Oh sure! Let's go running around in the dark where there's a bunch of deathtraps of rocks everywhere!" Cornelia yelled with frustration. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders and closed her eyes with a defeated sigh. Taranee looked downward and Hay Lin bit her lips. They had to do something! Taranee hated the defeated looks on each of their faces. Not too long ago, they could do anything they put their minds to! They were powerful beings who would never let something like this get in the way. They always found a way…
"I know what you're thinking, Taranee." Hay Lin suddenly said. Taranee looked up in alarm and her mouth tilted upward.
"That's funny considering I thought that was my power." She joked. Hay Lin shook her head and stared.
"Things aren't as easy as they used to be. We used to be able to do anything, but that was when it was all five of us. Now, there are two girls out there in the clutches of evil, needing our help, but the rest of our team is in another world!" Hay Lin sank to the ground and brought her knees up to her chin with a worried expression. Taranee looked back to Cornelia.
"What about you?" she asked quietly. Cornelia squinted her face in anger for a moment, but then let out a very sad sigh and stared Taranee right in the eyes.
"I never thought I'd say this, but I really miss Will and Irma." She whispered.
"Whoa! It looks like someone sure misses us too!" Hay Lin exclaimed. They were shimmering away into the wind. Taranee felt herself flying through the air with her two friends journeying along with her. Where are we going, Taranee wondered. Wherever they were going, Taranee was at least sure that she would find a surprise at their destination. Whether if it was good or bad she couldn't say…
"Taranee" Taranee opened her eyes and gasped when she saw Will and Irma grinning and running at them. Will hugged her so tightly, Taranee wasn't sure that she would ever breathe again. Taranee laughed. She looked over and saw Ona and Phoebe around a couple of girls that she had never seen before and let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Well, I'm glad you two are alright. We thought that Phobos must have done something horrible to you." Phoebe turned back to her with a grimace.
"Oh, you have no idea. These are our other friends, Wei, Eva, and Rachel." she responded while pointing to each girl around her who each gave a little wave. Will quieted them and looked around curiously. All of them fell silent instantly and looked around in alert.
"Um, what are we being quiet for?" Hay Lin asked.
"Shhh!" Wei whispered urgently.
Bright light, pain, a blow that she had only experienced once before forced her to fly screaming somewhere in the dusty darkness. Taranee moaned and gasped for a breath of air. It had happened so suddenly, she barely knew what had happened. Taranee forced herself to get up and look around.
"You could have told us sooner that Phobos was here, Will!" Cornelia yelled from somewhere not too far from where Taranee was standing. Taranee was really alert now and she ran back toward where she saw light.
"Ow! You stepped on my foot" a girl cried as she kept running. Taranee looked closely and noticed that it was that curly redhead, Rachel, that was running along with her.
"Who is that guy?" she whispered as they made their way to the middle of the large circular area.
"Believe us when we say that you don't really want to mess with him." Ona told her as they joined the other girls staring down Phobos. He laughed and his eyes turned on Wei, Rachel, and Eva with a cackle.
"Not so familiar faces! You must be with them." he said curtly with a jab of his finger at Phoebe and Onalia. His eyes darkened though as he looked at all of them.
"Well, I was planning on just destroying the Guardians of the Veil and my dear sister, but some things have come up unexpectedly." Taranee saw Eva tugging Will's shirt out of the corner of her eye.
"I don't like the sound of that." she whispered. "What would he do?" Will shook her head.
"Well unfortunately for him, I'm not going to wait around and find out!" Will squeezed her hand shut and Taranee waited for Will to tip her head back and her hand stretch out for the Heart of Candracar to hover in the air and send teardrops of the powerful elements to each of them. As usual, Will didn't disappoint.
"Water!" Will cried as she sent a blue teardrop to Irma.
"Air!" a silvery one flew to Hay Lin who squealed in delight.
"Fire! Earth!" Taranee gasped as power infused her body. Her legs lengthened and she felt her body grow more curvy and strong. Her hair swished around her head into a wild up do and fluttery wings curled out of her back. Feeling confident and powerful, Taranee landed back on the ground with her fellow Guardians, ready to battle.
"Wow!" Rachel gasped softly behind them.
"Looks like you're outnumbered Phobos." Irma called out with a grin. She raised her eyebrows and spun some water around in her hands. Phobos sniffed.
"Do you really think that you have enough power to defeat me?" he laughed. "You Guardians are barely worth my time. I would never have made it to Candracar if it wasn't for Elyon." Taranee gulped at this truth. They had never actually battled Phobos before and she started to wonder what could happen. This is no time to get scared, Taranee reminded herself as she stood more firmly on the ground.
"Now it's time to-" Phobos suddenly found himself flying in the air in the middle of a small cyclone that spun him until he crashed into a wall. Taranee giggled. when Hay Lin fell back beside her.
"I had to do it." she said simply. "He talks too much." Irma huffed and smiled in Hay Lin's direction.
"No fair Hay. You beat me to the punch." Irma did her share though of shooting a blast of water in Phobos's eyes while he yelled in surprise.
"See! That was way too-ow!" Irma cried as Phobos sent a bolt of white magic in her direction that knocked her to the ground. Before he could strike her again, Taranee made a huge fireball and sent it in his direction. He flicked it away easily and turned back to Irma before Will sent a blast of pink magic in his stomach. He doubled over and Will grabbed Irma and ran back to the group.
"I hope you enjoy your fun!" he spat. "Because it's about to end now!" Taranee gasped when Phobos staggered to the side after a heavy blow to the side of his face. It wasn't one of the Guardians however. It was-
"Wow! I always wanted to do that!" Ona exclaimed with a wince as she shook her hand, but she looked immensely satisfied. Phobos spun around and grabbed the collar of her shirt and lifted her up off the ground with his fist sparking with angry magic. Ona's face turned white. She didn't look so proud of her brave decision anymore.
"Why you little-"
"Don't you dare!" Phobos turned around at Phoebe's outburst and looked back at Ona.
"And what are you going to do to stop me?" Phobos asked as he hurled some white magic in the direction of the girls. They screamed and dived as the bolt only just barely missed Eva. It burned a hole right through the edge of her jacket though. She looked at it in shock and then got very angry.
"Do you know how much this cost!" she screamed. Phobos raised his eyebrows. "I'm so gonna kill you!"
"Again, you little girls are completely useless to me after I get the Ring of Secrets and the Heart of Candracar." Phobos spat. Ona struggled in his grip. Taranee concentrated on her magic and hit Phobos from the side.
"Arrrgghh!" he dropped Ona and Hay Lin whisked her away from harm and over near Rachel who was making sure she was alright.
"I'm okay, I'm okay." she replied standing up. Phobos seemed in a rage.
"ENOUGH!" he screamed. Magic burst out of him and Taranee once again experienced a harsh blow to her side. She looked down at her side and noticed a deep cut that started to bleed freely. She bit her lip and closed her eyes in pain.
"Taranee" Cornelia yelled. Irma and Hay Lin ran over and dragged her over to safety. She could see Cornelia and Phoebe appear again and Cornelia shook the earth angrily. Phobos stumbled for a second and then sent another wave in the ground that made Cornelia tumble to the ground. Phobos shot some more magic in the direction of the other girls that couldn't defend themselves and they screamed at the oncoming magic.
"No!" Will yelled. She jumped in front of them with a giant, pink shield protecting them. Irma helped Cornelia up and Hay Lin blew Taranee behind the shield. Phobos was advancing on it and was sending all the magic he could muster to break it.
"Guys, help." Will blurted with her strength wavering as more power was forced against it.
"Right." Cornelia said as she joined hands with Will and sent her own power flowing through the barrier. Hay Lin and Irma joined her as Taranee struggled to get up. I have to help, she thought. We're in this together, through whatever happens, and I can't let everyone down.
"That's right, Taranee." Rachel said soothingly, giving her encouragement. She smiled behind her at the girls clustered together and giving helpful words to keep the Guardians going.
"You can't keep that up forever!" Phobos yelled. Taranee's hands shook as she realized how difficult it was now to keep Will's shield steady. Our power is wavering, Taranee thought in panic.
"Give me what I want Will and Phoebe!" he yelled. Will looked unwavering as she stood there pouring out her magic and Phoebe shifted uncomfortably, never leaving his eyes. Will looked back with a gulp.
"Everyone needs to help. We need to keep this more steady until we can figure out a way to beat him." Will called out behind them. Taranee glanced back at their bewildered expressions.
"But, but we can't do anything!" Wei exclaimed. "We don't have any-"
"It doesn't matter!" Will shouted with desperation. "Believe in it and you can help us!" The five girls exchanged awkward glances. It was only a couple of seconds before Phoebe stepped forward and stretched out her arms against the top. Rachel and Ona followed and Eva and Wei were last to hold out their arms against Phobos.
Something's happening, Taranee noticed. It didn't hurt as much anymore. In fact, Taranee felt a burst of strength and courage to keep going. Taranee smiled and shouted.
"You might want to watch out, Phobos!" the shield was turning way to bright. Phobos stopped hurtling magic at them and gazed at it in wonder as it got bigger and bigger.
"What the-"
Will looked back at each and every one of them with a smile. Taranee felt herself growing even more warm inside. Will was about to say it.
"I can't believe we're doing this." she started. "But let's finish this!"
"Definitely" Irma yelled. Taranee got ready to push all her strength into the massive power they had in front of them. On Will's word...
"Now!"
She pushed with all her might and watched as the magic spread farther up and outward. It was circling the entire room with a bright light. Someone grabbed her hand and Taranee looked to see Ona and Will on either side of her. All the girls watched Phobos step back in shock at their magic closing in on him.
"It can't be, you're not that powerful...No body can defeat me!" Phobos shouted.
"Wow, he really is lame." Irma laughed.
Taranee wasn't sure of what happened. One moment, she was listening to Phobos yelling with a blinding light surrounding them. And then, they were in a new light. Beautiful carvings surrounded them with clouds passing by in the window.
"Welcome Guardians. And guests," the Oracle responded with a calm smile. Taranee felt something drop in her stomach. Had they won? Did they beat Phobos?
"Oh my God!" Phoebe breathed. Ona and Phoebe were holding onto each other in disbelief.
"This can't be happening." Ona whispered.
Tibor continued for the Oracle. "Although you shouldn't have had to deal with him at all, you still managed to accomplish your mission."
"Will, Irma, Phoebe, Onalia," The Oracle began quietly. "You four have had to go through different worlds in order to fulfill promises that had been made a long time ago. You have had to sacrifice yourselves into an unknowing land, for which we are all eternally sorry. Although, you have more understanding now of the universe, am I right?" Taranee nodded and smiled. It seemed to be all over. Taranee felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Cornelia sighing and nodding also behind her.
"Phoebe." Taranee looked up and noticed Phoebe looking around as everyone stared at her. She stared back to the Oracle as he spoke.
"Your great, great grandmother made a pact with me about what you have had to go through. It was written that when Amelia's first daughter would be able to control the Ring of Secrets, the Keeper of the Heart of Candracar would have to help you open the mirror by using the Heart."
"But how did I do that! I didn't even know-" Will started.
"Unintentionally done, but you helped like you were supposed to. Both Irma and Onalia were holding onto you two girls and therefore made the journey along with you." the Oracle explained.
"I trust that Amelia has already spoken to you about the gift she has bestowed on you?"
"Yes Sir." Phoebe answered quietly.
"Well then, I guess it's just a matter that we get you five girls back home. I will see you off, Guardians, to Heatherfield momentarily."
Silence followed these words. Taranee looked at her new friends sadly. Say goodbye? Phoebe took a deep breath and held her fist outward. A swirl of colors ejected from a ring on her hand and a beautiful mirror appeared. The goodbyes didn't last long before Wei was the first to brace herself and walk through the mirror. Eva followed and with a final wave, so did Rachel.
"Um, Oracle. Do you mind if I speak with Phoebe for a moment?" Will asked. The Oracle smiled broadly for some reason and pointed them into another hallway. Phoebe blinked and then smiled when Will gave her a reassuring grin.
"Well, aren't you going to go Ona?" Irma asked.
"I'm not leaving without Phoebe." she responded.
"Well that's great! I've seen that you are the only one who really has a sense of humor. Listen to this..."
As Irma and Ona laughed together, Taranee watched as Will and Phoebe quietly left the room together to go talk. Taranee wondered what it was about. Well, I trust that Will feels that something important is up, Taranee figured. She sighed again wistfully as she looked back up at the swirling mirror and Will and Phoebe's disappearing figures.
"It looks like another adventure is behind us." Taranee whispered.
"And I can't wait for the next one to begin!"
Okay, I won't tell you how tired I am now. 3 more chaps and this story is done! It is starting to lead to P.o.w.e.r. now and I'm loving every minute of this writing experience! Send a review if you liked it!