Chapter 6:
Once through the fold, they all saw that they were in the prison area of the Infinite City of Metamoor. they all looked around to see that the cells of Phobos, Cedric, Miranda, and Frost were empty. There were holes and cracks in the walls. As well as chunks of wall on the floor. There were some soldiers helping wounded ones up and walking them out of the area. Our heroes soon found Vathek sitting on a broke piece of wall getting his arm wrapped by a nurse.
"Vathek!", Caleb called out to his frend as they all walked to him. "Are you okay?"
"I've been better.", Vathek said.
"What happened Vathek?", Elyon asked as she sat next to him.
"Everything was going well as it normally does.", Vathek said. "It was time to serve the prisoners their lunch. We were serving them their food, when it happened."
Flashback
"Here's your food, Phobos.", Vathek said as he slid the tray of food under the slot of the fallen prince's cell.
"To think I used to eat the finest meals in our kingdom.", Phobos said as he looked down at the tray of food. "Now I'm reduced to eating this slop!"
"Funny.", Vathek said. "I don't hear the Lurdens complaining."
"The Lurdens are mindless beast that wound eat rotten eggs without any problems.", Phobos said
"Well, this is what you get.", Vathek said. "And by the way, this slop is beef stew."
Just then, a crashing sound was heard from where the doors to the prison area was. Vathek turned to see a man with red skin with blond hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in a yellow gi with no sleeves and a red belt, with black boots and wristband made of white cloth wrapped around his wrist that went half-way up his forearms. He was well built and looked like he was ready to fight.
"Who are you?", Vathek asked as he picked up his chain weapon.
"Call me Crimson.", Crimson said. "I'm looking for powerful warriors to join me."
Crimson then looked at Phobos, Cedric, Miranda, and Frost. A smirk came to his face.
"And I think I found some.", Crimson said as he quickly fire energy blast at the four cells.
Once the beams of energy hit the cells, the Quintessence energy that formed their bars vanished, freeing the four villains.
"No!", Vathek yelled as he charged at Crimsom. "You will not free them!"
Vathek then swung his weapon at Crimson! Crimson easily caught the weapon with one hand. Seeing this shocked Vathek as he saw a smirk slowly grow on Crimson's face.
"If you haven't noticed, I've already freed them.", Crimson said as he held up the weapon with Vathek still holding it. "You are not worth my time, weakling!"
Crimson then threw Vathek aside like he was nothing and walked up to Phobos, Cedric, Miranda, and Frost as they left their cells.
"I have a proposition for you four.", Crimson said.
"And what would that be, exactly?", Phobos questioned.
"I want you to join me.", Crimson said. "Join me and I will help you bring out your inner power."
"Really now?", Cedric questioned.
"Yes.", Crimson said. "But I can tell that you are at a powerful level already."
"Seer's blood will do that.", Cedric said. "But these wristband block that power!"
"Then let's fix that.", Crimson said as he walked up to Cedric and zapped the wristband off of Cedric without hurting him. "I know that must feel better."
"Much better!", Cedric said as he floated in the air. "I can feel the energy flow through me better! And with all the working out I did in my cell, my powers have increased greatly!"
"Come with me and I'll make you even stronger.", Crimson said.
"As fun as that sounds, I want revenge on a certain warrior that fights along side the Guardians!", Cedric replied.
"Well, now. You're in luck.", Crimson said. "For it's the Guardians and their friends that I'm trying to get rid of."
"Well, this changes things.", Phobos said. "Are you sure you can make me stronger?"
"Positive.", Crimson said. "I can see a great power within you. You just have to train hard to bring it out."
"I hate doing any kind of hard work.", Phobos said. "But if it means crushing my enemies, then I'm willing to give it a try."
Count me in.", Frost said with a smirk.
"Me too.", Miranda said with an evil smile.
"As am I.", Cedric said with an evil grin.
"Then let us leave this place.", Crimson said as he opened a normal fold.
"Stop right there!"
The five villains turned to see none other than Julian standing there with some soldiers, ready for battle.
"The reable leader's father.", Phobos said wit a smirk. "How I've long for this moment!"
"Allow me, Prince Phobos.", Cedric said as he stepped forward.
Cedric held up his right hand and sent a wave of energy at Julian and the soldiers knocking them out. Miranda then walked up to Julian and searched his pockets.
"Ah!", Miranda said as she found what she was searching for. "There it is!"
Miranda then pulled out the necklace Nerissa was trapped in.
"I sense a powerful presence in that jewel.", Crimson said.
"There's a powerful friend in here.", Miranda said. "And I know that she would want some payback against the Guardians."
"I shall free her when we get to where we need to be.", Crimson said as he took the necklace. "Now we must leave."
The five of them then walked through the fold. Vathek watched as the fold closed before he blacked out.
End Flashback.
"And that's what happened.", Vathel said. "When I came to, I sent for Blunk and had him bring you all here."
"So Crimsom recruited Phobos and company.", Irma said. "This can't be good."
"And we don't know what world they could be on.", Matt said.
"But we do know that Crimson is training them the way Uncle John and Grandpa Joe trained us.", Angelo said.
"And that can't be good.", Caleb said.
"So we do some more training when we got the time.", Eric said.
"It's all we can do, seeing as not even the Oracle can find him.", Will said.
"I just hope the we're ready when ever they strike.", Eric said.
"You and me both.", Hay Lin said.
"There's another question we have to ask ourselves.", Taranee said.
"What's that?", Nigel asked.
"Crimson may have Phobos and company, plus Nerissa.", Taranee said. "But, who else does he have with him?"
"Whoa!", Matt said. "Didn't think about that one."
"I don't think any of us did.", Will said. "He could have a whole gang of warriors working for him!"
"Each one ready to take us out!", Irma added.
"This has just gone from bad to worst.", Cornelia said as she rubbed her temples.
"We just have to keep a cool head and be ready for anything.", Will said.
"Will's right.", Irma said. "If we start getting all nervous and jumping at every shadow, we'll drive ourselves nuts before the actual attack happens."
Irma looked around and saw that all but Angelo was looking at her strangely.
"What?", Irma questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Irma Lair?", Cornelia asked surprised at the way Irma is acting.
"And what's that supposed to mean?", Irma questoned with her hands on her hips.
"Well no offence, Irma.", Matt said. "Normally you'd crack a joke or something."
"But now, you're all level headed and being more serious.", Hay Lin said. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Of course I'm okay!", Irma said. "I'm still Irma guys."
"Irma's right, guys.", Angelo said as he stood next to his wife. "We're still us. It's just that, we're a bit more... mature. I mean, we are older than we look."
"Don't get us wrong though.", Irma said. "We're glad to have our youth back. Now we can grow up with you guys and go to the Junior and Senior prom. We can graduate together. And even go to collage."
"Just give us time to adjust back to everything.", Angelo said. "School is the main thing for me. I was able to make up for the two months of school work I've missed."
"I'm surprised that no one has found out about me and you being married yet!", Irma said. "I'm a bit insulted."
"Do you really want students talking?", Taranee asked.
"Maybe.", Irma said in a sing song voice. "A girl can use a bit of attention."
"Well, I suggest that we head back home, or we're going to get the attention we don't need from your moms.", Angelo said.
"I'm going to stay here and help Elyon heal the wounded soldiers.", Cornelia said as Will opened a fold to Earth.
"I can help with that, too.", Irma said surprising everyone but Angelo. "I learned how to heal with my powers."
"Really?", Cornelia questioned.
"Yep!", Irma said. "I got real good control of my powers while I was on that alternate Earth."
"I'm staying too.", Caleb said. I'm going to help with the repairs here."
"I can send Irma and Cornelia back when were done healing the soldiers.", Elyon said.
"I'll tell your mother what you're doing here.", Angelo said. "Just don't over do it. You're still new at the healing thing."
"I'll be careful.", Irma said as she wrapped her arms around Angelo's neck.
"You'd better.", Angelo said as he wrapped his arms around Irma's waist. "Love you."
"Love you, too.", Irma said before they shared a loving kissed.
After their kiss, they looked at each other lovingly before saying their goodbyes before Angelo left through the fold with the others. As the fold closed, Irma turned to look at Cornelia and Elyon who were looking at her with cheesy little grins.
"Don't hate now.", Irma said with a smile as she walked off to help heal some of the soldiers.
"Oh, yeah!", Cornelia said. "She's still Irma."
"No doubt about it.", Elyon said with a laugh as she and Cornelia went to heal some soldiers.
But they wanted to see how Irma did her healing thing. So, the walked up behind her as she began to do it. They saw her place her right hand over a nearby bucket of water and use her powers to make some of it float out of the bucket and move it over the wound the soldier had. Irma then used both of her hands to spread the water over the wound and focus her powers into the water. Suddenly the water began to glow over the wound. They then saw the wound close up slowly. Within a few seconds, the glow faded and Irma put the water back in the bucket. Cornelia an Elyon looked at the soldier to see that the wound he had was gone!
"Wow, Irma!", Elyon said. "That was amazing!"
"Thanks.", Irma said as she got up and wiped her forehead. "I'm still new with it though, so it wipes me a little."
"Well take your time.", Elyon said. "I don't want to have to put you in the infirmary."
"I'll be okay.", Irma said. "Just give me a few seconds to adjust my energy."
"You know, Irma.", Cornelia said with a smirk. "I'm starting to think that you may have a few more tricks up your sleeve."
"You'll just have to wait and see, Corny.", Irma said with a grin.
"Now there's the Irma I know.", Cornelia said. "And don't call me Corny.
The three friends then shared a good laugh before going back to healing some soldiers.
A/N: Well, Crimson has a few new warriors that want to take out the Guardians and their allies. And with Cedric free of the wristbands that held his powers at bay, our heroes troubles have gotten worse. Question is, when will they strike? And will our heroes be ready for them, when they do?
Please review.
