Chapter Five

By: Sokai

Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. -- I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM said series (with continued credit going to JayxKay for the initial idea).

Note: This is NOT my freaking week with interacting with people. It's like, "Dump on Ellie-Week" or something. I can't seem to win no matter what I'd done, but oh well. Just got another "more pleasant" review for my other story than that anon. review for THIS one, but SINCE I had the shtty week, didn't need it, either. Because it was more condescending and "holier-than-thou" than anything else, and I greatly detest when people behave that way. But I figure, if all I get are two "bad reviews" versus the hundreds of positive ones I usually get, then that's not so bad.

Anyhow, before other people tell me they don't like the parents' reactions to knowing the girls are Guardians, I MADE it a bit extreme and unbelievable on PURPOSE. So, please don't tell me that it ISN'T realistic or doesn't make sense -- that was the whole point. Sorry for the vent, but there it is (besides, when do I normally vent in here?).

On with the show.

This chapter was written/created in May 2006.

Irma couldn't believe it. She was absolutely enthralled in an overabundance of happiness-- still, however, she could not believe it. Yesterday, she was merely Irma Lair: the naturally sarcastic, humorous and gossipy Guardian of Water, who was mildly popular and occasionally noticed by her variety of crushes.

Today, however, she was Irma Lair: the naturally sarcastic, humorous and gossipy Guardian of Water, who seemed to be world renowned in regards to popularity, and noticed by everything and anything that could move and had a functioning brain.

Not only that, but her newfound and adoring public were aware of her Guardian duties and continued to generously praise her for it.

And to think that the girls and I were worried that something bad would happen if anyone ever found out -- this is paradise! she thought gaily to herself, while in the middle of eagerly signing autographs with her slightly scribbled handwriting, and taking picture upon picture with each admirer to step up to the plate.

It'd been that way all morning, ever since the vaguely buxom brunette had arrived onto the school grounds of Sheffield Institute. With the other day ending rather dismally, she hadn't expected much of a change in the current one -- especially since her generally good attitude had been shot to pieces.

In fact, the only good thing to happen for her prior to arriving to school that morning was purposely leaving her home bright and early (the first time in a long time). In that way, her annoying little brother, Christopher and both of their parents would still be asleep, which meant thankfully skipping out on the undoubted lecture about her "flagrant disregard for the rules" (as her father would often phrase her screw ups).

And so, with her optimism for a pleasant day running on empty, imagine the young Water Mistress's surprise and complete jubilation to have suddenly found herself utterly horded by a conglomeration of people (old and young alike), all vying for her attention the instant she'd reached the educational facility.

"How do you do it, Irma? How do you find the energy and time to juggle schoolwork, chores, and saving the world day to day with your awesome water-wielding abilities?" Irma suddenly heard an unfamiliar looking blonde ask to her left, as she'd just finished signing yet another autograph.

Hey, this is a dream, anyway, I figure, so I might as well live it up! she'd long since and briefly rationalized several moments before. Regardless, reality or not, she was far too interested in soaking up more of the spotlight than to care.

"You know, I often ask myself the very same thing: 'Irma, how do you do it?' But, then I just remind myself that if I don't suck it up and do what's best for the world -- who will? I ask you again: who will?" she merrily remarked in the middle of posing for another photo shot.

"Here's a better question for you, Irma: who will save you from me?"

Uh oh. I'd recognize that snide and haughty voice anywhere, thought Irma regrettably as she and her "posse" all turned in surprise to see a shaken looking Cornelia Hale fast approaching.

With her usually flawless, long blond hair and physical appearance mysteriously disheveled as she continued to speed walk toward the now apprehensive Irma, she looked positively steamed.

Well, that's nothing really new, though, since Cornelia's pretty much always mad about one thing or another -- especially if it concerns me.

And besides, she looks like she just went through the rinse cycle at the laundromat or something-- which is exactly how I dream her to look, if at all, to shake things up. Yep. Definitely dreaming here, she mused silently to herself while trying not to laugh at the sight.

"Oh! Cornelia! We love you, too! Can we please get a picture and autograph from you as well?" eagerly asked the same blonde from before, as she and the rest of Irma's former entourage began to rush towards the Earth Guardian.

Cornelia immediately sprang into action, however, and with cat-like reflexes, managed to somehow maneuver her way through the throng of "eager-beavers," and passed through the front gate of the school -- with Irma being recklessly dragged behind her.

"H-hey! L-let go of me, Corny! Geez, even in my dreams, you're still pushy, bossy, and managed to become the center of attention yet ag --"

"-- Dream? Ha! You wish it were a dream! Oh, wait! You probably already did! And don't call me 'Corny!'" snarled Cornelia, continuing to maintain a firm hold upon the younger girl's wrist as she quickly ran them inside of the school and towards the nearest bathroom.

"W-what are you talking about, Cornelia? Why is everything always automatically my fault with you? Newsflash! It isn't my fault that you woke up on the wrong side of the bed -- which, in my opinion, is every day for you -- and decided not to properly groom yourself as you usually do!" countered Irma without missing a beat, as she was quite used to engaging in traditional bickering with the irate blonde no matter what reality she was in.

Of course and sadly, however, her abbreviated good mood was also steadily leaving her at that moment.

Leave it to Cornelia.

"I can't prove that it was your doing -- unless you admit to it -- but I know that it wouldn't be something that the rest of us would do! Now, get in here! The others said that they'd be waiting for us when I called them on their cell phones -- seeing as everywhere else on the planet seems to be a 'danger zone' for we 'celebrities,'" muttered Cornelia a bit too commandingly (which only served to further disintegrate Irma's disposition, as she was then immediately reminded of her parents) before lightly shoving the brunette into the thankfully empty girls' bathroom.

"W-who goes there? 'Friend or . . . fan?'" inquired a precarious voice from inside one of the stalls.

"Relax, Taranee -- it's just me, Cornelia. And I've brought our suspected culprit along with me," said Cornelia with emphasis as she at last released her former "prisoner" and turned to lock the door behind her.

Despite her dour mood having returned, Irma couldn't help but lightly snicker at the fairly comedic sight of her three other friends and fellow Guardians, Hay Lin, Taranee Cook, and Will Vandom abruptly stumble out of the small stall that Taranee's voice had wafted room.

"Oh, wow. You guys look like that one clown act, where several of them tumble out of their tiny little car," she commented, continuing to giggle at their expense. "But, there is more than one stall, you know -- that's a bit too close for comfort, if you ask me."

Irma immediately stopped laughing once she caught an icy glare from the three of them.

"Oh, this? This is not what I'd call 'too close for comfort.' No. Try nearly colliding with an oncoming car and having your brand new bike being totaled as a result! And all because you were trying to outrun a sea of crazed lunatics, who just happen to be your fellow schoolmates and know your secret identity! Now, that's 'too close for comfort,' Irma! In fact, I'd call it an outright nightmare!" huffed Taranee suddenly as she rose from the cool bathroom floor and rushed towards the taken aback girl.

Clearly, Taranee had officially lost her marbles.

"H-hey! C-calm down now, Taranee! Even better, how about we all calm down? There's an idea, right? Now, I thought I was just dreaming all this time, but since Cornelia's kung fu grip upon my wrist earlier hurt -- thanks for that, by the way, 'Miss Sunshine' -- it's clear that I'm not. So what's the big idea, then?" inquired Irma in confusion, after successfully evading Taranee's aggravated advances.

"You mean it wasn't you, Irma? Because, I mean, we all had different hunches as to what could possibly be the cause to this mess: spells; a different dimension . . . that sort of thing," began Hay Lin casually, moving away from the bathroom stall to stand beside her best friend.

Good old Hay Lin. If ever there was anyone who would always remain loyal to Irma, it'd be her. At least she didn't seem to think that Irma had anything to do with the chaos ensuing outside.

"But then . . . we got to thinking that, well, between all of the crazy things that have happened to each of us today, and the way that it seemed to almost happen overnight . . . Maybe it may be your doing?" the petite Asian girl finished meekly as all eyes descended upon the Water Guardian expectantly.

"Et tu, Hay Lin? Figures . . ." mumbled Irma in resentment, folding her arms across her chest as her four (supposed) friends gathered around her.

Will rested a calming hand upon her friend's shoulder and smiled faintly.

"Look, Irma. No one is trying to point fingers at you --"

"-- I am, Will, trust me," rudely interrupted Cornelia before moving to the mirror above one of the three identical, porcelain white sinks to spruce up her helter-skelter appearance.

Both Will and Irma frowned inappreciatively at the back of the eldest girl's head, while Hay Lin and Taranee merely sighed in impatience.

"Anyway, as I was saying: the three of us aren't pointing any direct fingers at you, Irma. But . . . well, you do have a . . . 'tendency' to get us into jams like this. Remember the incident with Andrew Hornby?" Will delivered as delicately as she could, causing the turquoise eyed brunette to groan in recollection.

What a disaster that had been. After trying several times to get tall, popular, and extremely handsome older boy's attention in the past, Irma had at last succeeded one time -- with the help of her magic.

Sadly, however, it had all backfired, the very moment that Andrew had tried to put the moves on her after she'd successfully caught his eye . . . and out of sheer nervousness, turned him into a frog, of all things,for a few days.

"That's something I'm trying to put behind me, if you don't mind, Will," sighed Irma, raising a hand to cover her face in embarrassment at the memory. "And anyway, what does that have to do with this? I haven't done any --" she immediately cut herself off as she'd then made a startling realization:

"Just once . . . I truly wish that the girls and I could get a little bit more respect and world renowned prestige for our Guardian efforts . . ."

Irma gasped and nearly fell backwards into Cornelia as she recalled the sleep induced wish she'd accidentally made last night.

"Oh, crap . . ."

-- End of Chapter Five

(A.N. Meh. Don't like the ending, deal. Don't like my writing? Definitely deal. Other than that, hope you liked it. Usually I have more to say than this, but I'm not very social right now. So, g'bye.)