Hi everyone, thanks again for waiting. So, here we are with another fun adventure with the heroes of J-WITCH. I hope everyone is doing alright with this pandemic we are all facing, and it is my hope that this chapter will help alleviate any stress you may have. It makes me so happy to have this story acquire so many followers. So, without further delay, let's get started.
Framed
Meridian – Phobos' Castle
It seemed apparent that Prince Phobos had a taste for gothic art style, as it seemed his own personal gallery was filled with statues of gargoyles, similar to a gothic cathedral, along with many paintings with dark and bleak outlooks on life, it was quite disturbing. But it seemed apparent that one of these paintings was still enjoyable to a certain Passling who pulled one from the wall and actually began to lick it.
"Blunk! Put that back!" Caleb said in a harsh whisper as he hung from a rope, a lantern in his hands.
"Blunk have taste for art. Yellow, yum!" Blunk licked his chops.
"We're gathering information not hideous paintings! Now hurry up before…!" Caleb soon gasped as he saw multiple shadows moving across the ground and walls on their own. "Too late." The shadows materialized to form a group of five Shadowkhan.
Before they could even attempt to attack, Caleb quickly grabbed Blunk and swung on the rope to swing out the closest window, flinging them both outside. Once out, Caleb held onto Blunk with one arm, who was still holding the painting he was 'tasting', and holding the rope on the other, running down the wall. However, one Shadowkhan brandished a katana to cut the rope, causing Caleb and Blunk to fall. Fortunately, they weren't far from the ground and landed safely, albeit roughly, with the painting falling onto Blunk's face. They continued to run even as the Shadowkhan threw a hail of shurikens at them.
Earth – Heatherfield – Vandom Residence
Jade, Irma, Cornelia, Hay Lin, Taranee, along with Elyon and Alchemy, had all been invited to Will's for a sleepover. Everyone was in their pajamas and ready for a good night, save for a small detail about the party that Will had yet to tell them about.
"Will, when you invited us for a sleepover, you didn't mention a pop quiz." Irma said as everyone was given a notebook.
"Sleepovers and schools are two things that should not mix together! Under any circumstances!" Jade stated firmly.
"Yeah, we're supposed to be watching horror movies, eating popcorn…" Hay Lin began to list.
"…And bradding each other's hair!" Alchemy added.
"And telling me how many boys like, like me." Cornelia also added.
"What are best friends for?" Elyon also said.
"I sort of… kinda volunteered to be in charge of this year's Fall Carnival." Will said, much to the surpise of her friends.
"You know how much work that is?" Taranee questioned.
Will winced while putting on a nervous smile. "Okay, here's the thing. That's why… I sort of… kinda… volunteered you guys to be my committee! Please!"
"Say what?!" Jade exclaimed.
"We have been sleepover jacked!" Irma also exclaimed.
"Jade, what did you do to her?!" Cornelia questioned. "She's turning out to be like you!"
"Hey, at least when I do that kind of thing it doesn't involve school! Unless it's skipping school. Kinda like what I'm about to do with this rip-off sleepover!" Jade was already beginning to pack her things, with the other girls right behind her.
"Right behind you!" Alchemy said.
"See ya!" Hay Lin also said.
"I'm outta here." Elyon already had her bag packed.
"Can we go, please?" Cornelia questioned irritably.
"So outta here." Taranee was also up.
Will winced, having an idea that this was coming. A part of her did feel bad about doing this without their permission, but she still needed their help. She took out her cell phone. "Don't make me call Uncle on you guys!"
That caused almost all the girls to stop in their tracks.
"Oh, pulling the U-bomb, on us?" Irma questioned.
"That's a low blow, Will." Even Hay Lin didn't quite approve.
"She's… gonna tattle us to her Uncle?" Elyon asked.
"No, my Uncle. Everyone calls him Uncle." Jade clarified.
"And trust me, you do not want to get on his bad side." Cornelia added.
"Guys look, I'm sorry okay. But I really need your help. I need a theme by Monday!" Will tried to put on a pair of puppy dog eyes. "Please!"
The doorbell suddenly rang. "Pizza!"
"At least she ordered food." Hay Lin said.
Will shook her head and walked up to the door. "Nuh uh, but maybe my mom ordered…" She opened it only to find Martin, with his own pajamas and bunny slippers, a board game in his hands, with a pizza. "A nerd." Her eyelids lowered.
"Hey Irma, your boyfriend's here!" Jade teased, resulting in Irma scowling as Martin walked inside the apartment.
"In the time-honored tradition of maletharios, I'll be your official pajama-party crasher!" Martin announced.
"Pervert much." Alchemy groaned in annoyance as everyone else was less-than pleased.
"Martin, get your bunny slippers out of here! Don't make me call Jade's Uncle!" Irma stated.
"And you do not want him showing up here!" Taranee added.
"Ah, my PJ-passion-flower, I brought pizza and my favorite board game. Here, hold these." Martin handed the game and pizza to Irma before flashing a camera to take a picture of all the girls. "Wait till the guys see this!"
Two seconds later, Martin was literally thrown out of the apartment. However, the girls kept the camera, which Taranee worked to delete the picture he took of them, while the others helped themselves to Martin's pizza.
"Hmm, not bad." Jade said, eating a slice.
Will took a look at the board game. "Knights, Naves, and Newts?"
"The games dweebs play." Irma explained.
"And they're about to play them in the school parking lot!" Will exclaimed, already having her chosen theme for the carnival.
The Next Morning
All eight girls had gathered together at the parking lot of Sheffield Institute as Will was already envisioning the carnival. "A medieval fair! Get it?! Booths with games and olden-days food!"
"A renaissance fair huh? Cool! I always wanted to go to one of those!" Jade stated, already getting excited for it.
"And maybe one of those nay-pole thingies." Elyon suggested.
"Maybe some dragon cut outs?" Alchemy also suggested.
Cornelia gave an excited gasp. "And 'who's the fairest damsel?' contest!"
"So, we get to tie you up over a pot of boiling water? I'm cool with that!" Jade exclaimed, causing Cornelia to scowl. "What? You said 'damsel'." She teased, resulting in the other girls laughing, and Cornelia to sulk even lower.
"Oooh, we could put a jousting tournament over there!" Irma suggested.
"Cause nothing says 'fun' like knocking a boy off a horse with a stick." Taranee said with a smirk.
"I was gonna suggest an epic sword fight! But that works to." Jade said.
"Costumes!" Hay Lin exclaimed. "I can design all those retro bodices and witchy-ware!"
"Liking it!" Will practically sung. "Now to con the shop teacher into building it."
Uncle's Rare Finds
"AIYA!" Uncle exclaimed as a large fire erupted from his cauldron, which was swiftly put out by Jackie with the use of a fire-extinguisher, causing him, Uncle, and Tohru to breath a huge sigh of relief, only for Uncle to deliver a dope-slap to Tohru's forehead.
"Ow!" Tohru felt his head for a minute.
"Uncle told you a thousand times! Three pairs of dried bat wings too much!"
"Sorry sensei." Tohru apologized.
"Uncle, is all of this really necessary?" Jackie asked. "I feel as though you yourself haven't gotten much sleep."
"There is little time to rest." Uncle replied. "So long as the true heir to Meridian remains unidentified, she is still in danger from the Forces of Darkness."
"But you yourself said we cannot track her with a chi-spell. So why are we… OW!" Jackie felt a slap on his forehead as well.
"When did Uncle say he was making a locator spell?!" The old man questioned. "This is a protection spell!"
"If in the event we find out who the missing heir is, this spell will prevent those of dark nature from touching her." Tohru explained. "It'll be the best way to keep her safe, without directly involving her."
"Because there is also a risk of her being overwhelmed with shock of this revelation." Jackie saw their point. "Yes, that's probably a good idea." He soon heard his cell phone ring. "Hello? Jade? Oh… alright, I'll be right there." He hung up. "Jade and the girls need a ride to the museum, I'll be right back." He turned around to leave.
"I'm really glad Jade is making more friends." Tohru smiled. "She's always been telling me how much trouble she had at her old school."
"Do not just stand there! Get cracking!" Uncle stated. "Good Jade is making friends, yes. But we must be prepared to protect missing heir from Forces of Darkness!"
Meridian – Phobos Castle
Daolon Wong walked through Phobos' personal gallery as he gazed at many of the dark and bleak pieces of artwork with an amused chuckle. "So young and yet so firm in darkness. The Prince surely has good taste, I'll grant him that."
"I'm so glad you approve."
Wong was startled slightly as he turned around to meet the suspicious graze of Prince Phobos as well. "My Prince." He straightened himself out with a bow.
"Is there a reason you are here? And not in your own personal study trying to locate my sister?" Phobos questioned.
"There is only so much I can do, dark prince." Wong explained. "Powerful spells surround her that prevent me from locating her. As much as I hate to admit it, Cedric's current position on Earth is the best chance we have at finding her before our enemies do."
"Just be certain that finding her remains your top priority." Phobos reminded. "You should understand by now just how much we cannot underestimate said enemies."
"Yes, my prince." Wong said in a small growl, tired of playing nice to Phobos. But of course, patience was among one of his strong suits, so he could endure it. He cast a gaze at a certain painting that stood out among the rest; a painting of a large town that seemed somewhat bright when compared to the other gothic pieces of work in his gallery. "Prince Phobos, is there a reason you've kept this particular painting?"
Phobos turned back to see the painting in question. "I do not see how that is of any concern of yours."
"The artist was foolish enough to paint a picture representing hope, so I imprisoned him in his own painting. You could have simply destroyed the painting and been done with him entirely." Daolon Wong said.
"Elias was not a traitor and had committed no crimes against me. I see no reason to end his life when he has done nothing wrong." Phobos said as he and Wong gazed at the image of a man with black hair and a sad expression on his face, where a single tear fell down from his eye, despite it being inside a painting.
Earth – Heatherfield – Museum
Jackie had driven Jade, Will, Irma, Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Taranee to the museum so that they could get a look at some of the medieval paintings to make sure their designs for the fair was at least somewhat accurate. Jackie himself provided some advice for the fair as he was an archeologist and had studied some medieval locations and artifacts before, which was more than helpful.
"Why are we here again?" Cornelia asked.
"Just making sure I got the middle ages right for the fair." Hay Lin answered.
"Well if it's wrong, we don't have much time to change it." Will said.
"Considering what you've already told me of your designs so far, I'd say you've done a good job already so far." Jackie told them.
"We'd better." Jade said. "We busted our butts putting everything together!"
"I just hope Elyon and Alchemy come through with those balloons and dragon cut outs." Irma said before her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at her watch. "Oh crap! I'm late for jousting practice!" She ran out as fast as she could.
"Yeah, we should go to." Will added.
Jade however noticed something on the large painting that they were studying. Something rather odd. What she, nor did anyone else around her, realized however, was that this wasn't just any ordinary painting. It looked almost exactly like the one in Phobos' personal gallery. The one where Daolon Wong had trapped its own artist inside.
Jackie noticed his niece's odd behavior. "Jade? Is something wrong?"
"It just… doesn't it look like that guy's crying?" Jade asked.
Jackie got a good look at it. "Hmm, perhaps the artist was trying to convey a hidden message."
"No, I mean, like he was actually crying." Jade clarified. "Not a painting of a guy crying, but a guy crying for real!"
Will walked up to get a closer look herself. However, once she was close enough, the Heart of Kandrakar around her neck began to glow and pull itself into the painting, along with Will. Jade and Jackie quickly tried to grab her and pull her back, only for they themselves to be pulled in as well. Taranee, Hay Lin, and Cornelia tried to grab onto Jackie's feet, but ended up getting sucked into the painting as well.
The inside of the painting appeared to be a medieval town with lots of wooden buildings, a cathedral, a valley around the town, but more importantly; live people all throughout the town. Among those people however, included Jackie, Will, Jade, Cornelia, Taranee, and Hay Lin as they all found themselves on the ground.
"What the hell just happened?!" Cornelia exclaimed. "And how's my hair look!"
"Forget your stupid hair! Where the heck are we?!" Jade almost exclaimed.
"Is everyone alright?" Jackie asked the girls as he was already on his feet and helping them up to their feet as well.
"A little dizzy, but I'm okay." Hay Lin shook the cobwebs out of her head.
"Is this Meridian or Heatherfield?" Taranee asked as the group looked around at their new surroundings.
Will however was the first to figure it out. "Neither. Guys, we're inside the painting!"
Irma wore a knight-costume as she rode a horse for jousting-practice inside a large stable. Using her lance, she was able to hit the target she was using for practice with little-to-no trouble before pulling the horse to a stop and getting off.
"Hey Mr. Fordom. I'll bring Dusty back right after the tournament." She said to the owner of the horse.
"Manure." The man named Fordom said.
"What?" Irma scoffed slightly. "You're saying I can't win because I'm a girl?"
"Talking about our deal." Fordom clarified. "I lend you Dusty, you muck out the stalls."
Irma winced. "Don't you have like a… crap vacuum cleaner?"
Meanwhile, Jackie led the five teenage girls through the town that served as the living painting. People seemed to go about their business almost as if they were alive, which they probably were.
"Trapped inside a magic painting, that's a new one." Jade said.
"Great, so any idea as to how we're gonna get out?" Cornelia questioned.
Jackie got off his cell phone. "I tried to call Uncle, but I can't get a signal."
"Pretty sure you won't get any reception inside a magic painting." Taranee assumed.
"But there has to be some connection between the painting and Meridian." Will tried to think.
"Duh." Jade stated.
However, what they didn't notice was that the painting from the museum on Earth wasn't the only 'window' into the painted world our heroes were trapped in. From the other side in Meridian; Phobos, Daolon Wong, and Cedric noticed their presence as well.
"Well, well, four of the five Guardians, one of whom possess the Heart of Kandrakar." Phobos observed. "Even that irksome Jackie Chan."
"This could certainly be problematic." Cedric said.
"Not at all." Wong sneered. "I created that world, and as such, all forms of good magic will be unable to work in there, including the Heart of Kandrakar."
Phobos smirked evilly. "Well now, that is perfect." He turned to his two subordinates. "Summon Frost the Hunter, and your Dark Chi Warriors. Bring me the Heart!"
As Jackie continued to lead the girls through the town of the painted world, they heard a call from behind. "Make way! Make way!"
An out-of-control bison-like creature with its wagon appeared to stampede toward them; Jackie pulled Hay Lin and Taranee out of the way as Will did for Cornelia. Jade tried to run but tripped on a rock and looked in fear as the creature was about to run her over.
"Jade!" Jackie was more than ready to leap into action, but someone else beat him to it as a man tackled Jade out of the path of the out-of-control bison.
"Eh… thanks." Jade said to her savior. "We're… not from around here."
"I know, I created here. Elias Van Dahl." The man introduced to himself and the others as he helped Jade up to her feet. "Welcome to my painting."
"Whoa… you painted a whole world?" Jade questioned before an excited smile formed on her face. "Cool!"
"Not exactly. It's actually a bit complicated." Elias replied.
"Well, seeing as how you are the artist sir, perhaps you can help us." Jackie suggested. However, before anyone could say anything else; they all glanced toward the center of town as a plum of dark blue smoke appeared to reveal four new individuals. Three of which were Finn, Ratso, and Chow as Dark Chi warriors, but the new one was a muscular troll-like creature riding what appeared to be a rhino-like steed.
"It's the Dark Chi Stooges! And… whatever that thing is!" Will stated in shock.
"Frost the Hunter!" Elias exclaimed upon recognizing the hunter.
"They haven't noticed us! Quickly, hide!" Jackie told the group.
"In here!" Elias opened a door to a building where Jackie and the girls quickly ran inside, without being noticed by the Dark Chi Enforcers and Frost.
"Whoa… we're inside a painting." Ratso looked around with wonder.
"Gotta admit, whoever painted this got talent." Finn said. "I mean, he's no Vango, but still."
"Enough of your babbling!" Frost exclaimed to the Enforcers. "The Guardians are here! Find them!"
"Take it easy hunter-boy, we're looking!" Chow stated as he and Finn went off to look, but Ratso took the moment to pat the rhino-like creature on the head.
"Aw, who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?" Ratso's affection however was met with an angry roar from the rhino who knocked Ratso down on the ground.
"Crimson doesn't like you. And neither do I." Frost said. "Now get looking!" He told Ratso as he joined his friends to look for their enemies.
Meanwhile, Irma, still dressed in her knight-costume, continued to clean out the stalls in the horse stable. "Yuck." She muttered. "That smells worse than horse…" Her curse word was censored out by a horse's neighing.
"If Blunk had nickel for every time Blunk hear that…" The Passling named Blunk said as he and Caleb walked into the stall, with Blunk still having the painting he stole from Phobos' castle around his neck.
"What are you guys doing here?" Irma asked upon noticing them.
"It looks like we've got another portal-mending job." Caleb explained. "Where's Will?"
"Great timing." Irma said sarcastically. "It's the day of the school carnival."
"Cute shoveling suit." Caleb teased, which Irma didn't take too well.
"For your information, I'm in a jousting tournament! Medieval fair? Oh, you wouldn't understand."
"For your information, I was junior jousting champion of Meridian." Caleb replied. "And, you're wearing your pants backwards."
Irma laughed nervously upon seeing Caleb was right. "If you think you're so great, enter the tournament. You'll be wearing your head backwards."
Blunk pulled what was left of the painting he stole from his neck and offered it to Irma. "Nice pixie-swatter, trade Blunk?"
Meanwhile, back inside the painted world, Elias had led the group into what appeared to be his own personal study as he explained everything to Jackie and the girls.
"It amused that accursed dark wizard to stick me into a world that I created. You're the only things I didn't paint. How did you come to be here?"
"Well, the Heart of Kandrakar pulled us in." Will explained.
"You're the Guardians of the Veil?" Elias asked in surprise before bowing humbly. "I'm honored, this explains why Phobos sent the hunter and those Dark Warriors."
"Well, they're the Guardians, I'm not." Jade said. "But this guy right here kicks evil butt on a daily basis!" She pointed to Jackie. "Even decked Phobos!"
That took Elias by surprise as he looked to Jackie in amazement. "You defeated Phobos in combat?!"
"Eh… well, once or twice, yes." Jackie sounded humble before getting back to the point. "But if you created this world, perhaps you know of a way to escape it?"
"If I truly knew of a way out, I surely would have used it by now." Elias replied. "I was hoping you would have the power to free us."
Will took out the Heart of Kandrakar somewhat hesitantly. "Let's see what we can do… Guardians Unite!" However, the crystal did not glow, and there was no transformation.
"It didn't work?!" Jade exclaimed in shock.
"Seeing how Daolon Wong was responsible for this, he must have made it so that only his magic can work here." Jackie assumed.
"Oh great. We have no powers here." Taranee muttered in disappointment and even fear.
"Then you'll need disguises." Elias said.
"Uh… maybe something like this…?" Hay Lin had used Elias' supplies to paint what appeared to be a dark green dress suited for a princess, but once it was finished painting, the dress became three dimensional before falling onto the floor, much to everyone's surprise.
"This is… like way the most realistic sketch I've ever did!" Hay Lin exclaimed in joyous surprise.
"Holy crap it's real!" Will picked it up in amazement.
"Everything you paint comes to life here?" Taranee asked in the same amazed tone, which Elias nodded in confirmation.
"Then why didn't you… you know… paint a doorway out of here?" Jade asked Elias.
"I have tried. Nothing I have worked." Elias replied.
Jackie sighed. "Then it seems we'll have to hide until we find a solution."
Cornelia however appeared the most excited. "Ooh! Let's go clothes-painting!"
Using a spare room Elias had, each of them changed began to change into the disguises that Hay Lin had painted for them. Taranee wore the dark green dress that was painted first. Hay Lin wore one that looked near identical, only it was yellow instead of green. Jackie had a dark blue tunic and overcoat with black boots, as well as a sheathed sword. Jade wore a black robe that seemed like one for a medieval plague doctor, just without the mask.".
"Oooh this is so cute." Taranee looked at the dress she wore.
"I look like the grim reaper. I love it!" Jade exclaimed upon seeing her black robe.
Jackie seemed to appreciate the disguise that he wore. "Hay Lin, why did you give me a sword?" Jackie asked as he held the sword in his hand.
"Because I thought it would look cool!" Hay Lin replied excitedly. "Plus, we're being hunted by bad guys so…"
"I see your point." Jackie understood as he sheathed the sword back and Hay Lin went back to finishing up Will's dress, which was identical to Hay Lin's and Taranee's, only red.
"Not bad, hem's a little long." Will said.
"No probs, a little paint thinner." Hay Lin was able to make the necessary adjustments.
"Hello? The medieval super model is waiting!" Cornelia was the only one not to have a disguise yet. "Oh, and since it's me, I hope you'll spend a little extra time so my outfit's worthy."
"Worthy huh?" Jade smirked almost evilly as she ran up to Hay Lin and whispered into her ear, causing Hay Lin to snicker back as she got the idea.
Earth - Sheffield Parking Lot
The fair was in mid-construction, with Martin dressed up like a medieval minstrel with a lute and practicing it with a song, which was rather terrible.
"Martin, where's Will?" Irma asked him urgently, as they still had that 'portal-mending' job to do.
"Alas the maid you seek my dear, has near this morn appeared." Martin sung, only for the irritated Irma to cover his mouth.
"One more note, you eat the lute." She warned.
"Irma!" She turned around in surprise to see Tohru approaching her. "I can't seem to find Jackie or Jade, I have tried to call them, but I've had no response."
Now Irma was starting to look worried. "Yeah, Will and the others aren't calling back either. I got a bad feeling about this."
"Where did you see them last?" Tohru asked.
"The museum! Come on!" She led the large sumo away from the carnival in mid-construction, right past Elyon and Alchemy as they brought in their respective assigned decorations.
Meanwhile, back in the painted world; Elias led the disguised group of heroes throughout the town. And while each of them wore their respective outfits, Cornelia's disguise happened to be that of a court jester with green and blue patterns, complete with a hat as Will, Jade, Hay Lin, and Taranee all laughed at her expense.
"See? Told ya you'd make a good jester. You're making everyone laugh!" Jade laughed with everyone else, save for Jackie, and Cornelia herself as she scowled.
"Oh, ha ha!" The blonde muttered sarcastically. "Very funny, just see if I let you date any of my rejects."
"Quiet down, all of you." Jackie told the girls. "We cannot afford to draw too much attention."
"Too late for that!" Will exclaimed in surprise as she turned around to see Frost on his rhino-steed, Crimson, coming from around the corner. With Finn, Ratso, and Chow appearing in dark blue smoke in front of them.
"We're surrounded!" Elias exclaimed as Jackie quickly drew his sword, ready to take them all on.
"Got that right." Finn said. "Now give us that Heart thing and no one gets hurt."
"You would be wise to heed that warning." Frost added. "In this world, you have no power!"
Will looked around and spotted a nearby pitchfork. "We might not have any magic." She quickly picked up the make-shift weapon and spun it around. "But we still got our training!"
Jackie looked back and saw the girls were more than ready for a fight. Though he was confident they could handle the Enforcers even without their Guardian powers, Frost could still present a serious problem. He then spotted a bison-like creature carrying a wagon full of fruits and vegetables. He quickly ran and mounted the creature.
"Sorry! I will return this later, thank you!" Jackie turned the bison and rode it directly at Frost, slashing his sword at him, which Frost avoided as Jackie pulled the bison to a stop. "Frost! You claim to be a hunter?! Then hunt me!" He rode the bison away from the girls as Frost growled at the challenger.
"Go Crimson! Charge!" Frost ordered his rhino-steed to chase after the fleeing Jackie; leaving Will, Jade, Hay Lin, Taranee, Cornelia, and even Elias to deal with the Dark Chin Enforcers. Will still held her pitchfork as Taranee picked up a pair of hammers from a nearby black-smith shop, Hay Lin 'borrowed' a lute that was dropped by a fleeing minstrel, and Cornelia picked up a wooden rake.
"Okay you guys hit em high! I hit em low!" Jade stated.
"Elias, take Jade and hide!" Will told the artist as she clashed her pitchfork against Finn's bladed weapon while Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Taranee engaged Ratso and Chow.
Elias had done as instructed and pulled Jade away in between a pair of stalls. "What? Come on! I can help!"
"You yourself said you weren't a Guardian. It's too dangerous." Elias told Jade, who could only scowl and pout.
Jackie rode his borrowed bison steed through the streets, turning around the corner, with Frost and Crimson right on his tail. Frost brandished his whip and snapped it towards Jackie, though it hit his back, Jackie winced but kept going until he spotted what appeared to be a dead-end. Jackie pulled on the horns of his bison-steed to turn it around and charge straight at Frost and Crimson. Frost attempted to snap his whip again, but Jackie drew his sword to not only cut the whip, but even cut at the saddle on Crimson's side to send Frost sliding and falling off before skidding on the ground.
However, Frost was far from done as he got back up on his feet and actually ran towards Jackie, before he could even move his bison, Frost jumped up and tackled Jackie to the ground. But Jackie pulled back both his feet and kicked Frost off of him, but before Jackie could even think about fighting back, Crimson charged at Jackie, prompting him to run away from the charging rhino.
Meanwhile; Will thrusted her pitchfork at Finn who blocked it with his bladed weapon before stepping back to slice it down at Will. She tried to block it, only for het pitchfork to be cut in half, but Will was able to swipe her feet and knock Finn down onto the ground.
"Guess all that Kung Fu training is paying off." Will said, mostly to herself, but Finn was quick to get back up as he threw his bladed weapon at her, forcing Will to duck and find cover as it shot and bounced through the air like a shuriken. The redhead was able to find cover behind a well, fortunately.
At the same time, Hay Lin and Taranee both ran backwards to avoid Ratso as he leapt into the air with his hammer, slamming it down onto the ground and sending a shockwave to knock both of them back.
"Hey, no fair!" Hay Lin complained. "How come he can use magic, but we can't?!"
"Daolon Wong made this place, and since these guys are powered by his own dark magic, that's probably how." Taranee assumed.
"Sorry kids, nothing personal." Ratso apologized as he swung his hammer at them, while Taranee and Hay Lin could only throw their own make-shift weapons at him, which he batted away with his hammer before charging at them again.
Cornelia held her rake in a defensive position against Chow. "Back off, pall! You don't want any of this!"
However, rather than being intimidated, Chow actually laughed at Cornelia. "Ah, what ya gonna do? Rake me to death little miss jester?!" He laughed at her court jester outfit. "You gonna give me a circus dance? Ha ha ha!" Cornelia then proceeded to stomp Chow on his foot before swinging her rake upwards right into his jaw to send him flying and crashing onto the ground.
"Oh, what's that? I can't hear you over this rake breaking your jaw." Cornelia smirked.
Chow growled as he got up and threw his staff, which spun around like a blade, actually cutting through Cornelia's rake and sending her flying back toward the other girls who were still on the defensive from the remaining Dark Chi Enforcers.
Jade and Elias saw how their friends appeared to be losing. "This is not good." Elias gulped.
However, Jade happened to spot the sacks of pain that Elias carried with him when she got an idea. "Hey, I'm just gonna borrow this real quick." She snatched some paint away and began to paint something she hoped would turn the fight in their favor.
Jackie, meanwhile, continued to run from Frost as he remounted Crimson and ended up cornered along with Will, Cornelia, Taranee, and Hay Lin, surrounded by the hunter and the three Dark Chi Enforcers.
"This is the end for you." Frost glared at the heroes. "Any final words?"
"I got some!" Jade stated as she happened to brandish a large rocket launcher on her shoulder. "Say 'hello' to my little friend!" She shot a rocket at the villains, which exploded at the ground underneath them. Though the Dark Chi Enforcers were obliterated, Frost and Crimson were sent flying into a nearby building.
"Jade!" Jackie exclaimed as all the girls' jaws dropped.
"What?" Jade shrugged.
"Did… did you seriously just paint a bazooka?!" Will exclaimed.
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" Jade shrugged.
"Jade, I feel like we need to have a serious talk once we get out of here." Taranee stated.
"Yes, we do." Jackie seemed to agree as Jade merely chuckled nervously.
Meridian
"The Guardians have eluded Frost and those bumbling idiots!" Phobos stated in frustration.
"Not for long, my liege." Cedric said. "What this painting needs… is more darkness." He hissed as the large shapeshifter transformed into his massive humanoid snake form. And it wasn't just him; multiple Lurdens all appeared from behind him, with even more Shadowkhan as well.
Daolon Wong casted a dark chi spell onto the painting, allowing him, Cedric, and their small army to enter the pocket dimension.
Earth
Meanwhile, at the museum, Irma and Tohru continued to search for their friends; not just because of the portal or the carnival, but because now they were really getting worried. "Will!? Jackie?! Jade?! Anyone?!" Irma called as she ran throughout the museum.
Tohru spotted a small boy looking curiously at a certain painting and walked toward him. "Can you turn up the TV?" The boy asked Tohru, who could only gasp as he saw the moving painting. He saw Will, Jade, Jackie, Hay Lin, Cornelia, Taranee, and Elias all running for their lives from the small army consisting of Cedric, Daolon Wong, the Dark Chi Enforcers, Frost and Crimson, Lurdens and Shadowkhan.
Irma saw what Tohru was looking at and gasped in fright as well. "Oh no!"
Tohru immediately picked up his cell phone and made a call. "Captain Black! We have a situation!"
Inside the painted world; the heroes all managed to make some considerable distance from the enemy army via some scooters that Hay Lin painted for all of them, save for Jackie who had his own motorcycle with Jade riding on it with her uncle, they had already made it to a river bank where their vehicles couldn't carry them anymore.
"Painting scooters and motorcycles as a good idea, Cornelia." Jackie told the blonde.
"How did Elias luck out?" Jade asked Hay Lin as they saw Elias catching up with them via a simple bicycle.
"It's the man's first bike. I wanted him to cruise in style." Hay Lin answered.
"Where'd you paint the breaks?!" Elias practically screamed as he crashed into the river. Jackie was quick to help him up to his feet, however.
"Uh… how are you at painting boats?" Cornelia asked Hay Lin as that was probably their only means of transportation right now.
"I don't think we got time for a whole boat!" Taranee exclaimed as she pointed up the hill to see Wong, Cedric, and their forces already catching up to them.
"Jade, what are you waiting for?! Use your bazooka!" Cornelia exclaimed.
"Heh, heh, didn't paint any extra ammo." Jade winced, much to the girls' dismay.
"Are you kidding?!" Cornelia practically screamed.
"Girls, you help Hay Lin and Elias paint our escape. I will run interference." Jackie said as he drew his sword and was ready to charge at the enemy army.
"Hang on, I can help you!" Will was ready to help.
"Help them!" Jackie pointed to their friends as he already ran up the hill to meet the enemy. With no time to question, the girls all joined Hay Lin and Elias as they helped to paint a raft.
The first enemies to meet Jackie were a group of Shadowkhan, which he slashed and hacked at with his sword. Any Shadowkhan that met his blade was instantly disintegrated, but the sheer number of them kept Jackie on the defensive as one of them knocked the blade out of Jackie's hands, forcing him to defend himself with hand-to-hand combat, which only became more difficult as the Dark Chin Enforcers and Lurdens were already on him as well.
"Jackie's in trouble!" Jade exclaimed.
"Painting as fast as we can!" Hay Lin exclaimed as they were almost done with the raft. Seeing how Hay Lin could make the final touches on her own; Jade, Will, Taranee, and Cornelia all looked to each other and nodded before running in to help Jackie.
Jackie had his hands pinned behind his back by a pair of Shadowkhan as he was surrounded by many more and several Lurdens. One Lurden lifted its axe to finish him off. However, before he could take the final swing, he was stopped with a flying kick from Jade who knocked it down. Will and Taranee came in to knock the Shadowkhan off Jackie as Cornelia grabbed the axe dropped by the Lurden Jade kicked down to cut down two approaching Shadowkhan.
"Guys! Raft is ready! Let's go!" Hay Lin called to them as the group turned around to run and board the raft as Hay Lin also painted a motor at the end, which Jackie started, allowing the group to escape down the river just as the villains made it to the bank.
Earth
Multiple police and Section 13 vehicles had the museum cornered off as all the patrons and employees were evacuated from the building, leaving only Section 13 agents, personally led by Captain Black, as well as Irma and Tohru, even Uncle, Caleb, and Blunk whom Section 13 agents picked up once they got the call that magic would be involved.
"So, they're inside the painting?" Captain Black asked in surprise.
"Yeah! Along with Cedric, Wong, and their goon-squad!" Irma stated.
"Uh oh. So many bad guys." Blunk observed.
"I've seen this painting." Caleb said. "We can go in through the other side."
"Other side?" Tohru asked. "Where?"
"In Meridian, we just need to… OW!" Caleb felt his forehead where Uncle delivered his dope slap.
"We do not have time to sneak into evil castle and find painting!" Uncle protested. "We must work now!"
"But how come they haven't transformed yet?" Irma questioned. "Will should have Guardianed everyone up by now!"
Uncle began to think for a moment as he pulled out a dried lizard and blasted a burst of green chi magic, which appeared to dissipate once it made contact with the painting that was surrounded by a dark blue aura.
"Dark magic." Uncle realized. "This is the work of Daolon Wong. All good magic that enters the painting will be unable to work."
"Not even the Heart of Kandrakar?!" Caleb exclaimed.
"Well how are we supposed to get them out!?" Irma questioned in a panic.
"We need the Tiger Talisman." Uncle deduced.
"Right here, mi compadre." Captain Black presented a steel briefcase, which he opened to reveal all twelve Talismans.
"You carry the Talismans with you?" Irma asked.
"Only when I hear you guys call." Captain Black answered. "If it involves magic, these could probably serve as back-up."
"Sensei, what did you mean when you said how the Tiger Talisman can help?" Tohru asked.
"The power of the Tiger represents balance: Yin and Yang." Uncle explained. "But it also has the power to separate light and dark into two separate entities. If the Tiger Talisman makes contact with this world of magic, it will separate all that is good from all that is evil, freeing Jackie, Jade, and the Guardians from this imprisonment."
"Well why didn't you just say so?" Irma questioned as she immediately grabbed the Tiger Talisman and placed it on the painting. "Talisman power, go!" However, nothing happened. "It didn't work! OW!"
"Of course, it did not work!" Uncle stated after delivering his dope-slap to the girl. "The painting is merely a window! Talisman must make contact with the painted world itself!"
"But you said all other forms of magic won't work in there!" Caleb stated.
"That is why magic must defeat magic." Uncle stated. "Tohru, you will prepare a spell that will allow the Talismans' powers to work in painted world!"
That took the sumo by surprise. "Buh… uh… me?! Why can't you cast the spell, sensei?"
"I must prepare separate spell that will allow us to enter painted world!" Uncle stated. "We must hurry or else our friends will be lost to the Forces of Darkness! Caleb, Irma, help Tohru!"
"You heard the old man, let's get to work." Caleb told Tohru as he gulped, but Irma put a hand on his arm.
"Don't worry Big T, we got your back." Irma assured, which seemed to help ease some of Tohru's stress a bit.
"Is there any way I can help?" Captain Black offered.
"Yes. Keep Passling from licking museum property!" Uncle pointed to Blunk who was licking a painting on the other side of the hall.
"Hmm, red taste like cherry." Blunk attempted to lick again, only to be pulled back by Captain Black as the others got to work.
Meanwhile, back in the painted world, the group of heroes continued to ride the raft with the motor in the river as the massive swarm of enemies continued to chase after them along the side, though the heroes had made some considerable distance, it was not the time to let their guard down.
Daolon Wong rode on the shoulders of Ratso, much to the Dark Chi Enforcer's exhaustion, though Wong himself was growing frustrated with this continued chase, so with a wave of his scepter, Wong had summoned a large, dark scaled, winged-serpent monster, which flew toward the raft.
"Guys! Incoming monster!" Jade warned the group. However, Jackie got an idea as he saw some paint-thinner in one of Elias' sacks. He grabbed the sack and threw it with near perfect accuracy at the monster, which erased the head and most of the right wing of the monster, killing it as the remains fell into the river.
"Nice aim." Hay Lin said with a relieved smile.
"Thank you." Jackie nodded.
"I just hope you painted the gas tank full." Taranee said to Hay Lin.
"Uh… I think we're gonna run out of river first!" Will stated as they all turned to see the end of the painting itself and just a white void in front of them, forcing the boat to stop.
"Quick paint! Paint like the wind! Paint like your life depends on it!" Jade exclaimed in a worried tone of voice. "Which it totally does!"
"We're painting! We're painting!" Hay Lin exclaimed as she and Elias tried to paint a continuation of the river.
"Well paint faster! Cause the Forces of Darkness are right on our heels!" Cornelia exclaimed as they saw their enemy getting ever closer.
Fortunately, Hay Lin and Elias had finished painting a newer landscape. "Go! Go! Go!" Jackie exclaimed as Will activated the motor, allowing the raft to sail into the landscape, while avoiding the arrows and shurikens thrown and shot at them by Lurdens and Shadowkhan respectively.
Finn, Ratso, and Chow had to stop a moment to catch their breath. "Gotta admit… kid's got skills…" Finn said in-between breaths.
"Yeah… she'd be a pretty good artist someday…" Ratso complemented, also in-between breaths.
"Do not stop fools! Keep moving!" Wong exclaimed.
"Okay, okay, give us a minute!" Chow replied.
"If we do not get that crystal, Phobos will have each of your hides!" Cedric hissed at the Dark Chi Enforcers, giving them the necessary motivation to keep going forward.
Back in the museum, on Earth, Uncle was making the final preparations to the chi-spell that would enable them to enter the painted world as he put the necessary ingredients into his cauldron, which bubbled with green liquid.
"Uncle is almost ready. How is Tohru's spell?" He asked.
"We're working on it!" Caleb stated as he and Irma helped Tohru, who was reading his own spell book with his own cauldron filled with green liquid right in front of him.
"Uh… one pair of dried bat wings…?" Tohru read the recipe aloud.
"Check." Irma said as she put in said pair of bat wings into the cauldron. "And I do not even wanna know how you guys got this stuff."
"Uh, one seeder leaf." Tohru listed the next ingredient.
"Check." Caleb put the leaf into the cauldron as well.
"Three spines of urchins." Tohru continued.
"Three spines?!" Uncle questioned. "Do you want Talismans to explode?!"
"But the spell book says…"
"Book is only a guide!" Uncle stated to his apprentice. "Good Chi-Wizard makes spell his own!"
This only seemed to make Tohru even more nervous. "Well, whatever you do you better hurry. Looks like they're heading for a dead end." Captain Black said as the group saw the predicament their friends were in inside the painting.
The raft reached the end of the river, much to the worry of the heroes. "We need blue paint!" Cornelia exclaimed.
"Uh… can you sail in tar? Cause this is all I got left." Hay Lin said as they only had black paint left.
"No time! We need to keep moving!" Jackie stated as they turned around to see Daolon Wong, Cedric, Frost and Crimson, Finn, Ratso, and Chow, along with the Lurdens and Shadowkhan already catching up with them. The group ran up the nearest hill, with the army of villains right behind them, even Cedric destroyed the raft with his massive tail to ensure they had no means of escaping.
"What can we make out of black?" Cornelia questioned as it was their only color left.
"Another bazooka?" Will offered.
"We may not have enough time!" Jackie stated.
Jade suddenly got an idea. "Hay Lin! How about we go bowling for bad guys!"
"Right behind ya, Jade!" She tossed her friend an extra paint brush as the two quickly worked to paint massive bowling balls which Will, Taranee, Cornelia, and Elias quickly began to push down. This forced the villains back relatively easily, particularly the Lurdens and Dark Chin Enforcers. However, the Shadowkhan were able to leap over the bowling balls, but before they could get the drop on the heroes, Jackie leapt to meet them in the air and deliver multiple punches and kicks to knock them down.
However, it wasn't long before they ran out of black paint to. "That's it! We're out of ammo!" Jade stated as the group backed up, the enemy army closing in on them. They had no choice but to run, however, they didn't run very far before they came before the end of the painting once more, in the form of a cliff with a bottomless white abyss below. There was no place to escape to, and no more paint to make an escape with.
"Dead end." Cornelia said in a worried sigh.
"Emphasis on 'dead'." Taranee gulped as all the villains had managed to catch up to them.
"Sorry guys, looks like it's the end of the line." Finn said.
"Look, you know how much we care about you guys, but Phobos really wants that crystal thing." Chow said, almost in a sorrowful tone.
"So just hand it over and we'll let you all go." Ratso offered.
Jackie stepped protectively in front of the girls and Elias. "Do we have your word that you will at least allow the girls and Elias to escape?"
"Of course." Cedric hissed with a deceptive smile. "So, the crystal please?" He offered his hand to them.
"Yeah, like we're gonna trust snake-boy and the anti-uncle to just let us go." Jade muttered in clear sarcasm.
Will looked towards Elias and saw how he still had a vial of paint thinner. "Jackie, I got an idea." She whispered to him as she took the paint thinner from Elias and walked forward with the Heart of Kandrakar in her other hand.
"New deal!" She announced to the bad guys. "You guys get us a way out of here first, or I'll erase the Heart of Kandrakar from existence! Like this!" She poured a small drop of paint thinner onto the ground, erasing part of it. This seemed to keep the bad guys at bay as Cedric held back his hand to keep his minions from pressing forward.
Tohru was sweating up a storm as the spell was all but read; Irma, Caleb, and Captain Black each held four of the Twelve Talismans and were ready to place them into the cauldron.
"One more thing!" Uncle instructed. "Be sure cauldron bubbles at proper rate! One more thing; do not forget to channel good chi! One more thing; do not rush chanting!"
"Oh, cast the stupid spell already before he comes up with 'three more things!'" Irma put on a brief Uncle impression while trying to hurry Tohru along.
Tohru took a deep sigh. "Place the Talismans into the cauldron." He instructed. Irma, Caleb, and Captain Black each dropped the Talismans into the green liquid which began to bubble just as Tohru began to chant with his hands clapped together.
"Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao." As Tohru continued to chant, the liquid began to glow green as Uncle, Irma, Caleb, Captain Black, and even Blunk all watched in anticipation, which grew even more as the twelve Talismans began to lift out of the bubbling liquid, each one having a green aura glowing around them. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao." After the final chants, the spell was complete as the Talismans all fell from the air after they stopped glowing. Tohru caught them in his massive hands.
"I believe the spell worked, Sensei." Tohru said, smiling at his accomplishment.
"Good. Now it is time to enter painting!" Now it was Uncle's turn to chant as he hopped on one foot with a dried lizard in his hand. "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao. Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao"
The lizard glowed green with chi-magic, which Uncle shot at the painting, resulting in it glowing green as well. Captain Black and Blunk ended up taking a step back as Uncle, Tohru, Caleb and Irma were engulfed in a sudden bright flash of green light.
Daolon Wong was often a patient wizard, but now is patience appeared to have reach its limit. "Ugh! Enough of these games!" He threw out his scepter, zapping each of the heroes and ensnaring them in a dark aura that kept them all immobilized, all except for Will as she appeared to be telekinetically pulled toward him, and forcibly handing him the Heart of Kandrakar.
"Foolish child. I am the most malevolent of Dark Chi masters! What makes you think your childish bluff could possibly stop me?!" Wong reached for the crystal, but before he could grab it…
"HOT-CHA!"
Everyone looked up in surprise to see Uncle, Irma, Tohru, and Caleb all falling to the ground from the sky. Most of them had a rough landing in between the heroes and the small army of villains, save for Uncle who landed directly in front of Wong.
"Hello!" Uncle greeted, as Wong looked in complete and utter surprise. "And goodbye!" He brandished a blowfish and shot a point-blank blast of good Chi Magic to send the dark wizard flying and crashing through his own soldiers, while also freeing the heroes from his magical grasp.
"Uncle! Tohru!" Jackie, Jade, and Taranee all exclaimed.
"Irma!" Will and Hay Lin shouted in surprise.
"Caleb!" Cornelia also exclaimed.
"Who wants a piece of Uncle?!" He challenged the army as he wielded two blowfish, standing alongside Caleb and Tohru as they ran to engage the enemy army.
"Hey guys." Irma waved casually to her friends.
"Irma?! How did you…?!" Jackie questioned.
"No time to explain! Time to Talisman up! Don't worry, they work here!" Irma began to hand over one individual Talisman to each of her friends. "Super strong Ox for Will, speedy Rabbit for Jackie, fiery Dragon for Taranee, flying Rooster for Hay Lin, heat-vision Piggy for Cornelia, shapeshifting Monkey for our mischievous Jade, and invisible Snake for mama." She kept the Snake Talisman for herself while the others now wielded their respective Talismans before smirking and charging at the enemy army.
Cedric tried to gain control of his army, only to find a certain sumo blocking his way. "You!" He hissed at Tohru who glared back as he cracked his knuckles before waving his hand to bring it on. Cedric roared as he charged directly at Tohru, the two locked hands and grappled with each other, pressing their own strength against the other, and so far, it appeared to be even.
Multiple Lurdens and Shadowkhan looked ready to try and assist Cedric, but they didn't have the chance to as Jackie ran at them at high speeds thanks to the Rabbit Talisman and dealt punches and kicks so fast that they didn't even see them coming. The momentum gathered from the intense speed sent each individual enemy flying with a single punch.
Taranee was the first to attack a group of Shadowkhan and Lurdens, along with Ratso. "Hey, you guys think you can take the heat!" She brandished the Dragon Talisman and blasted condensed shots of fire to obliterate the Shadowkhan, send the Lurdens flying in the explosions, and even land a good hit on Ratso causing him to vanish.
Cornelia ran to Taranee's side to back her up with heat-beams from her eyes, curtsey of the Pig Talisman. "I'm not much of a fan of pigs, but I think I can make the exception with this one." She smirked as she looked to her Talisman before resuming her onslaught of eyebeams alongside Taranee's fire blasts.
Daolon Wong recovered and saw the powers his enemies were using. "The Talismans?! But how?! I created this world! No good magic should be able to work here!"
"Ahem!" Uncle got his attention. "You would be wise not to underestimate a student of Chi-Master Fong!" He smiled cockily before blasting a massive beam of good chi magic from both blowfish, which Wong retaliated with a blast of dark chi magic from his scepter as both beams clashed once more.
Chow and several Lurdens tried to charge Hay Lin, but she quickly took to the skies, thanks to the power of the Rooster Talisman. She flew up pretty high before letting herself fall straight down, her foot sticking out. Chow couldn't react in time as the foot made contact with his face, causing him to vanish in a puff of blue smoke before Hay Lin flew outward again to deal a three-sixty spinning roundhouse kick to knock back many more Lurdens.
"Freeze kid!" Finn exclaimed as he several Shadowkhan surrounded a seemingly defenseless Irma.
"Sure, want me to raise my hands?" She asked with a smirk, raising her hands, while also showing off the Snake Talisman and using it to turn invisible.
"What the… where'd she go?!" Finn and the Shadowkhan looked around, only for an invisible Irma to stomp on his foot, punch him in the gut, and deliver an upper cut to the jaw. She also managed to pick up the bladed-weapon Finn dropped and used it, while still invisible, to easily cut down all the Shadowkhan as they couldn't lay a single hit on her before using the weapon to finish off Finn who vanished in a puff of dark blue smoke as well.
Jade and Caleb appeared to be almost completely surrounded by the remaining Lurdens and Shadowkhan. "Hey Caleb, I got a question for you? How do you stop an elephant from charging?"
"Uh… I don't know. Why?" He asked, only to look gasp in surprise as Jade used the Monkey Talisman to transform into an elephant, with him riding on top.
"Answer: you don't. Just get the heck out of the way!" Elephant-Jade exclaimed with an elephant's roar as she charged all the Lurdens and Shadowkhan at high speeds; either trampling them or sending them flying with a swing of her trunk.
Frost continued to ride Crimson, charging straight for Will who didn't even bother to move an inch as she placed her hands on her hips. "Easy prey!" Frost sneered as Crimson charged, aiming to stampede over the redhead. But Will pulled back a fist before delivering a punch to Crimson's head right before it hit, smashing the rhino-like steed into the ground and sending Frost flying over her head from the momentum and landing hard on the ground.
Though Crimson appeared down for the count, Frost himself wasn't. "I'll crush you!" He ran and threw a fist at Will, but she easily blocked it with a single finger.
"Yeah, good luck with that." Will smirked, keeping the Ox Talisman in her pocket before Frost tried to punch her again and again, but she blocked each of his attacks with minimal effort before ducking under another hit and picking up the surprised Frost with one hand. "Thank you for choosing Will-Airlines! Enjoy your flight!" She threw Frost with enough force that he was sent flying hundreds of feet away, while screaming in the distance.
Daolon Wong tried to press hard against Uncle's chi magic, but the good Chi Wizard appeared to get the edge as he channeled enough of his own chi magic to overpower Wong's dark magic and send him flying with a final blast.
At the same time, Tohru tackled Cedric and the two rolled down the hill, all the way toward the river where they crashed. Tohru ended up on top of the massive humanoid snake and began to deal multiple devastating punches to Cedric's face. After the seventh punch however, Cedric's tail shot at Tohru from behind, coiling around his neck to try and strangle him, but Tohru grunted through the pain and lifted both his fists to slam down onto Cedric's face, forcing him to let go.
Phobos snarled as he saw how easily his own forces were being overpowered. He materialized a sword in his hands and slashed at the painting itself.
It seemed the entire landscape was being torn apart as a massive blade began to cut through the entire painted world, with everyone inside, good and evil screaming and falling as though a massive earthquake shot through the entire land.
"Tohru! Use the Tiger Talisman! Now!" Uncle exclaimed.
The sumo and apprentice chi-wizard lifted his hand to brandish the Tiger Talisman before yelling as he slammed it onto the ground. The second it made contact with the painted world, the entire realm began to glow as surges of white and black energy shot out from everywhere.
Will, Jackie, Irma, Jade, Cornelia, Uncle, Taranee, Tohru, Hay Lin, Caleb, and Elias all began to glow with a white aura surrounding them as they were lifted in the air; with Daolon Wong, Cedric, Frost, Crimson, and the remaining Lurdens all had a black aura surrounding them as well. Suddenly, an invisible force shot the heroes in one direction and the villains in the opposite.
Captain Black and Blunk looked in shock as they saw the painting on their end glow white, where all the heroes were shot out of it, almost as if a force of nature itself pulled them all into Earth, and it wasn't just them, it was all of the people who lived inside the painting as well.
Phobos took a step back as the painting began to surge with a black aura, where he watched in surprise as all his minions were expelled from the painted world before landing at his feet, where the dark prince could only scowl and clench his fists in anger.
Back on Earth, the Chan Clan and Guardian-girls, along with Captain Black all helped the people that were once part of Elias painting, but now in the real world, back on their feet.
"Go Uncle!" Jade exclaimed. "First you got us out of that crazy world, and you got the Talismans to work!"
"I had nothing to do with that, it was all Tohru." Uncle said as everyone directed their attention to the big guy.
"It's true, Tohru was the one who casted the spell to let the Talismans work in that realm." Caleb confirmed.
"We did help a little, but it was mostly him. Right Big T?" Irma gave a smirk and a playful nudge to his arm.
"Yes, well I…" Tohru was suddenly caught by surprise as Will, Taranee, Hay Lin, Jade, and even Cornelia all gave him one big hug.
"Thanks, so much Tohru! You really saved our butts back there!" Will said gratefully.
"You're the best Uncle T!" Hay Lin exclaimed with a wide smile.
"Yes, you did well Tohru. Thank you." Jackie smiled with a nod.
Uncle couldn't help but smile with pride as he looked to his student. "My apprentice will make a good Chi Wizard someday."
Tohru blushed at all their praise. "Yes… someday."
Sheffield Institute
The carnival was supposed to have started already, but that was not the case, evident by all the students at Sheffield who looked absolutely bored out of their minds, with Principle Knickerbocker less than pleased.
"Where is Will Vandom?!" The Principle questioned. "This Fall Carnival is a disaster!"
"Ugh, tell me about it." Martin was in full agreement. "Uriah gave me a lute-wedgie." He turned around to show the lute stuffed into the back of his pants.
However, they and everyone else looked in surprise to see Will, Jade, Irma, Cornelia, Hay Lin, and Taranee, along with Jackie, Tohru, Uncle, and even Caleb leading Elias and all the people from his painting, most of them played multiple instruments including flutes, drums, and lutes. This seemed enough to get the Fall Carnival started as all the kids began to dance with the music, and even cooks began to offer some of their food as well. There were even some jesters dancing and juggling as well.
The girls, along with Jackie, Caleb, Tohru, and Uncle stood off to the side, all of whom looked quite pleased with this result.
"We closed both portals, now we just to whip up one instant medieval fair." Will smiled.
"Well I'd say mission accomplished." Jade smiled as well.
Knickerbocker walked up to her students with a relieved smile. "I was beginning to think you let your school down."
Elias walked up to Knickerbocker. "Shall we join the gaiety milady?" He offered the principle.
Knickerbocker laughed with a small blush. "Oh, well I'm really more the chaperonage!" Despite that, Elias pulled her into the festival for the dance, resulting in the girls laughing.
"So, what are we gonna do with all these people anyway?" Taranee asked.
"We can't exactly bring them back to Meridian with Phobos still in power." Caleb said.
"I've already spoken with Captain Black." Jackie revealed. "He said he can arrange for them to live in an isolated place until Phobos is defeated. Although Elias had a very special request."
"What was it?" Will asked.
A few days later, Elias was in the very same museum, at the very same spot where the window to his painted world once stood. Only now it was a real painting without any magic involved. Section 13 had supplied him a new identity as he choose to live in Heatherfield until Meridian was freed from the Forces of Darkness, where he would work at the museum. Right now, he was currently giving a tour to some guests.
"And here, we have a recently restored masterpiece by that brilliant, but underappreciated, artist… Elias Van Dahl."
"What's with the bike and the bowling balls?" One kid asked upon seeing some of those in the painting.
Elias chuckled somewhat nervously as he kneeled down to pat the boy on the head. "Um… moving on."
As he led the group away from the painting, nobody appeared to notice something that would have stuck out in the painting. Something well hidden, amongst the crowd of people. It was a young girl, around the age of thirteen, and for some reason… she bore a striking resemblance to the girl named Elyon Brown.
Done.
Well that was one fun chapter; I hope you all enjoyed reading it just as much as I've enjoyed writing it. The heroes had some fun with Talismans as they beat down the bad guys, after getting trapped in a magical painting where the Heart of Kandrakar couldn't work. We even see Tohru getting better with Chi-Magic, and with the progress he's making, he's bound to become a good Chi Wizard someday.
Some of you may have noticed a certain change from the WITCH cannon. I already explained how I was giving Phobos some layers to his character as he was just a straight-up bad guy in the cannon with little character development; while in this you can see Daolon Wong being the most responsible for all the bad stuff in Meridian. That doesn't mean that Phobos is an angel, far from it. Daolon Wong is in Meridian because Phobos sees his Dark Chi Magic as useful during his reign, while Phobos grants Wong freedom to 'experiment' and practice with his magic that wouldn't normally be granted on Earth, and seeing how Daolon Wong is pretty evil himself, he's actually encouraging some of Phobos' worst traits, but Phobos is no fool and is keeping a close eye on Wong whom we know is plotting against him. I hope that all makes sense for you.
Also, why is there an image of Elyon in Elias' painting? Maybe there's some hidden message behind it? (hint, hint). What's next for our heroes? Find out next time on J-WITCH